Installing 12" LED Tube... firewall??

[1flycdnM3]

so I finally started this project today after going to PartSource and getting my switch, fuse and extra wire. I will try to put up a "how-to" video of the install when i get a chance to finish. My one issue is where is the firewall hole?? I am almost ready to attempt to drill a hole in the firewall because i cant even find one. I was told there was one under the steering wheel (cant find/see it) and also a bigger one behind the glove box (also cant find/see). Any know what i should do here?? or where i might find a hole??

thanks :)

[wtom]

The one on the driver's side is behind the battery, slightly lower down. When looking towards the rear of the car thru the open hood, btwn the battery and the strut tower, you should see some wires feeding through.

From inside the driver's side foot well, you have position yourself with your head on the foot well floor, looking UP close to the outside wall. There'll be padding on the firewall-side and one specific obvious circular cut out about 2" in diameter.

Pull that out and you'll find the wires feeding thru the grommet in the firewall.

[1flycdnM3]

ok thanks very much wtom

I think i saw all these wires earlier today and wasnt sure where they were leading to on the inside of the car. I think i will have to remove the battery to get to it, but atleast now i know where it is. I will give this a shot later tonight and then post up some info. very much appreciated. thanks again :)

[1flycdnM3]

I found that the firewall idea that wtom told me about made alot of sense, but very difficult (maybe cuz im a big guy?!)
Anyways... I searched around the forums and checked the pics from the "IPod Audio Link" and did it that way instead (using the lighter adapter). it works greeeeeeeeeeeeat! I just got it all done earlier today (took an hour or so) and just need a different switch now. I will put up a video of it tomorrow or wait until my camera is back on the weekend. I only have one 12" tube on the drivers side underneath the steering column and i think i will get a 15" tube for the passenger side. I will do a full write-up soon :)

[EvilEric]

Wait you are taping the wires from the cig lighter for power? Those aren't very thick wires. If you are powering something that uses too much power you'll melt the wires and cause a fire.

[1flycdnM3]

i thought about this already, but it's not really possible i think.

1. LED's dont draw much power
2. I have a switch so i dont leave/have them on too long
3. there is a fuse in-line just "in case" something could happen

I really don't think i will have any problems as far as i can tell.

[1flycdnM3]

well this project took alot longer than i had originally expected. most people on here already know how to tap into the cigarette lighter anyways and it's been written up in other parts of the forum. but here are the tools needed.

1. in-line fuse to the (+) side
2. extra wire to connect from the fuse to the rocker switch
3. rocker switch (on/off)
4. wire cutters
5. electrical tape
6. 12" LED light (recommended size)

Attach the in-line fuse to the positive (+) side of the lighter, then use the extra wire and attach from the in-line fuse into the positive (+) side of the rocker switch. Use electrical tape where necessary.

Take the negative (-) wire from the LED light to the negative (-) side of the lighter. Use electrical tape where necessary.

Take the positive (+) wire from the LED light to the negative (-) of the rocker switch. Use electrical tape where necessary.

The light will now work through the switch. I mounted my switch up through the cup holder and took out the little "clip" that was there and basically just cut out a hole so the switch would mount flush and i can still open/close the lid on the cup holder.
You can also mount the switch in the panel to the left of the steering wheel where your dimmer switch is for the interior lights.

I will post a video of the final project in a few hours :)

[1flycdnM3]

Here is a video i made today and i will make another one tonight.

EnJoY!

http://media.putfile.com/LEDfinal

[EvilEric]

Nice video :P Did you end up screwing in the passenger side ?

[1flycdnM3]

Nice video :P Did you end up screwing in the passenger side ?


right now i have the double-sided tape on it just barely holding on to the bottom of the glove compartment. I think i will have to either get a stronger adhesive or screw it in. not as easy to mount it on that side because there isnt really a flay surface long enough.

on a side note: the lights didnt work tonight. I will have to check it out tomorrow and see whats wrong. probably just needs more electrical tape somewhere :)

[1flycdnM3]

yup i shorted out the fuse on the lighter adapter doing this. atleast i put up a video, but just this week my phone wouldnt charge and my LED's didnt work. so i strongly advise against this method of LED wiring (even though i was warned already, i was stubborn and gave it a try)

guess i just need to buy a new fuse now for the lighter?! (not sure)

now im gonna do the professional install and mount the rocker switch (i have 2 now) beside the display dimmer... just need to figure out how to open/remove one of those 3 empty panels there. so far i have had ZERO luck/skill in that department. but once i figure it out, i will just wire it underneath the dash through that hole just behind the pedals and directly into the flux capacitor... errrr... i mean.... battery :)

anyone know how to remove those panels by chance??

[EvilEric]

Too much current going through? Yeah you have to be very carefull with those thin wires.

How can you be sure it's fuse and not the wires that were damaged?

[1flycdnM3]

Too much current going through? Yeah you have to be very carefull with those thin wires.

How can you be sure it's fuse and not the wires that were damaged?

actually im not sure becuz i havent checked yet, but i will check today. just figured i should get a fuse first cuz that's the most obvious thing to do i think. just not sure which one it is lol. hopefully it is in the manual.

[1flycdnM3]

yup it was the fuse, so i replaced the fuse (spare 15A in the engine bay) and that one blew RIGHT AWAY!!!!!

long story short, i bought 5 fuses at PartSource for like $3 and replaced the second one i blew and just removed the LED's for now until i come up with another solution (most likely find a way to run it to the battery)

just not sure where i will mount the button... same location??

i really want to mount it beside the dimmer switch but i have no clue how to remove one of those panels. do i have to take it to mazda to remove?? anyone know??

i have another switch i can use as well...

hope i can get this figured out this weekend :(

[1flycdnM3]

ok i wired it to the battery through the big grommet on the passenger side. that was alot harder than i expected, but works soooooooooooooo well. I grounded it to one of the bolts holding down the shifter. have to make a video/show it off at the next meet. pretty happy i finally got this to work at a minimal cost to me (aside from countless hours of trial & error) lol

[1flycdnM3]

well i blew alot of fuses only to find out... I DIDNT NEED A FUSE!

wired it right to the positive (+) terminal on the battery... although the switch i made is now "fried" and no idea how/why... but i am using another switch that i will eventually wire up behind the trunk release/gas door levers (thanks to dhawtin for that idea and informing me NOT to use a fuse) :)

this has to be the most time consuming mod i have ever done...

[pb_blade]

um, maybe i missed something but if you insert a fuse... and it keeps blowing, doesn't that mean there's too much current going thru? especially it its a 15A fuse? either it's a short or something's drawing more than 180W. my car PC doesn't even draw that much.... The lights shouldn't be drawing that much current i don't think, i think cold cathodes draw like <10 W

[1flycdnM3]

^^

I think it was because the LED's have a fuse already built-in and something was causing a "short" in the fuse that I installed. I am not sure, but it worked fine. I have since un-installed it though as I don't really see a "need" for it right now in my car. looks too "ricey" to me.

[MattC]

Why would you wire it to the cig lighter? just because of proximity?

What about wiring them to the maplight?

I have 4 LED door sills attached to my map light wires and they work fine in tandem with the lights, no issues in 4 months.

There isn't really any worry about shorting anything because you don't drive with the maplights on. (well... atleast you shouldn't)