I am going to be gaining a very cool lexan wind block for between my seats and want to illuminate it with some of the LED flex strips available...their 12 volt...

I'd like to have it hard wired to the driving lights (and/or the brake lights) so it illuminates through power of the XFire -

This is not a 'kit' being purchased - does anyone have experience with tapping into the power scheme of the car or have a wiring diagram of the car - I work w/Electrical Engineers and they'll help me but they'd like some reference help if anyone knows...

Any help would be appreciated and thanks so much...

 

Ok, I'll try and redeem myslef here.

There are a couple of things to consider with this project. Our cars are fairly sensitive to modding anything electrical. If the LED strip you use doesn't have the proper resistance, it "may" trigger the Bulb Outage Indicator on the instrument panel. That isn't hard to overcome, if you are experienced with electrical systems, it shouldn't be hard for you to add a resistor to the wires and cure that problem.

I would also check the Legalities of this in your state. I know in Virginia this setup wouldn't pass go. I think it would be cool to have it come on with the brake lights if you can get away with it. Another idea you may consider is a Flasher such as this http://www.wyckoffchryslerparts.com/sich3003rdbr.html to make it flash with the brake lights. This is a "plug and play" device that I have on my car and could easily be adapted to power an LED strip.

If nothing else, you could always hook it up to the "rear" foglight detent on the headlight switch (pull it out twice) or mount a switch in hidden spot.

I'm sure you have probably already seen the lighted wind deflector kits available, so if you don't want to hassle with a custom setup, you could just buy one of those kits. They will even emboss any logo on it that you wish.

Hope this helps.

Your foe, the "Bully"

 

Thanks for the information although the resistance thing is a bit over my head, the electrical folks I work with should understand what you wrote...I appreciate the guidance and you also have a good day...

I do not wish to have a 'foe' nor to be bullied...I know you were perhaps trying to be helpful - seems weird to me that other folks have sold the same stuff for near the price I stated - that was my specific thing, and in general (Coupegirls posts and others) I've seen some pretty non-professional and lacking in tact posts...that was my 'general' comment...

I apologize if you felt I attacked you or 'Andrew' - I simply want to have pleasant experiences - have had my fill of non-pleasant and just don't have any more tolerance for that...in general, in my llife, with whomever...so thank you and again I apologize...

Dan Rose

 

I'm not sure if you've seen my post under the Crossfire Roadster forum "An Introduction", but this is what I was able to find: Virginia State Code on "Other Permissable Lights"

You can also scan down this page to get an idea on what other things you can't do. But it does appear that you can use your lights if they're not blue, red, or red and white. If they're not flashing. And if each light inside the vehicle is less than 15 candlepower. Now I'll admit that I don't know what 15 candlepower is exactly, but I know it should be equivalent of burning 15 candles, and that's per light inside the car. 15 candles is pretty bright. 15 candles x 9 (LED's) = 135 candlepower.

I assume you must live in Virginia, and I don't know if you've ever wanted to put some lights inside your car, but it looks like you can, and don't ever let a cop tell you otherwise. Just don't go over 15 candlepower per light.

Edit: To give you a better idea, this was taken from wikipedia.org

A common candle emits roughly 1 candlepower. A 100 W incandescent lightbulb emits about 120 candlepower.

 

I remember when I used to go to school in Ohio that people told me that the laws in Ohio governing colored lights of any kind where strictly prohibited accross the state. Basically that any light that didn't come with the car when purchased from the manufacturer was illegal. I just spent the last couple hours combing thought Ohio State Laws and Codes and didn't come accross anything that suggests anything like I was once previously told. As long as the lights you're using aren't flashing it sounds like you're good to go.

If anyone knows differently and can send me a link saying so, lemme know.