Technical Wiring Lights to run off switches, not plug into the cigarette lighter?

Currently reading:
Technical Wiring Lights to run off switches, not plug into the cigarette lighter?

MagnaMorbius

New member
Joined
Feb 19, 2005
Messages
101
Points
37
Location
Mighty, Mighty Stockport
Bit of a stupid question, but how hard is it to take the lights I've got, strip off the cigarette lighter attachment, and run them off switches? I've got some lights I want to put into the doors, to show off my new speakers, but they simply plug into the cigarette lighter, and I don't want that - don't want wires trailing throughout the car.

I know that, if I'm just plugging into the cigarette lighter, then I don't need to worry about either fusing the lights, or earthing them. Putting them to run off a switch, though? That's a new one for me.

Please help, otherwise my beloved Bravo (called Binky - Discworld fans will understand) will probably die in an electrical fire soon...

Morbius
 
lol well you still need to earth them or they wont light!

basically you can just cut of the plug and wire it into a switch with constant or ignition live. or into a switched circuit EG.you could wire them into the lights circuit so they come on when you switch on the lights
 
So, how would I do it? Step by step guide, if you can. Bear in mind that, while I'm good at electronics (computers & stuff), I'm a mechanical idiot, so I don't want to fry myself, or my car.

Morbius.
 
well theres not much to tell.run power to the switch from either a constant or ignition live.then run power from the switch to the power wire of the lights.
either run the earth to the bodywork or into an existing earth wire,pretty simple if you know bout electronics i would think
 
I know how to strip down a computer and rebuild it - there's a lot of difference with a car - say I put the switch in the little coin tray under the handbrake. Then, where do I hitch it to? It's easier in computers, everything is on a PCB.

Start from scratch - imagine I've got a toolkit in one hand, light and switch in the other. Where do I go from there?

Morbius.
 
well to make it easy splice into the lighter circuit since your using that power already. so pop out the lighter base and there will be a power/earth connection behind there.

if you want to find out the +/- f the neon just put the wires onto the battery terminals(after cutting the plug off) now you need to find the - on the lighter connections and connect the - of the neons.

now run a wire from the + of the lighter connections to the switch and connect the + wire of the neons to the other side of the switch.

thats pretty much it. behind the lighter you will see 4 wires,2 are =/- for the lighter light and 2 are -/- for the main lighter. its those 2 you use
 
Back
Top