How Can I Install Underdash Lighting?

[carter1551]

I saw this guide to installing under dash lighting which I thought was pretty cool.
http://www.protegefaq.net/footlamp/
I want to do the exact same thing except spend 80 bucks on the official mazda kit. Can anyone tell me in detail what exactly I need to buy in order for this to work EXACTLY like they do in the mazda kit? Im really lost when it comes to all this stuff so some real detail to putting my own kit together would be so helpful

 

[kickniteasy]

I actually just installed some 12" L.E.D. bars under the seats and it has the same effect......it was also a MUCH easier install than all the jazz.

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

I want.......

 

[carter1551]

I actually just installed some 12" L.E.D. bars under the seats and it has the same effect......it was also a MUCH easier install than all the jazz.

wanna give me a how to? lol

 

[jbiird317]

Pretty easy to do on the protege. I had LED tubes in my protege under the dash. Simplest thing to do (cheapest as well), go to autozone or pepboys and they sell any color LED tube you want for $15. You can mount the tubes up above the pedals on your side, on the passenger side under the glove box. From those positions you can come up under the dash through the center console (wires come out where the cupholders are). You can splice the wires into the cig lighter with a switch and hide the switch out of sight deep into the center console.

Im sure that you could wire it to a different spot so that they come on when the doors unlock or something, I dont know enough about wiring to know how to do that, but I know its possible

edit--when you mount the tubes, make sure taht you cant see them. The lights look cool when theyre on and you cant see the tubes, but if you see the tube, it just looks ricey/tacky. I also suggest a sorta neutral color. I had light green on my dark green protege and i think it looked pretty good.

 

[njaremka]

all you need are some cheap lights - then follow the how to from the FAQ to wire them up

 

[kickniteasy]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44332&highlight=lights


I just hooked mine up under my seats. I actually just got a cigarette outlet splitter, plugs into outlet and has 4 outlets at the end of it, put that under my seat, and plugged both my tubes into that. The only thing showing is a small black wire that runs from the cigarette plug under the seat. I didn't want to screw around with electronics.

 

[major error]

I did something similar with my 3, but was more work-intensive for about the same price.

I went to The LED Light and bought a package of 18 clear/orange LEDs to match the dash lighting, and a 350mA PowerPuck to drive them. Two spools of 30' 18ga wire from RatShack, a bit of soldering and heat-shrink application is all it took.

I have 2 taped under the dash and 2 under the seat toward the front to illuminate the driver & passenger footwells, and 2 taped to the bottom rear ends of the seat rails to take care of the rear passenger footwells (for a total of 12.) Power comes from a dash accent-light that only comes on with the parking & headlights.
It looks nice as-is, but the light isn't even. I haven't decided if I will sand the LEDs to be more opaque or if I should put some sort of diffuser over them...

 

[ProtoType5]

I've installed cold-cathode neons under the dash and seats....All you need is 12Volt power supply from the back of the cigarrette lighter...Just splice the power wires in...run it to a switch, to the power converter, which is supplied, and to the bulbs...Pretty damn easy....Check out ComputerGeeks.com...They sell 12" sets for like 8 bucks...All you'll really need to do is buy a nicer looking power switch...With it wired to the cigarette lighter, the power is only supplied when you turn the ignition...and with the switch you can turn them off if they need to be....Constant power can be found in the fuse box.

A side note...In Washington it is a $500 fine to have colored accent lights on in the car...I've never had a problem, but it is the law...just FYI

 

[pasadena_commut]

Is this for show cars? Are those lights on while the car is moving?

In 33 years of driving (egads I'm getting old) not once have I either needed or wanted to illuminate my toes.

 

[P5inMD]

HA! "illuminate my toes" <-- funny expression but I see it otherwise. I like the look. I'm gonna try it since it is only a >$20 mod. how long will it take approx.?

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

I'd rather do the mazda kit. Where can I get it from since it is a JDM part & B30L-V7-050 doesn't come up in computers here in the US?

 

[kickniteasy]

Is this for show cars? Are those lights on while the car is moving?

In 33 years of driving (egads I'm getting old) not once have I either needed or wanted to illuminate my toes.

I first did it just to accent the interior and color match the dash lights, now I kind of get freaked out when I'm driving a car at night without them. It's just nice to have the extra bit of illumination and yes, I have had things drop under the seats at night and been glad I had my "flash lights" =).

On a cop related note, since mine are just plugged into the cig. lighter the one time I've gotten pulled over I just unplugged them real quick.

 

[peterbuilt]

I actully used the neon rear tag out-liners that alot of people use to pimp there cars..... and i mounted them under my seats ground the wire out on a bolt, head the two boxes that are on the lines under my my center consoul and then ran a power wire to the a hot wire with a toggle switch up front were the light dimmer control is. that way you have lights front and back.

 

[ProtoType5]

I'd rather do the mazda kit. Where can I get it from since it is a JDM part & B30L-V7-050 doesn't come up in computers here in the US?

japanparts.com

 

[carter1551]

so if I just go buy some neons but apply the same exact same method as the jdm foot lamps will they work fine? Dimming and all?

 

[njaremka]

neons probably won't react well to the dimming - probably blow them out

 

[preludejtstyle]

LED > neon anyday. More reliable, more durable, less power used, and equally as bright or brighter.

Also getting cheaper, as time goes by.

 

[ProtoType5]

neons won't dim....

 

[MonkeyBone]

damn....6 years ago with my 92 protege ive done this mod....but LED was not the "cool" thing so I bought 4 lamp for a trailer!!!! 2 inch by 2 inch made like a cone shape 1 under the dash on my side, one under the passenger side dash, one under each front seat pointing at the rear...running on 12 volt with a 20a fuse and a dash mount switch (double switch with a fog switch too)

damn the car was red on the outside...and $//?/$ red on the inside and it was soooo a nice even lighting but...i've slammed the car in a concrete wall at 50 mph, face on (because of "the radio is not set right so let's adjust it! and a /$&?$"/ civic braking right in front of me at the same time" so ive turn right into a wall no time for braking

enough said...LED are nice but viva trailer lamps

maybe doing this to the P5...someday