Interior Cathode Tubes... How To?
 

I'm looking to install 4 cathode tubes inside my xB. Where is the best place to buy them and how is it that I go about wiring them up? Can someone please explain to me, in English, about invertors and restrictors? Thanks guys! and girls!

get in touch with randode if you have never done anything like this...

he sells a complete kit with instructions.

or you can buy the parts and try to figure it out with some help.

Do a search for CCFL if you feel comfortable doing some basic wiring do it yourself. It's not that hard and a lot cheaper. If you don't feel comfortable I would get one of Randode's kits. I did mine for about $20 PM me if you have any questions.

randode is expensive as hell. go with www.oznium.com WAAAAAAAAY CHEAPER

do a search... there is a how to on how to install the cathodes also.

Try the computer stores. I found dual tube setups at CompUSA for less than $20 apiece. Or try pctoys.com, or mdmm.com, or jab-tech.com. They're always cheaper on the web from the PC Modding shops.

I took a power and ground leads off the cigarette lighter and used zip-ties to mount the tubes under the dash and seats.

btw, you may need to lengthen the lead-wires if you want under-seat lighting. The transformer needs to sit under the center console by the handbrake.

Really pretty simple if you keep your wires straight.
Also, Lowes has the rocker switch you need; Gardner Bender GSW-45. fits right into the dash.

ebay has some

The holy grail of cathodes: www.xoxide.com

Do a search on this site you will find more info than you will need. Also there is a tech article here https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29238 that should help you on the install.

i went to oznium.com and got the set of 4 for $13 have not found them cheaper anywhere else.

wow, this thread is helping me

I like SVC because it's mostly 1 stop shopping, but oznium is pretty sweet.

Here's how to wire them up:

Pull off the upper dash after removing the screws behind the AC knobs. Unplug the 3 connectors that keep it on (one of them is a real thrash to undo, but it does disconnect).

Now remove the lower dash by pulling straight out. There will be a 2-prong plug behind the cigarette lighter. Unplug it.

If you look at the wires going into that 2 prong plug there is a black wire (it might have a white line, i'm not sure) and a white wire with a black line. The black wire supplies 12v power when the car is on. The white wire is a ground wire.

The inverter for your cathodes has a red wire and a black wire coming out of it. The red wire is for 12v power. The black wire is for ground.

Splice a red wire into the black wire that goes into the cigarette lighter. Run that to a switch. Run a red wire from the other prong of the switch to the red wires on your cathodes. Now you have power for you cathodes.

You're not done yet. You need to connect the black wire on your cathodes to the white wire on the cigarette lighter plug. Don't put a switch here; just run the wire directly.

Now just bust out some zip ties and mount 'em up.

3m tape works good for mounting too (WALMART by the spray paint. comes in a roll)... just some info...

Good idea!

I followed the tutorial found on this site with 1 mod....I did NOT drill any holes in the dash.

I used some "christmas light holders". Got 26 for $1.50. They snap right on the plastic tube and have double sided tape on the other end. I used 4 holders per tube (two on each end), which I now believe to be overkill.

As a strength test, I mounted one on my small wet/dry vac (about 4 lbs) and held the vacum from the holder with my fingers for about 5 minutes. Absolutly showed no signs of coming off. As a matter of fact, I really had to put some effort into getting it off.

This allows easy removal of tubes so you can switch out colors and what not.

Just another tip....

Thanks guys! I bought me 2 12" tubes, 2 4" tubes and 5 led's. I'm hoping to mount the led's in the vents and one in the "oven". Thanks for all your help. I'll post pics when I'm done.

with the ones from oznium.com, cn it be wired into the switches from lowes, and how?

They sell the factory switch on oznium.com. That's what I bought, and if I'm not mistaken you just wire it straight into the power wire. Am I right people?