So I want to install LED strips under the dash. How can I get power to those strips? They come with a 12 volt plug but my radar detector is already plugged in there. What can I do now?

 

what you will need is this

next find a fuse that is powered on with the key, you will want to then run your power wire for the leds to that and the ground to chassis. Then mount the leds in positions and you are done unless you want to add a switch for them in which case you just wire the switch to the fusetap then to the lights power wire. If you want them to come on with your headlights then put that fusetap into the left or right low beam power fuse.

 

thanks a lot

 

no problem anything else you need just let me know.

 

theres a few options that i have done. first one is a cig lighter splitter. they sell them at auto parts stores or basically any where. Ace hardware has them, i work there. this works but it looks pretty trashy when you get a lot of plugs, personally i have four, but mine are mounted up pretty nice, post a pic if you want. another option is to take the dash apart a little bit and remove the lighter and cut the wires and splice a wire to go to the LED strip. sorry if i cant explain this well. lastly you can make a whole new run of wires. start from the batter and buy an inline fuse. they cost a few bucks, auto parts stores or ace again. the most you will need is 5 amp, so 16-14 gauge wire is plenty. just come threw the fire wall, this is easy if you have other electronics hooked up such as subs or stuff where you have gone threw the fire wall before. if not it can be tricky.

(have LED strips in my car thats how i did it)

any more questions just ask.

 

Or just use 1 of the fuse taps I posted the pic of and save yourself all that uneccesary stuff go directly to your interior fuse panel and since it gives you a completely independant fused power source and you can have it come on with key power, constant power, or headlights. Gee that was easy.

 

Can anyone post a picture of fuse-tapping? I'm about to embark on this endeavor on Saturday. thanks!

 

I'd also be interested in this if someone posts.