Tapping Map Lights and Switched Source for Footwell lights

[jbrown456]

Hi all,
First post here, I've been reading the forums for a while now but haven't posted yet. I've put blue led footwell lights in my car and they work great but I'd like to change how they're wired so they behave a little differently. I looked around and couldn't find any posts that are the same as what I would like to do.

Right now, I've tapped into the blue light above the ashtray so my lights go on with the headlights. This works great, but I also want them to go on when the doors open. The lights are also going to a switch so if I get really annoyed with them late at night, I can turn them off. I understand that the map-lights use a switched ground and have constant power, and the source I'm using now has switched power and a constant ground.. So how would I go about wiring the led strips so they go on when the doors are open (and do the fade with map-lights) and also go on with my auto headlights at night time?

Thanks!
Jeff

[Noisy Crow]

Fish around here (use search) for the OEM footlight installation tutorial. That will let you know which wires to connect to your LEDs to come one when the doors are opened (uses the map light wires). Note that it is the ground that is switched, not the power. So the +ve side is permanently connected to non-switched +12V, while the -ve side is connected to ground to make the lights come on.


If you also want the LEDs to come on with the headlights you will need to add a diode and a relay. The relay would use the switched +12v (e.g from the cigarette lighter) to activate the input side of the relay. The output (controlled) side of the relay would then be used to ground the -ve lead on your LEDs. You'll need to add the diode, between the map light wire and your LEDs to prevent the map lights from coming on with the headlights.

Check out www.the12volt.com for good info on using relays!

[Default User]

Sorry to hijack, but has anyone found a way to tap into the doorswitch?

[Noisy Crow]

Sorry to hijack, but has anyone found a way to tap into the doorswitch?

All the wiring runs to the PJB. Just need to know which door switch. Door open? Door locked? Passenger? Driver? Etc.

[jbrown456]

So from what I gather I need to use two relays:

With an independent power source (battery lead):


Or, I can make use of the constant power and ground available in the two circuits and add two diodes:


This look right?

[jbrown456]

So from what I gather I need to use two relays with either an independent power source and no diodes:


Or make use of the constant power and ground available from the two circuits and add two diodes to isolate the circuit:


Sound right?

[Default User]

All the wiring runs to the PJB. Just need to know which door switch. Door open? Door locked? Passenger? Driver? Etc.

Flood lights to turn on when door open

[Noisy Crow]

Map lights come on when the door open..... but if you want 'em separate I'll see which wires you need to tap.

[jbrown456]

I posted some photo diagrams from my photobucket last night, but the forum said the post first needed to be approved by a moderator. What gives? Is this normal or because I'm a new member? Does this usually take a while?

[jbrown456]

[Noisy Crow]

Nicely drawn! In terms of functionality: overkill, but it will work. You can get away with one diode and one relay: (Click the pic to enlarge)


Note: the switch in the "map light" wire is the one in the PJB... you just need to tap into the wire. I showed the switch to help illustrate how the diode prevents reversed current hitting it... (the PJB switch is almost certainly actually a transistor)

Apologies for the bad drawing... still learning to use a tablet! (That and my drawing stinks even with pencil and paper )

The purpose of the diode is avoid forcing the map light wire to ground. Doing so would not only turn the map lights on, but also has the potential for damaging the PJB. It is also generally good practice to put a reverse-biased diode across the coil side of the relay...avoids having the reverse current when the power to the coil is removed and the magnetic field collapses . In this case you are using a circuit directly connected to the battery it's not an issue.

[jbrown456]

Thanks for the help! I'm going to try and make this tonight and will post back with the results when I get it all wired in. Sorry about the triple post of the pictures, like I said, I was trying to get them to go up before I noticed the message about moderator approval. I can't seem to find an edit option, anyone know how to take down the extra images?

[Hyperion]

Sorry to hijack, but has anyone found a way to tap into the doorswitch?

I went and got the wiring diagrams from Mazda, and had them explain it, and it's nearly impossible.

Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using Tapatalk

[peterm15]

Sorry to hijack, but has anyone found a way to tap into the doorswitch?

What are you trying to accomplish by tapping into the door switch? When do you want the lights to turn on?

[Noisy Crow]

There is no unswitched power in the doors. So anything added there won't work with the ignition off unless you pull wires.

[Default User]

I went and got the wiring diagrams from Mazda, and had them explain it, and it's nearly impossible.

That's gay.

So it's not just one wire that sets the dome light off when the door opens?
Is the switch in the patch mechanism?

[Noisy Crow]

That's gay.

So it's not just one wire that sets the dome light off when the door opens?
Is the switch in the patch mechanism?

There's a switch on each door. That tell the PJB when the doors are open. And PJB controls the map and dome lights.
Wires are dead easy to tap into if you need them for an alarm system etc. to detect open doors.

[Default User]

Crow, you da man!!!