Courtesy Lighting - Need Help - Wiring
Courtesy Lighting - Need Help - Wiring So i'm thinking of putting some white cathodes/LED bars in the interior underneath the dash. But I want it to activate when the car is unlocked, or when a door opens, just like the dome lights. I would think I'd have to tap the power into some kind of wire for this. Could someone point me in a direction or help me out?
Thanks
Thanks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
You have to wire both the power and ground to the courtesy light circuit at the BCM. The BCM controls the ground to provide the theater dimming effect of the courtesy lights so just using the courtesy power feed will result in lights that stay on almost all the time. On the other hand, if you use some other power source, you give up the battery saver protection that turns everything off after 10-15 minutes if you leave a door ajar.
The courtesy light power feed is on the dark blue with white stripe wire in the black 6-pin connector at the BCM. The ground is on the white wire in the 32-pin blue connector at the BCM.
The courtesy light power feed is on the dark blue with white stripe wire in the black 6-pin connector at the BCM. The ground is on the white wire in the 32-pin blue connector at the BCM.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
The BCM is a black box about the size of a paperback book mounted to the ductwork under the dash behind the glovebox.
The lights will stay on almost all the time if you connect only the power wire to the courtesy light circuit and use your own chassis ground. That's because the BCM turns off the courtesy lights by removing the ground on the white wire but leaves power available on the dark blue with white wire to power the map lights in the mirror.
If you use both the power and ground wires from the courtesy light circuit then your lights will work exactly like the factory courtesy lights.
The lights will stay on almost all the time if you connect only the power wire to the courtesy light circuit and use your own chassis ground. That's because the BCM turns off the courtesy lights by removing the ground on the white wire but leaves power available on the dark blue with white wire to power the map lights in the mirror.
If you use both the power and ground wires from the courtesy light circuit then your lights will work exactly like the factory courtesy lights.
I just removed the dome light bulb and spliced in wiring to power all my interior UV LED lighting. With all the LEDs powered up, I'm using just under what the stock filament bulb used- gotta love those milliamp LEDs.
Sorry about the lighting. UV is difficult to photograph.
Looks sic when anyone gets inside wearing anything white!
Sorry about the lighting. UV is difficult to photograph.
Looks sic when anyone gets inside wearing anything white!
Oh yeah, buy tapping into the dome light power, the lights go on/off just like the stock dome light; when the doors open/close, when I manually turn on the interior lighting, and when I take the key out of the ignition.
Thanks both of you.
Cobra hunter, your saying you used the power and ground from the dome light above the back seat? I don't use that dome light anyway.
Would you mind elaborating a bit more on how you ran everything? Whatever you have on the ceiling looks sweet too.
Cobra hunter, your saying you used the power and ground from the dome light above the back seat? I don't use that dome light anyway.
Would you mind elaborating a bit more on how you ran everything? Whatever you have on the ceiling looks sweet too.
Trending Topics
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (42)
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,063
Likes: 0
From: Tomball/Nacogdoches TX
You do not want to use cathodes for this operation if you plan on connecting to the courtesy lighting. Normal fluorescent ballasts will eventually be damaged from dimming. Might want to add this to a switched power
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Yeah, I was wondering about that but I wasn't sure if CCFs had the same problem. My wife's motorcycle has CCFs with an audio sensor that makes them "dance" to music.
Okay......
So, with the exception of the 4 single LEDs installed in the dome, the rest of my setup uses LED flex-strips (6-12 LEDs per strip).
Basically, from the dome wires (power & ground), I did a Y-split; 1 wire (a)powers all 4 single LEDs in the dome, and the other wire (b) I ran along the roof and down and behind the left speaker panel.
I then ran it underneath the driver rocker panel, and right about next to the seat controls, I brought the wire back out. From here I did a Y-split: 1 wire powers the LED strips for the driver's seat, and the second powers the LEDs in the driver's foot well. From here I split off again: this wire powers the LEDs on the passenger side (which has the same setup as the driver side). The last LED strip in my chain is an LED strip in the passenger foot well.
It did take a bit of time to get the wiring done right. A couple of times when I tested the LEDs, 1 or 2 stips (in the middle of the chain) didn't light up. So I had to retrace my steps. But in the end, it all worked out great.
I've had this setup for about a year and they ALL still light up and function correctly.
So, with the exception of the 4 single LEDs installed in the dome, the rest of my setup uses LED flex-strips (6-12 LEDs per strip).
Basically, from the dome wires (power & ground), I did a Y-split; 1 wire (a)powers all 4 single LEDs in the dome, and the other wire (b) I ran along the roof and down and behind the left speaker panel.
I then ran it underneath the driver rocker panel, and right about next to the seat controls, I brought the wire back out. From here I did a Y-split: 1 wire powers the LED strips for the driver's seat, and the second powers the LEDs in the driver's foot well. From here I split off again: this wire powers the LEDs on the passenger side (which has the same setup as the driver side). The last LED strip in my chain is an LED strip in the passenger foot well.
It did take a bit of time to get the wiring done right. A couple of times when I tested the LEDs, 1 or 2 stips (in the middle of the chain) didn't light up. So I had to retrace my steps. But in the end, it all worked out great.
I've had this setup for about a year and they ALL still light up and function correctly.
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (42)
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,063
Likes: 0
From: Tomball/Nacogdoches TX
Yeah, if I go through with this I will definitely use LED bars or something. I'm probably just going to do white bars to shine under the dash when you open the door, I find that to be the cleanest, most OEM look. Any other ideas as far as this goes?
I love how the new camaro has the blue-lighted trim around the interior, unfortunately that can't really be done, lol.
I love how the new camaro has the blue-lighted trim around the interior, unfortunately that can't really be done, lol.
