VZ 12v Acc from Smnokers pack plug

[dingdong555]

Quick question, couldn't find the exact answer from a search.

I was to install 12v neons in the footwells and hook them to the LIGHT circuit, using the smokers pack plug, which cable is 12+v (light circuit) and which is negative?

Thanks

[Stewlz]

Get the correct 3 pin plug from jaycar, black is negative, red (I believe is) positive, and yellow is switched lighting. So connect the LEDs positive to the yellow and negative to the black, this will switch them on with the headlights, I'd suggest throwing a switch in the positive line positioned somewhere out of site as I don't think it's legal to have them on as its a distraction or some bs.

[dingdong555]

Do you happen to have the 3pin plug? If so, could you please tell me what the wires are on the stock cable? As jaycar isn't close to me so I'll just tap the wires into the stock cables....

I also have a little control box which the LEDs go into and a remote that switches them on off, so that's no issue there

Thanks for the reply

[Stewlz]

MY BAD, just checked my gauges and they pick up power off the RED cable. Use the plug hidden under the radio.


The colours at the cigarette light should be - use red as positive and black as negative. You can just chop the lighter plug under the radio if you want or follow it under the dash if you can. If your uncomfortable working with live power disconnect the negative battery, or if you can't be bothered just leave the lights off and don't cut both red and black together as you will short it and blow a 10A fuse.

Good luck!!!

[Stewlz]

And make sure you tape up the yellow which is constant power from the battery

[dingdong555]

so is the bottom pin on the standard 3pin plug negative or not?

[Stewlz]

I don't really know what you mean mate sorry, which ever is black is negative, pull back the sleaving If you have to

[dingdong555]

Ok, so the stock smokers pack plug is a 3pin, top two pins are Black/white stripe and Yellow, and the bottom pin is brown/white strip......so if I want to connect 12v red/black +/- wire to this, what goes where? I've tried a few combinations with no luck.

[Stewlz]

Ah to be honest I just shoved the plug from my gauges into that I never pulled it out and looked at the colours. I would say the brown is from your headlight switch and black is the negative.

Positive LED - brown wire of lighter
Negative LED - black wire of lighter

[dingdong555]

Unfortunately that still didn't work Thanks for your help though mate.

[Stewlz]

Perhaps you have blown a fuse, there's no reason it shouldnt work, do you have a multimeter or can get your hands on one? (just checking but) how much of an idea do you have about electrical wiring? The basic stripping insulation and twisting copper together, making sure a positive and negative never touch to prevent dead shorts which will blow fuses

[RiCeY]

Get a test light, chuck the clamp on a good earth and probe the 3 terminals till it lights up then you have your power source. Now clamp onto the power source and probe the remaining two terminals, when it lights up you have found your earth.

[dingdong555]

Thanks mate, how would something like this go? - 3-28V Cordless Voltage Tester - Jaycar Electronics

That way, I can find the two +ve terminals, and the one that doesn't light up should be the ground?

[Stewlz]

I have no idea about that tester! Never seen or heard of it but I'm sure it would do the job. Yes 2 cables will be positive and the other that shows no voltage will be ground. 1 positive will be always on when the car is and the other on when the headlights come on. I would still check under the dash for the cigarette lighter circuit to see if the fuse is still good

[dingdong555]

Just checked the fuse, it's all good

I'm going to get a voltage tester today and will let you know.

[dingdong555]

Ok, so it appears that the yellow is positive, and so is the brown, but the brown is only positive when the headlights are on......

Now, to connect the LEDS to yellow/black, we'll see what happens.

[Stewlz]

YESSSS FANTASTIC. If you connect it to yellow it will always be on when the car is, so if your happy to use the switch to turn them on and off whenever then go for that, or the brown is only when the headlights are on (which is probably better as you won't see the light in the day anyway, let us know how it turns out

[dingdong555]

YESSSS FANTASTIC. If you connect it to yellow it will always be on when the car is, so if your happy to use the switch to turn them on and off whenever then go for that, or the brown is only when the headlights are on (which is probably better as you won't see the light in the day anyway, let us know how it turns out

Turned out AMAZING! The unit I got is a 30cm flexible LED5050 strip, which goes into a little control box (with a remote) and then into a 12v source, now, both units are running off the same 12v source, and, to my surprise, one remote works for both units!! So now, all I do, is point the remote in the footwell and I can change to any colour of the rainbow, turn on/off, strobe (dangerous! haha)/ fade etc... Not bad for $10/unit!!

Just to clarify, if others are following this thread, the smokers accessory plug wires are as follows.
Yellow: 12v +ve, always on when you turn the key to ACC or ON
Brown: 12 +ve, only on when you switch your headlights on
Black: -ve/ground.

Stewlz, thanks again for all your help mate Really appreciated.

*I'll take a short video if I can tonight.