Under-dash Neons Installed

[Badger Biker]

Got a big rebate check in the mail from my cell phone, and I decided to blow it on interior neons. I had red in my old car, and loved it. I used cold-cathode PC lights, but they sucked. So I went with street glow this time.

I used 2x 12" Mini Neo-Blue Street Glow lights, one in each footwell.
I am also using the street glow power control box as well. I am getting power from the cig lighter, and running all the wires under the center console/shifter housing. I also mounted my control box in the center console, for more of a stealth look. I just drilled (omg ... scary) a small hole in the box for the wires and that's it. Clean and simple.

I am going to be adding ones to the rear footwells now, I like these so much. Having the lights beat to the music is a bit fun too, totally ricey, but surprisingly fun.

W/o further adieux...

And the control box:

Happy to help with questions, and I am wearing special underwear that makes me immune to flames about being ricey, so don't waste your time.

(naughty)

 

[changedman]

RIC3R

no just kidding d00d. looks good. matches gauges

 

[Caffein8d]

mmmm yummy

 

[Prodigy]

I think you deserve credit some credit for saying "I am wearing special underwear that makes me immune to flames about being ricey, so don't waste your time. "

haha, good sense of humor.

 

[Airman Jack]

looks sweet! I was wondering when someone was going to do interior lights similar to that dim blue found just over the coin tray. How much did they set you back? Can you get the lights to just be on steady and not have to pay extra for a control box?

 

[Mazda3ofKent]

looks awomse I have been thinking about doing that

 

[Badger Biker]

looks sweet! I was wondering when someone was going to do interior lights similar to that dim blue found just over the coin tray. How much did they set you back? Can you get the lights to just be on steady and not have to pay extra for a control box?

Total cost was around $50, you can definatly do it cheaper, but I didn't feel like searching too long for the lights.

The box is nice in that I can turn the pulsing on and off, and it has a sensitivity switch. As far just hooking the lights up to the power supply themselves, you can do that, but you would have to install a switch in there somehow unless you wanted them on all the time while the car was running.

You can buy power boxes for real cheap, and some of them just have on/off switches in them. I wouldn't do this w/o a box, seeing that it is so easy to add stuff in the future, and keeps things really clean. (mj)

 

[Jake1]

Nice man! Looks good! I have the same exact neons in my 3; one in each footwell and I really love the look. Instead of using one of those power boxes though, my friend helped me wire all the lights straight to the battery & then I have a switch I can flip to turn them on/off. I have one in the back too, mounted to the ceiling just behind the rear brake light: it really helps to illuminate the whole car. I'll try to get some pics

 

[Slider]

That will give you like twenty wheel hp won't it?

 

[Dexter]

looks good man. i chose to forgo any power boxes or direct battery wiring and have mine wired to the parking light switch with an additional kill switch hidden in the center console.

(thumb)

 

[Badger Biker]

Jake: Get those pics ASAP! that's awesome

I wanted to wire it to the acc. switch so that I wouldn't accidentially leave them on when the car was off.

I'll get to have all that battery wiring fun when I do the stereo system in the near future. Oh yea ... I can't wait

 

[Tonys3]

That will give you like twenty wheel hp won't it?

maybe on a subaru , i would try anything (glare) (rlaugh)

 

[RumcokeBoy]

cool lights man, i have been thinking to do that for a while but don't really know how...can you show me where did you run those wires and where did you drill the hole?...the lights are so cool that i'll try to take a risk for once and do it by myself...lolz

 

[Badger Biker]

here's a thread that shows you all the fun wire routing stuff.

http://mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=7671

As far as the hole, I used a dremel to make a small one and it's near the floor of the cargo bin under the control box. Pretty simple.

 

[Jake1]

Here's some of my pics. Kinda turned out bad, but you get the idea. The lights are all wired to a switch that's mounted in the lower driver's side panel that contains all the fuses. It's nice to have a friend that's an electrician! There's two lights mounted up front (1 in each footwell) & one in the back mounted to the ceiling right behind the upper brake light: it casts a blue glow over the whole interior! The Streeglow Neo-Blue color matches the gauges & LEDs almost perfectly.

 

[JOS3]

looks awesome jon!!! ive been thinking about doing something similar with red lights. when i do, i know just the man to call

 

[Jake1]

It adds an entirely new feel/atmosphere to night driving. Red lights would be cool too.

 

[RumcokeBoy]

nice setup jake!! (10) but the light in the back...does it bother you when you look into the rear mirror while you are driving?

 

[Airman Jack]

Jake, looks good! does the light in the drivers side footwell ever distract you? why did you mount it in front of the pedals instead of behind them as it appears Badge Biker did?

 

[Jake1]

Jake, looks good! does the light in the drivers side footwell ever distract you? why did you mount it in front of the pedals instead of behind them as it appears Badge Biker did?

No, the light's not a distraction: I was trying to find the best place to mount the neons (I got 12" tubes, so it was kinda tough!) As for the light in back: no, not really distracting at all.