Question about wiring neon

kevinberry1 · Post by **kevinberry1** » Fri May 27, 2005 8:26 pm

I ordered a neon tube from Justin and was wondering how I can hook it into my existing trunk light so that it only works when the trunk is open? I actually spliced the wire to the trunk light and it powered the light just fine, but the neon continued to light up despite the trunk being closed. Does anyone know what I can do here??? I would appreciate any help, thanks!!

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Fri May 27, 2005 8:39 pm

i imagine it has constant power, you probably wired it before the switch, youd need to wire after the switch.

kevinberry1 · Post by **kevinberry1** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:01 pm

I wired it right at the light. How can I find the switch?

sinister audio · Post by **sinister audio** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:12 pm

you need something like a mercury switch (old term) its just a switch that turns on when the light is shifted from sideways to up or what ever, they use to use mercury because it was a metal that is a liquid and float around till it was all the way connected between the 2 terminals inside and then the flow would be complete. you can buy universal switches to do that you might be able to buy the mercury ones still but probaly not.

Mithrandir · Post by **Mithrandir** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:16 pm

eh usually if your wires are very close to the light, it should be wired to the switch. Basically it has constant power from the battery. Switch interupts it until the trunk is open then connects the flow. I could be wrong, Are you sure ur light is off when the trunk is closed, have a friend go inside and close it, then have him tell u if its on or off. It would be easier to make a nifty panel somewhere u can flip a switch in your trunk or car.

kevinberry1 · Post by **kevinberry1** » Fri May 27, 2005 9:17 pm

I will check into that sinister. I figured that since the trunk light only turned on when it was open that I coud wire it right at the light source, but that didn't work. I tried switching the wires in case I had them backwards and I blew a feuse :) I guess that means that I grounded the power source huh. I still think I should be able to figure it out, but I can't.

JeremyC · Post by **JeremyC** » Sat May 28, 2005 6:02 am

Kevin, why don't you use a car alarm trunk / hood pin? It shows as a open when the trunk is closed, and then completes the circuit (ground side) when the trunk is open.

kevinberry1 · Post by **kevinberry1** » Sat May 28, 2005 3:16 pm

Hey thanks for your help guys. I think I will try the pin idea. The light does stay on because I can see it when the rear seat is folded down and the trunk light goes off, but the neon stays on. It would be much easier to wire with that pin switch because then I could use the 3rd fuse area on my distribution fuse block. I will scour the internet to find one of those. Thanks again.

JeremyC · Post by **JeremyC** » Sat May 28, 2005 4:11 pm

I know I used to get them at Radio Shack, but if they don't have one any car stereo shop will have a few laying around. Heck I bet they would just give it to you.

lotas · Post by **lotas** » Sat May 28, 2005 5:53 pm

not 100% but you could probably use a relay. wire the trunk light to a terminal of the relay so that when the light gets power the 12v from the light goes to the relay and connects the relay coil and the neon would light up.

same effect as using a relay with a remote turn-on, so that cooling fans turn on when your HU turns on. Basically when <blank> gets a 12v signal, it will make <blank> turn on.

i think relays are like 6bucks at radioshack, just an idea if that trunk pin doesnt work out.