How to install neon tubes under dash...

HookdUpTeg99 · #1 07-02-2003, 10:52 PM

I'm looking to install 2 10" neon tubes under the dash on the driver and passenger side of my car. I want to wire them to a switch on the dash so i can turn them on and off. Is there any place that tells how to install them, or is there anyone who can explain how, in good enough detail to get me thru the installation? Thanx.

crxlvr · #2 07-06-2003, 08:37 PM

first get a three prong switch, it should have power, ground and accessory.

take the ground wires from your neons and ground them to a body point of metal. take the neons power wire and connect to the ACC prong.

take another ground wire from the ground prong on the switch, and wire to a metal body point.

take a power wire from the 12v(power) prong of the switch to your battery. and your all done.

whiteracer · #3 07-07-2003, 01:53 AM

one comment, one question...

I don't think wiring it to the battery terminal is that easy. I mean, the cord is only so long. How would you even do that? Just wrap the copper wire around one of the battery terminals?
Assuming i can't reach the battery, or wiring it to the battery itself would just not be practical, what power supply is it possible to tap into? headlight? cigarette adapter? stereo?

I'm thinking the same question and i really want to know how to do this as well. Simple instructions, but still i think he's looking for something more specific.

HookdUpTeg99 · #4 07-07-2003, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the installation instructions. Much appreciated....but of course, specifics are always very welcome

Ricochet · #5 07-07-2003, 10:22 AM

Don't wire it into the battery terminal, it looks tacky. Solder one wire (I don't believe neons have a certain polarity, no positive or negative to make them run properly) into a 12V source which operates only when you want the neons to turn on, like parking lights, or cig lighter. The lighter is on when your car is running, so the neons will be on all the time. Personally I would do them with parking lights as switches look tacky also.

Here's a crappy diagram on how to wire them together (I'm not sure whether they came with a fuse or not):

(+)--[fuse?]--[neon]------------------[neon]----(-)

The positive is a wire connecting to a 12V source. If you don't care too much and wanna go ghetto, wrap that wire around your parking lights fuse prong (either one on the fuse) under the dash. Connect the two neons together by soldering the wire or via a crimp connector. You can wrap the negative wire around any bolt screwed into the chassis, or metal part somewhere connected to the frame of the car.

crxlvr · #6 07-07-2003, 06:16 PM

well you can do it like that also.

but me personally would crimp another wire to the neons wire and run to a battery termianl connector(those big round O's with the wire lead on em) and put an inline fuse on it for safety, but you can wire it upto your parking lights or headlights, just makes sure the neons wont draw too much power, or they will be blowing the fuse constantly.

whiteracer · #7 07-07-2003, 06:55 PM

Being in his position once (sort of still), i think he wants specifics. The terms "tap into" and "inline fuse" aren't exactly known by everyone.

crxlvr · #8 07-08-2003, 02:30 PM

if you cant figure out what an inline fuse or what tap into this means, you shouldnt be attempting to install them yourself.

Ricochet · #9 07-08-2003, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crxlvr
if you cant figure out what an inline fuse or what tap into this means, you shouldnt be attempting to install them yourself.

amen brother

whiteracer · #10 07-08-2003, 06:36 PM

ok, i'm not totally taking his side, but how did you learn about inline fuses? Someone probably taught you. Even if that someone was yourself. That's what he's trying to do. I think he might be looking for a website with illustrated pictures. Some people are more visual learners. Now i know what you're talking about, so do other people, but what about people not knowing as much as yourself in a field like electronics?

There's different ways of doing certain aspects of this. Yeah you could just dirrectly wire it onto the battery terminal. Or you could "tap into" a hot wire. You could have a switch. Then again, you don't have to have one. People start somewhere. Going by his sig, he may know a lot about a transmission and engine, but how many people do you know that have an expertise in every field of automobiles? Not that many, but there are quite a few that know the basics of every aspect.

So i go back to the aforementioned sentence; Someone probably taught you sometime. Granted not everyone can come up with a website that can give step by step pictured instructions, but only one person needs to. Like he said, "specifics are always welcomed."

outlawtorn86 · #11 07-09-2003, 01:02 AM

by tapping into do u mean like attaching the bulb wire to the headlight somewhere in the connection? i think i know what ur talking about, but then again im no mechanic. do u mean like forking the wire, and having one go to the headlighs and one to bulbs?

whiteracer · #12 07-09-2003, 01:59 AM

SEE WHAT I MEAN?!

Ricochet · #13 07-09-2003, 07:43 AM

"Tap into" means to connect the neon wire to another wire in which current is flowing, called a "hot wire." Your best bet would be to wrap one wire around a fuse under the dash because small neons don't eat up too much power at all. I've had neons under my dash before and my kit came with an inline fuse, and it was only a 1A fuse (very, very tiny wire inside of it, about the size of a hair).

whiteracer · #14 07-09-2003, 09:11 AM

a couple questions with that. one, doesn't the other wire need to be grounded? and two, did you wire a toggle switch into it or did it just come on whenever the fuse was engaged?

Ricochet · #15 07-09-2003, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by whiteracer
did you wire a toggle switch into it or did it just come on whenever the fuse was engaged?

I wired mine to the battery and had a toggle switch near the ebrake. If you wire it in with a taillights, headlights, or dash lights fuse the neons will turn on when you turn on the lights. If you wire it through the cig lighter, they will be on as long as the car is turned to ACC or running, lights on or off. Come to think of it, this guy could connect the neon wires to a cig lighter plug ($4 at walmart or something) and just plug it in to turn them on. That's pretty ghetto in my opinion, but it will work too.

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