Cathodes

Yea how do I hook them up....im a newbie so yea. I dont really do the wiring stuff so I need a little help. I want them all on one on/off switch 2 in front and 2 in back...thanks guys.

[cherrington17]

(its been a while since i did mine, but i'll do my best)

first of all you need to connect the cathodes to the 12v converter. then connect the converter to your power and ground. i believe the red is your power and yellow is ground. just clip the wires before the switch they come with and connect that way.

as for connecting in your own switch it depends on what type.

SPST or DPDT
- --
- --
- --

^thats the back of the switch.
spst just requires a power to the middle terminal, and your hot to either the top or bottom (depends on if you want up or down to be on)
dpdt is similar just two independent sets of terminals. same set up, but keep them on the same side. that should be all

[cherrington17]

any other questions, feel free to ask... i have 2 pair in my car, and i'm thinking about running a 3rd set. put they are pretty easy and look nice. also last pretty long, as long as they don't get kicked or hit at all. if the outside fractures at all they are toast. so put them in a less likely to be abused spot.

other then that... have fun

[eag182]

I was thinking about cathodes once...and say if I wanted to hook up anything in my car off that required a 12V source and I wouldnt be using a traditional hookup (like replacing a light or using the cig lighter, etc) what would I do? I heard something about fuse relays but I havent found much info on this.

[cherrington17]

the easiest way is to...
1) pull off the panel on the side of your dash.
2) find a fuse (preferably one that doesn't control something important.. radio, interior lights.. etc)
3) get some mini blade fuse taps
4) pull out fuse, put tap on the end
5) connect power wire to tap and re insert fuse.

tada, you now have a 12V power lead that works.

[eag182]

So to not melt the fuse I assume I would need to know the amps already being drawn by the device (like you say, radio, int. lights, etc) ? I am thinking I would need to calculate the max Resistence of the whole setup so as to be able to calculate the total amps drawn and make sure thats under the fuse rating.

[cherrington17]

not necessarily... i have 2 connected to the int lights. cathodes only pull something like 1 amp per hour. so its not a heck of a lot of current there.

not much to worry about... like connecting led's.. its not enough to make a difference...

Cathode pics n Info
just scroll down

This is in my showcase thread, i think i left a pretty good explanation on how to do it... if not, just reply here and i'll give you the info you need

I didn't hook mine up to a fuse... i just used the wires from my power outlet in the passenger side front seat area on the side of the console, i didn't use it anyway for anything else, it worked really well...

I have an idea on what im going to do now. Hook the wire on my positive screw thingy in the fuse box under the hood. Right behind that there is a vent into my fusebox but it passes through where the car door shuts so im not sure if it will eat off the insulation ill have to see. But anyway then from the fusebox it goes into the change cup to the left of the steering wheel which is where I want to put my switch for my lights. I wanted to have two buttons, one for front lights and one for back lights, but i'm not sure now cause I dont know where I would put two of them. I don't really want to drill any holes and thats why im putting wire through the vent instead of my firewall. But i'm still thinking where I could put two buttons. About how big are the buttons that come with the cathodes? Coke cap, Quarter?

Ok this is my general idea on how I want to wire it any complements on this?



It is only temporary until I get speakers and they drill a hole in my firewall because I dont want to go screwing stuff up.

pic 2

pic 3

pic 4

It wouldnt let me do it as an image for some reason so I had to do it that way...so any input or better ideas or w/e just tell me.

Redog told me about this and it will be much cleaner. Look at the base of your steering column. There is a rubber grommet. Pull the top of it back and fish the wire through.
Also they have a few diagrams here at Oznium to help figure out wiring too.

[cherrington17]

alerodude, pull off your fuse panel in the first pic (on the side of your dashboard) and connect it there. don't have to worry about breaking or wearing the wire then...

cathodes DEFINITELY don't pull enough power to mess up any fuse in there...

Well alot of people said that wasnt a good way to do it. Would there be a difference in the brightness or anything and how would I do it?

[Silentalero]

Alerodood rip that off there now! Unless you enjoy fires. Do you not realize if you ever close your door and it snaps that wire you can cause a fire even from a small wire? That is the lazy way around the firewall, just go above the gas pedals and run the wires through the factory firewall.

[Pimpalero03]

that is exactly what i told him. plus its tacky looking. the objective is to hide wires so no one knows u have anything done till u hit a switch

Well that pic was just to show the general place there is a hole that goes through my fuse box into my hood tht has a plug in it so im just gonna take the plug out and it wont be shut in the door...

[cherrington17]

i have mine wired to the fuse box and it doesn't make a difference in color or brightness....