Wiring - dummies guide

Post by **Relfy** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:29 pm

Hi, Wonder if anyone can help me. I need basic instructions... and I mean basic. I want to wire up an alarm to tell me I've left my lights on. I also want to wire in a cigarette lighter.

What do I need to do this? (connectors, wires etc)
How do I do it?

B/f said he wanted to cause he likes doing things for me; then said he doesn't; now says he might if its not cold (patchy rain followed by heavy night frosts forecast this weekend), so it looks like I'm probably on my own, not to mention, confused.

Be glad of the help, somebody!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:21 pm

B/f said he wanted to cause he likes doing things for me; then said he doesn't;

That'll teach you to ask b/f when he has just had the flu and istn't fully better yet

You need a working door switch, and a buzzer, and a few bits of wire...

Post by **minor_hickup** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:32 pm

has just had the flu and istn't fully better yet

You need to try my cold killing potion in useful tips

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:29 pm

Didn't think smoking while driving was allowed these days - like mobile phone and eating Polo Mints - means taking hand off controls for split second and anything could happen ! Soon won't be allowed to change gear manually - need to get auto trans.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:40 pm

Didn't think smoking while driving was allowed these days

I don't think it's allowed at all

However relfy wants the ciggy lighter to power an additional blower for the rear screen. (One of those annoying rear screens that doesn't want to clear even when the windows are open)

Post by **minor_hickup** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:03 pm

You can't smoke and drive?! No one told me!

Post by **bigginger** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:31 pm

Eh? You can, you know. Just practice!

Post by **minor_hickup** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:04 pm

Just the kind of rational thinking I like!

Post by **Peetee** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:22 pm

I don't think it's allowed at all

[prude mode] Not in any of my cars it isn't [/prude mode]

Post by **bigginger** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:35 pm

Just the kind of irrrational thinking I don't like!

Post by **Lou** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:39 pm

mogs have special quarterlight windows for smoking and driving

Post by **Willie** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:59 am

RELFRY....to get back to the subject. A cigarette lighter takes quite a heavy
current so you really need the correct type of wire and it should not be wired
through the existing fuses. I think you should take the 'live' feed straight
from the heavy gauge brown wire which is connected to the starter solonoid
straight from the battery (under the bonnet),and run it through a new 'in line'
fuse to the cigarette lighter. I cannot see any easy way to make a'lights
on' warning without modifying the courtesy light switch in the 'A' post or
adding a new one. Getting wires in to the A post would not be easy.

Post by **NZJLY** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:38 am

Or as an alternative, how about routing the headlight wires via the ignition switch. When key is on, lights go, when key is off, the lights have no power.

Post by **Willie** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:06 am

Fair enough,but i would imagine he is after a warning for side lights. It must
be hard to not notice that your headlights are still on. ( it wouldn't be ok to
wire the side lights via the ignition switch as the car would be in darkness
with the engine off)? This would be dangerous in many situations.
And, good evening NZJLY, often see you on here when we are all just getting
up!

Post by **Relfy** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 12:06 pm

Actually its for when i get up in the morning and go to work - its dark when i set off and light when i arrive.... and being 6.30 in the morning I'm not really awake enough to think "Must remember to turn me headlights off" ... its more like.. "where do i work again?" ;-)

....atleast i now have a permanent set of jump leads in the boot. I've used them about 4 times in the last 6 months....

Ray tells me I need to point out I'm a girl. I fail to see what difference that makes! Lol!!

Post by **Willie** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:41 pm

I'm biting my tongue!!

Post by **Packedup** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:18 pm

Right - What's wrong with:

Putting a relay in the circuit for the interior light/ door switch. Put it directly inline, so power goes in and carries on through to the switch (put it in parallel so the relay isn't having to carry the full power for the light).

Use the relay to switch a feed taken from the sidelights, that earths through a 12v buzzer.

By my reckoning, the relay will be off with the door closed, and when the door is opened the relay will switch as power goes through it and earths through hte door switch, the same way the interior light works. If the sidelights are on then the buzzer will go off till you close the door or turn the lights off.

To wire it in, find the harness for the drivers door switch (can't remember the colour off hand, possible purple?), it appears out the A post behind the glovebox that side. Get 2 bits of wire, with spades one end and bullets the other, and place the relay (switching part) between the connection from the main loom to the switch harness. Take a red feed from the sidelight circuit by getting another bit of wire with a bullet one end and spade the other (and put an inline fuse in this bit to be safe), putting the bullet in one of the sidelight junctions and the spade end on the switched part of the relay. Get the buzzer, wire one side to the other switched terminal on the relay, and the other to earth to complete the circuit.

If it all works you'll get a buzz when you open the door with the lights still on, if it doesn't then you won't need a fag lighter anymore ;)

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:35 pm

Cool! Some destructions! I might even be able to follow those... I'll run it by Ray to make sure I'm not absent-mindedly wiring up a bomb... Thanks packedup and everyone else for helpful comments!

(Oops! this comps logged me in as Ray. He wont like that.... now what to do? log out so he loses all his markers or stay logged in and make you all think I'm him?....

)

El (not Ray).

Post by **bigginger** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:50 pm

Useless - I reckon it was you, El

Post by **Packedup** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:28 am

I'm not convinced my idea will work, but I can't see why not..

If it does work then it's nice and simple and shouldn't mess anything up if it fails. Theoretically.