My engine's on fire!!!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: Lexington KY
CI 4-5-6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08
looks cool guys!!!
A couple of guys in our club did this, but bought two rear center lights out from a van at the junk yard and hooked them up with switch where the ash tray is. Cost a buck a light....
A couple of guys in our club did this, but bought two rear center lights out from a van at the junk yard and hooked them up with switch where the ash tray is. Cost a buck a light....
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
this is direct from oznium.com
What exactly is a cold cathode?
A cold cathode is a lamp very similar to a neon lamp. The light comes from a small round neon tube (2.6mm diameter) powered by a transformer. The transformer is designed to use 12 volts DC, and output approximately 650 volts AC that is needed to power the cold cathode.
What is the difference between cathodes and neon's?
The main difference is in the light output and cost. Cathodes are much brighter and less expensive than regular neon accent tubes. Cathodes are a better value.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 0
From: Athens OH
The night picture is cool!
I was just noticiing the reflection of the cathode on the fender. I wonder if you can place the cathode where you can get a good glow effect through the vent and still not see the cathode or the reflection?
I'll have to look undedr the fender to see.
I was just noticiing the reflection of the cathode on the fender. I wonder if you can place the cathode where you can get a good glow effect through the vent and still not see the cathode or the reflection?
I'll have to look undedr the fender to see.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,640
Likes: 83
From: . New York
The night picture is cool!
I was just noticiing the reflection of the cathode on the fender. I wonder if you can place the cathode where you can get a good glow effect through the vent and still not see the cathode or the reflection?
I'll have to look undedr the fender to see.
I was just noticiing the reflection of the cathode on the fender. I wonder if you can place the cathode where you can get a good glow effect through the vent and still not see the cathode or the reflection?
I'll have to look undedr the fender to see.
I was hoping to keep this as "my own private little mod"
This was exactly what I wanted....sooooo...I fumbled through as follows:
(2) red side marker lights from autoparts, regular incandescents (due to the warm up/cool down time giving it that analog look we want)
(1) fuse tap (to get power from the block under the passenger footwell)
(1) "Beat Box" <== small electrical component to make the lights blink to the beat of the music. You can find them in the Ricer section of bigger autoparts stores.
Mount the marker lights in the coves, far enough back and high enough that you only see the glow out of the cove. Not meant to be as bright as the neons at the start of this post.
Run the wires through the flex connector that carries the door wiring into the car (this will take a while, but "gotta be neat" so its worth it).
Connect lights to "Beat Box", Beat Box to power, and mount under dash against frame somewhere that you can reach it to adjust the sensitivity and preferably towards the center console (so you pick up the resonance from the engine/exhaust rather than the bass from the speakers in the doors).
Fire up the engine and adjust the sensitivity until it barely flickers at idle, as rpms go up, it gets brighter
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,417
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis MD
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 0
From: Athens OH
AAMRAM, you're killing me :-)
I was hoping to keep this as "my own private little mod"
This was exactly what I wanted....sooooo...I fumbled through as follows:
(2) red side marker lights from autoparts, regular incandescents (due to the warm up/cool down time giving it that analog look we want)
(1) fuse tap (to get power from the block under the passenger footwell)
(1) "Beat Box" <== small electrical component to make the lights blink to the beat of the music. You can find them in the Ricer section of bigger autoparts stores.
Mount the marker lights in the coves, far enough back and high enough that you only see the glow out of the cove. Not meant to be as bright as the neons at the start of this post.
Run the wires through the flex connector that carries the door wiring into the car (this will take a while, but "gotta be neat" so its worth it).
Connect lights to "Beat Box", Beat Box to power, and mount under dash against frame somewhere that you can reach it to adjust the sensitivity and preferably towards the center console (so you pick up the resonance from the engine/exhaust rather than the bass from the speakers in the doors).
Fire up the engine and adjust the sensitivity until it barely flickers at idle, as rpms go up, it gets brighter
I was hoping to keep this as "my own private little mod"
This was exactly what I wanted....sooooo...I fumbled through as follows:
(2) red side marker lights from autoparts, regular incandescents (due to the warm up/cool down time giving it that analog look we want)
(1) fuse tap (to get power from the block under the passenger footwell)
(1) "Beat Box" <== small electrical component to make the lights blink to the beat of the music. You can find them in the Ricer section of bigger autoparts stores.
Mount the marker lights in the coves, far enough back and high enough that you only see the glow out of the cove. Not meant to be as bright as the neons at the start of this post.
Run the wires through the flex connector that carries the door wiring into the car (this will take a while, but "gotta be neat" so its worth it).
Connect lights to "Beat Box", Beat Box to power, and mount under dash against frame somewhere that you can reach it to adjust the sensitivity and preferably towards the center console (so you pick up the resonance from the engine/exhaust rather than the bass from the speakers in the doors).
Fire up the engine and adjust the sensitivity until it barely flickers at idle, as rpms go up, it gets brighter
lol. Just kidding. Seriously, thanks for sharing this
. Sounds easier than I expected to be. I have a few questions if you don't mind me asking.Have you done this yet? Or is it still in the concept stage?
How bright would the bulbs be? I am looking foir more of a soft glow look. If they are too bright for what I want, is there any reason I couldn't wire the cathodes to the "beat box"?
I'm also thinking I'd like to have a switch to bypass the beat box so I have the option of having them on constantly. Do some beat boxes have a "constant on" setting? And lastly, I don't listen to really loud music, but if the radio was on, wouldn't the lights be flashing to it?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
The night picture is cool!
I was just noticiing the reflection of the cathode on the fender. I wonder if you can place the cathode where you can get a good glow effect through the vent and still not see the cathode or the reflection?
I'll have to look undedr the fender to see.
I was just noticiing the reflection of the cathode on the fender. I wonder if you can place the cathode where you can get a good glow effect through the vent and still not see the cathode or the reflection?
I'll have to look undedr the fender to see.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 0
From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
Radio, it never ends does it. 
let us know how the plexi works out.
Also, I would assume that the red is legal because as someone else mentioned, the vettes side markers on the rear fenders are red. It only has to be amber in the front. You are not allowed to have red markers in the front of the vehicle.
let us know how the plexi works out.Also, I would assume that the red is legal because as someone else mentioned, the vettes side markers on the rear fenders are red. It only has to be amber in the front. You are not allowed to have red markers in the front of the vehicle.
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Radio, it never ends does it. let us know how the plexi works out.
Also, I would assume that the red is legal because as someone else mentioned, the vettes side markers on the rear fenders are red. It only has to be amber in the front. You are not allowed to have red markers in the front of the vehicle.
let us know how the plexi works out.Also, I would assume that the red is legal because as someone else mentioned, the vettes side markers on the rear fenders are red. It only has to be amber in the front. You are not allowed to have red markers in the front of the vehicle.
The official Ruling on the Red vs. Amber when last i checked is that Red must be facing the rear OR facing the side on the rear half of the vehicle. Amber must be facing the front or the side on the front half of the vehicle. The exceptions to this rule are clearence lights on trucks (i.e. the sierra denali edition and dully pickups)
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Looks awesome George! 
I think that's one of those feel good mods... when you see it, when you see the reactions of others... I just feels good 
I think that's one of those feel good mods... when you see it, when you see the reactions of others... I just feels good
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 0
From: Athens OH
I'm replacing the screens as soon as the new ones arrive in the mail. (tried to spray paint the regular ones and the paint job was crappy) I'm going to see if attaching a piece of frosted plexiglas will even out the light and reduce the reflection of the cathode itself. Stay tuned.
