Hey guys,

Sorry for the newbie question, but i did a search and couldnt really find the answer.

I was after some Red Neons or LED strips (to match my dial colours) to go under my dash to light up the footwells of my TL. They are to be out of sight but light up the whole area reasonably well.

My first question is,

Should i go neons or leds?

I had some blue neons (which just plugged into my ciggy lighter) in my camry which worked really well, but died after 3 months)

Also I want them to only come on at night, so they arnt on 24/7 like in my camry. So my second question is,

Im assuming i'd just wire them into my headlights somehow, so they are only on when headlights are on, anyone got any tips or a guide for this?

Here is an example of LED's (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2x-Red-30cm-Flexible-Under-Car-LED-15-Strip-Neon-Light_W0QQitemZ280358178013QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_C ar_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4146a64cdd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C 301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)
Here is an example of the neons (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2-x-Red-6-15cm-Car-Exterior-Interior-Neon-Light-Lamp_W0QQitemZ280357856772QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Ca r_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4146a16604&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C 301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

You should go custom like me ;)

http://www.geekmyride.org/wiki/images/thumb/b/b4/Lathiats_Magna_Dioder.jpg/250px-Lathiats_Magna_Dioder.jpg
http://www.geekmyride.org/wiki/index.php/Trent%27s_Magna

R/G/B colour changing in all 4 seats. :P .. but that's a bit more complex than I suspect you're interested in :P


.. I like the LEDs personally only problem you haev with them over the neons is they are a bit more directional (180 degrees-ish) so the exact angle/place you mount them matters a bit more than the neons .. so check our wherever you are going to mount them and make sure you can point out 180 degrees to basically where you want the light pattern.

As for on with headlights yeh you will need to find an illumination wire .. in my 2nd gen there is one in the stereo harness no idea about the 3rds but probably has one too.

LED's>neons

You should go custom like me ;)

http://www.geekmyride.org/wiki/images/thumb/b/b4/Lathiats_Magna_Dioder.jpg/250px-Lathiats_Magna_Dioder.jpg
http://www.geekmyride.org/wiki/index.php/Trent%27s_Magna

R/G/B colour changing in all 4 seats. :P .. but that's a bit more complex than I suspect you're interested in :P


.. I like the LEDs personally only problem you haev with them over the neons is they are a bit more directional (180 degrees-ish) so the exact angle/place you mount them matters a bit more than the neons .. so check our wherever you are going to mount them and make sure you can point out 180 degrees to basically where you want the light pattern.

As for on with headlights yeh you will need to find an illumination wire .. in my 2nd gen there is one in the stereo harness no idea about the 3rds but probably has one too.

haha might be a bit out of my league....but im puttin in a new stereo in approx 2 weeks so guess ill have acess to the illumination wire then...for my purpose should i just get the LED's then? do they have a longer life expectancy?

haha might be a bit out of my league....but im puttin in a new stereo in approx 2 weeks so guess ill have acess to the illumination wire then...for my purpose should i just get the LED's then? do they have a longer life expectancy?

LED's 100,000 hours.
Do some research into LED's dude

Gentle Glow Neons...
Bright as a mofo so you can find loose change on the floor with a pair of sunnies at 9pm at night : LEDS

There are some wires behind the Centre Ashtray...one of them connect to the light of the cigarette lighter...just conjoin the neon's wire to the cigarette light...the neon will on even you turn the parker light on! (you said you want to put that underdash, so I think it is the closest that you can connect to). But I think it will look terrible when you driving at night with the RED neon light on and people look at inside.
Mine just on when the map light is on (eg. door opened, unlock the car)
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n59/hokin86/my%20magna/IMG_2347-1.jpg
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n59/hokin86/my%20magna/IMG_2337-1.jpg

LED's, but make sure they're SMD LED's, you might pay a little more for them, but they're a lot brighter and have a wider lighting angle.

I can't really demonstrate it to you, but normal LED festoon globes for instance light up the centre dome light housing, but not really the cabin, where as my SMD LED festoon globe often results in remarks such as "holy crap thats bright". Enough said I reckon :P

alright thanks guys, yeah lugo ill go with the LED's,
Lugo, im just gettin cheap ones now off ebay to see if i like the look, if i do then ill invest in some SMD ones
kelvin, thats the exact look im after in those pics, but doesnt have to be so bright, if its annoying or looks crap when i have them on when ever head lights are on, then ill do waht you ahve done so they only come on with park lights...cheers guys

ill post pics when its all done :D