Installing a boot light - can't find a 12v feed

[tigertiger]

Now the dark nights are drawing in and I'm getting a little fed up of trying to fish things out of the boot in complete darkness I've decided it's time to install a boot light.

I've bought a 12V white LED light strip which will do the job perfectly and plan to spice it into the interior light circuit, but I can't get to the loom from either the boot or the passenger side hatch.

Other options I've considered

The loom from the battery which is about 3/4" thick with multiple cables and I don't want to break into that.

Cutting into the flexible section connecting the targa but I doubt the conduit would accomodate the splicing and 2 extra wires.

Taking a direct feed from the battery but it wouldn't be fused and I wouldn't get the 15 sec on after closing the door.

A battery and a switch - but that's too easy!


Has any one done this before? Please help....

[mongoose]

I take it that by passenger side hatch you mean the access panel to the door locking/latch mechanism?if so whats the problem there?Its definately where i would take the feed from(solid purple wire going to interior light on roll hoop).This is nice and easy to feed straight from here,over the rear arch,and can easily be hand fed into boot compartment.

[tigertiger]

Thanks Mongoose, I can't see a purple wire there or feel any thin cables through the hatch at all...

There are two wires up to the targa wrapped in tape (no earth in targa I guess). But once they feed into the side panel I can't access them.



>> Edited by tigertiger on Wednesday 16th November 19:56

[mongoose]

cant you pull back the carpet?usually its only held in place with velcro,then you can see the door latch/lock mechanism,and the connector that i'm talking about,with the solid purple wire.

[david beer]

There should be three wires going up there ! The purple is the live one, you could get yourself a reed switch, place magnet on the strut and as the boot opens fully, the LEDs come on,dead posh.

[bigdods]

hmmm the interior light is supposed to come on when the doors open..and even more stay on for 15 secs after they are closed ? Mines broken then ! Its got 3 settings. On . Off. on.....

[tigertiger]

Thanks All!

I'll take another look tomorrow. There is a sheet of GRP behind the carpet that appear to be hinged on something preventing me pulling it fully aside. David, is there an earth return there too? If so what colour will it be?

>> Edited by tigertiger on Wednesday 16th November 21:40

[ribol]

If you are looking for a live in the boot you could take it off the sidelights and just put the lights on. If you have a boot changer you could take a permanent live from there.

The switched earth from the door pin switch is easily got at over the arch and down in the box section.

[M@H]

tigertiger said:

There is a sheet of GRP behind the carpet that appear to be hinged on something preventing me pulling it fully aside.

Its just struck to the back of the carpet and wedged into the beading around the door (well it was on mine).. you should be able to get behind it without too much trouble.

Cheers
Matt

[V8 Kieran]

Alternative thought.......

Cut away carpet around number plate lights - they will shine back into boot for free! (don't know about later models with recessed plate, but on flush plate models it works a treat)

[tvr keith]

I too would like to fit a boot light.
Tried all the local car accesory shops for a suitable light without success, so who sells them?
Like the idea of a reed switch, where do I buy that? Had a look to see if I could fit a switch to the latch but having removed the carpet decided it was fairly impossible. Mone is a 2000 model so can't use the number plate lights.
Keith

[tigertiger]

All done! Thanks for your help guys...

Had a closer look through the passenger side solenoid hatch and traced the targa lighting (3 cables black, purple and red bound in black insulation tape)

Cut into these (live working, ooerr but thankfully no shorts to earth) and spliced a supply to the boot into red and purple. Routed new wires over wheel arch into the boot where I fitted an LED strip light from www.led-lightbulbs.co.uk.

I originally planned to mount the strip above the cd changer but it cast shadows and was too bright on the eye so I've fixed it on the left under the boot seal where it gives good sideways illumination without dazzling.

Looks great, stays on for 15 secs like the targa light and for longer periods just need to leave the door open.

Total cost ~£18.00. Bargain!


(PS. bloody cold tonight isn't it? Just finished an hour ago and came into the house realising I couldn't feel my toes...)



>> Edited by tigertiger on Thursday 17th November 22:54

[ribol]

tvr keith said:

I too would like to fit a boot light. Tried all the local car accesory shops for a suitable light without success, so who sells them? Like the idea of a reed switch, where do I buy that? Had a look to see if I could fit a switch to the latch but having removed the carpet decided it was fairly impossible. Mone is a 2000 model so can't use the number plate lights. Keith

The boot catch will have a switch built in for the alarm so that is an obvious way to go for the switch. If I wanted a light I would probably fit a cheapo nasty Ford interior lamp to match the original interior lamp. If that does not suit, decide where you want to fit it and just pick one from another car and fit that.
Dare I suggest a scrap yard, if you can find one, not really something that wears out.

[ribol]

Looks like I got there too late by 0.001s

[tigertiger]

Spotted: Ribol in a parallel universe!

>> Edited by tigertiger on Thursday 17th November 22:59

[MrsFlipFlopGriff]

we've got David Beers remote boot release kit which the LED's plug straight into. Got one either side which velcro to the carpet under the rear wing. Magnet on strut so they only come on when the boot is so far open - brilliant.
Can't recall cost or whether David is still playing modwise - I'm sure he'll comment.
FFG