Neons, that turn on when you open the door?
 

I was wondering if anyone did this.

People have placed neons under the dash and seats etc. Have they wired them to turn on when the doors open? If you did it right it would look pretty damn cool I think.

Theoretically, you'd just need to tap into the 12v that triggers the relay for interior lights, hell disable them then... :shock: Maybe put them on a switch, so when it's one way, the interior lights, work, the other they neons work?

A DPDT switch would be pefect for that. When it's off, power passess thru to the normal lights, and when it's on, it passes into the neon controller.

Nice idea!

Like the idea, plus the neon would stay on like the interior lights do, that would look cool. If I were doing it, I would do it the same way Jason stated. I just like driving around with them on at night though....

My idea would for switching would tap into the regular door 12 V.

There would be a tripple pole switch though. It would be like some cars overhead lights.

Position 1 - Lights are simply just added to the stock interrior lighting and work the same way.
Position 2 - Neons won't turn on with the interrior lights.
Position 3 - Neons can turn on without any other interrior light on.

You would probably have to route in another 12V source though.

The door switches make the ground.

i did it with my trunk its easy just take the bulbs out that u dont want to come on and then wire the up to the switches

Just a thought. What about the theater dimming feature?

well it would have to go into the illumination wires on the stereo wiring harness

I don't think there usually _is_ a relay for the interior light circuit. It's basically just a bunch of bulbs looking for a ground, which can be provided by the headlamp switch, door pin switches or the theatrical dimmer if so equipped. In other words, the interior lights are hot at all times, but they don't go on until that circuit is grounded somewhere, unlike most other circuits in the car which have switched power and constant ground connections.

However, if you want to have neon that goes on with the interior lights, I _would_ recommend having a relay to do that, so that the neon can keep its own fused circuit but the interior lights can control it. Your relay would install in parallel with one of the interior lights (i.e. its power in would be from the interior light power and its ground connection would be to the interior light's switched-ground circuit, _not_ grounded to the body), and the primary terminals of the relay would be your switch for the neon: one terminal in from the neon power supply; one terminal out to the neon.

So when you open a door, not only are your interior lights grounded at that moment (and come on) but also your relay is grounded, too. Thus its primary contacts close, and on goes your neon.

Has anyone used the Cold Cathode ray tubes for PC's? They are cooler (in temp), and they don't draw as much current. But produce the same ammount of light. Plus they work on 12V.