Tapping into Map Lights

[Lance]

I am interested in augmenting my blue illumination kit with a stick-on LED strip that would light in coordination with the map lights. Has anyone figured out an efficient way to tap into the wiring. I was thinking about hooking into the puddle lights; however, they go on and off with the opening and closing of the door (not what I want). The attached thread from a previous generation speaks about hooking into the ignition light. http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12921

The ignition button on the 9th gen illuminates; however, it is on a different timing sequence then the map lights (I'm not sure that this would be optimal; however, I'm open to suggestions.)

Any help will be appreciated.

Lance

[WSport13]

Originally Posted by Lance

I am interested in augmenting my blue illumination kit with a stick-on LED strip that would light in coordination with the map lights. Has anyone figured out an efficient way to tap into the wiring. I was thinking about hooking into the puddle lights; however, they go on and off with the opening and closing of the door (not what I want). The attached thread from a previous generation speaks about hooking into the ignition light. http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=12921

The ignition button on the 9th gen illuminates; however, it is on a different timing sequence then the map lights (I'm not sure that this would be optimal; however, I'm open to suggestions.)

Any help will be appreciated.

Lance

if you do have the original kit around, can you post a picture of it, mainly its connectors. I'm looking at the pdf instruction from CHH but still a bit confused. Thanks.

For those already had it installed, does it stay on as long as your headlight is on ? (I've read that, to some, it is not bright enough)

[Lance]

Originally Posted by WSport13

if you do have the original kit around, can you post a picture of it, mainly its connectors. I'm looking at the pdf instruction from CHH but still a bit confused. Thanks.

For those already had it installed, does it stay on as long as your headlight is on ? (I've read that, to some, it is not bright enough)

I have the illumination kit already installed. It does link to the headlights. It is not very bright. It doesn't have a manual on/off switch. It serves it's intended purpose OK, but I would like additional lighting for the same duration as the map lights. Not a must have. I'm just considering it. I guess that it depends on the level of effort and amount of risk that I am willing to accept.

Lance

[on2]

Take out your map light. Look at the color of the wiring. There may or may not be a ground wire. The screws holding the map light assembly is possibly the ground.

You can test this out with a multimeter.

Take note of the color of the wiring.

The wires for the map and dome light run down the driver side A-pillar.

Trace it down to the footwell area and tap into the lights down there.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by on2

Take out your map light. Look at the color of the wiring. There may or may not be a ground wire. The screws holding the map light assembly is possibly the ground.

You can test this out with a multimeter.

Take note of the color of the wiring.

The wires for the map and dome light run down the driver side A-pillar.

Trace it down to the footwell area and tap into the lights down there.

Thank You.

Lance

[Lance]

Originally Posted by II Kings 9:20

There are specific fuse taps that make it clean, neat and easy. Our fuse is a mini but has short prongs. I'll try to find a pic and post.

Ebay item # 120999186553

This is a great idea. I have a question that I think doesn't have an answer; however, I'll ask you guys anyway. Why would the fuse for the interior lights be in the engine compartment fuse box? Given that I want the foot well lights to go on and off with the map lights, can someone tell me how to tap the wires through the engine firewall?

Thanks again,

Lance

[II Kings 9:20]

Originally Posted by Lance

This is a great idea. I have a question that I think doesn't have an answer; however, I'll ask you guys anyway. Why would the fuse for the interior lights be in the engine compartment fuse box? Given that I want the foot well lights to go on and off with the map lights, can someone tell me how to tap the wires through the engine firewall?

Thanks again,

Lance

I have not done it on this car. I think Platinum and possibly glen e have when sorting out the Strip light to DRL conversion.

You follow an existing wire through the firewall grommet and voila. Easier said than done. There should be some fuse in the box bove the hood release you can tap.

I will tell you that some of the fuse taps will be tight because of space issues and wire looms blocking some of the fuses. Take a look, there is a fuse diagram above the kick panel that might be useful. I would not tap into the fuel injection or something important like that

Under hood is very easy access but requires a firewall pass through. Our fuse is called a low profile mini.

[sodaks2k]

Originally Posted by Lance

Why would the fuse for the interior lights be in the engine compartment fuse box?

They're not.

Originally Posted by on2

The wires for the map and dome light run down the driver side A-pillar.

Trace it down to the footwell area and tap into the lights(fuses) down there.

I would use this thread as a guide.

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=78856

[on2]

Tapping into the fuse is a sure way to get to the right source for the dome light however it looks to be a pain as there is little room to work with where the wires go through the firewall.

Tapping into the right wire in the footwell area will be much easier if we can figure out exactly which wire the dome light is.

[II Kings 9:20]

The fuses down by the left foot would be a PITA depending on which fuse is the correct one to use. Tapping a map wire woud be great but as I looked under the dash near the fuses, lots of wires are running bundled in looms and finding the map wire seems arduous at best. Not saying it can't be done.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by sodaks2k

They're not.

I would use this thread as a guide. http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=78856

2) I used that thread as a guide (#3 of that thread is quoted in #6 above.)

1) Page 564 of the Owner’s Manual identifies fuse #20 of the engine compartment fuse box for 'Interior Lights'. I questioned the rationale so I tested it. When I opened the car door the interior lights went on. I closed the door and unplugged fuse #20 in the engine compartment. When I opened the car door again the interior lights didn’t come on. I closed the door and reinserted fuse # 20. When I reopened the car door the interior lights came on…. Number 20 in the engine compartment sure seems like the right fuse to me.

What god left of my mechanically-inclined skills he added to my analytically-inclined skills. Where a carpenter will measure twice and cut once. I analyze four times and publish results once.

Lance

[sodaks2k]

Originally Posted by Lance

2) I used that thread as a guide (#3 of that thread is quoted in #6 above.)

1) Page 564 of the Owner’s Manual identifies fuse #20 of the engine compartment fuse box for 'Interior Lights'. I questioned the rationale so I tested it. When I opened the car door the interior lights went on. I closed the door and unplugged fuse #20 in the engine compartment. When I opened the car door again the interior lights didn’t come on. I closed the door and reinserted fuse # 20. When I reopened the car door the interior lights came on…. Number 20 in the engine compartment sure seems like the right fuse to me.

What god left of my mechanically-inclined skills he added to my analytically-inclined skills. Where a carpenter will measure twice and cut once. I analyze four times and publish results once.

Lance

And that's what I get for misunderstanding what 0n2 wrote. Either way I would use the fuses in the foot well. That's what I used for my fog lights, the ACC fuse.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by sodaks2k

And that's what I get for misunderstanding what 0n2 wrote. Either way I would use the fuses in the foot well. That's what I used for my fog lights, the ACC fuse.

Given that I am not mechanically inclined, I'll probably wait for a YouTube idiot's guide to foot well lighting before I try anything. I'm sure that somebody out there will try it and suceed.

Lance

[Lance]

I'm now thinking that neither tapping into the interior light wires, nor splitting the fuse will accomplish what I'm trying to do. I'm pretty sure that the wires are always hot. The puddle lights are controlled by a pressure switch in the door. Both the map lights and dome light are controlled by switches in the light fixtures.

I'm now thinking that the only way to take advantage of dimming foot well LED strips with the map lights will be to tap into the actual positive connector of the map light bulb socket.

Thoughts?

Lance