how to wire neons
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=22144
Printed Date: April 26, 2024 at 1:38 PM
Topic: how to wire neons
Posted By: pureRF
Subject: how to wire neons
Date Posted: November 30, 2003 at 7:50 PM
I'm wiring neons to a switched 12 volt source (cig lighter) and I'm putting a toggle switch to it. Do i put the switch on the pos. wire? Do i need a fuse? if so what ampage and should it be before or after the switch. Thanks
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dream it, build it, fiberglass it
Replies:
Posted By: xetmes
Date Posted: November 30, 2003 at 8:32 PM
you can put the switch on thepositive.. or the negative doesnt really matter... you could fuse it, if you are using one with a cig plug it most likely already has a fuse in it, the cig is already fused as well, you can add another if you want, fuse size depends on how big the tube is... probably somewhere between 5-20 A
Posted By: pureRF
Date Posted: November 30, 2003 at 8:43 PM
i think 5 will be fine where would i get somthing like this? radio shack?
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dream it, build it, fiberglass it
Posted By: mobiletoys2002
Date Posted: November 30, 2003 at 9:49 PM
a 5 would be fine neons dont draw much usually less than 1 amp.Again depending on size but rarely do they draw more than 5 amps or so.
Posted By: MAXST
Date Posted: November 30, 2003 at 10:40 PM
Can you run two neons off one switch? They are cheapo walmart 10" sticks. Im wiring some, and i forgot how i did it in my other car...doh >.< ------------- I need quality equipment, feel free to donate.
Posted By: skiflyer45
Date Posted: November 30, 2003 at 11:17 PM
yea...you can run two of one switch no prob. Just be sure to use the right switch i used a 5 amp switch and it blew.
Posted By: pureRF
Date Posted: December 01, 2003 at 1:45 PM
where can i get that small of an inline fuse?
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dream it, build it, fiberglass it
Posted By: xetmes
Date Posted: December 01, 2003 at 2:18 PM
5 A is a standard size, you could go to just about any auto parts store, ot electronics store (ie radio shack)...
Posted By: MAXST
Date Posted: December 01, 2003 at 6:12 PM
its a lighted switch. heres what i have so far. power wire from batt. to inline fuse, and that goes into the PWR part on the switch. then the grounds would be all in one spot, one from each neon wire..striped wire right?- and then from the switch, then the pos. from both on the neons go to the ACC part of the switch. feel free to correct me, i dont wanna blow anything up.lol ------------- I need quality equipment, feel free to donate.
Posted By: pureRF
Date Posted: December 01, 2003 at 7:29 PM
why dont you do it all from the cig lighter?
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dream it, build it, fiberglass it
Posted By: MAXST
Date Posted: December 01, 2003 at 8:40 PM
i dunno, you talking about splice into the power wire on the back of the cig?
dont really want to tear into the dash, so i did it the direct way. ------------- I need quality equipment, feel free to donate.
Posted By: slipitysmooth
Date Posted: December 01, 2003 at 10:11 PM
Just pull the bottom of your center console off, where you cigar lighter is...splice into the + and - wires that run to it...simple as that.. As far as the lighted switch goes, the pos from the source (ie...the lighter wire) goes to the PWR plug...the pos on the neon side goes on the ACC plug, and the "earth" plug is a chassis ground, basically any small screw on metal you can find close will work. I have a lighted switch on my amp and its nice...for my neon, i run independent toggles for each tube, and a master power switch.. (I'm fond of switches)
Posted By: pureRF
Date Posted: December 01, 2003 at 10:40 PM
i wasnt aware you have to ground the neon if the power is coming from the cig lighter. isnt the cig lighter grounded itself?
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dream it, build it, fiberglass it
Posted By: mobiletoys2002
Date Posted: December 02, 2003 at 10:30 AM
if you are using a cig plug then no ground is needed
Posted By: PuppyDawg
Date Posted: December 02, 2003 at 1:36 PM
pureRF wrote:
I'm wiring neons to a switched 12 volt source (cig lighter) and I'm putting a toggle switch to it. Do i put the switch on the pos. wire? Do i need a fuse? if so what ampage and should it be before or after the switch. Thanks
You should ALWAYS fuses my friend....it's like having insurance on your device(s) or wires....but i have a question....i'm about to actually wire 4 neon tubes for a friend of mines soon, and want to make sure i get everything straight before i tackle this job......let me get this straight?....these lil (10") neon tubes have a lil device attached to them.....it's a lil box with resistors and transformers in it.....can i cut that out and wire the tubes straight from the actual tube? ------------- *paw print*
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: December 02, 2003 at 1:41 PM
No you cannot, what you are describibg is the power supply to step up the voltage to drive the neons, what you will have to do is take case apart to expose the 2 wires coming from the supply to the cig plug itself, solder new wires onto these wires to extend them to your power / ground source, and yes add a fuse.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
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