Neon Light Write-up

[MustangAndy]

Just for safety's sake you really should put a current limiting resistor before those LEDS. Even though they add up to 12V, voltage in a car/truck can jump as high as 15V. Those LEDS might not like a current/voltage increase like that.

Also, just verify that the voltage of the LEDS is 3V. Each LED color has a different voltage. Normaly Red is 2.5V, Green 3.X V, etc. I have a load of blues in my Stang each running about 3.6V apiece.

Polarity, Voltage, and Current are EXTREMELY important when working with LEDS. They litteraly blow-up if one of those 3 key things are not followed.

 

[ProjectAviator]

Don't just think of straight neon for a vehicle? I have used license plate neons for underseat glow. use you imagination when putting aux lighting on/in a vehicle.

Tim

 

[little x]

Do neon's have a + and - ? Or will they work 100% wired either way?
I'm trying to get a light that I know used to work to glow, I thought maybe I switched the wires, since they look identicle.

 

[zagfan5]

hey i just bought some neon tubes and i was wondering if i could wire then through my dash instead of strait from the battery. i'm not very tech saavy, but if someone could explain how i wire them up that would be awesome.

i have an 01

 

[MustangAndy]

hey i just bought some neon tubes and i was wondering if i could wire then through my dash instead of strait from the battery. i'm not very tech saavy, but if someone could explain how i wire them up that would be awesome.

i have an 01

If you bought a kit it will come with a distribution block, a switch and the leads will go back to the battery through a fused wire. you can install the switch on the dash but it's alot easier to to just run 1 wire to the battery and call it a day.

I have them at home and I forget who makes them.........It's a small brass ring that fit over a battery terminal and has three male spade connectors coming out of it. I'll try to find it online....

In the mean time here is a reference for you:

the "transformers" should be built into your tubes unless you got a (no offense) really cheap brand.

 

[zagfan5]

ya i bought 2 tubes and though they would come with all that, and it ended up all they came with was a cigarette lighter plug in and a few adhesive strips and a few screws. so now i'm gonna have to cut the cig adapters off and buy a box and switch and all. kinda pisses me off too cause the guy said everything was in there when i bought em. and now i cant even take em bck cause they only do in store credit.

 

[MustangAndy]

does the cigarette lighter plug into a small box?

use this for your wiring:

off the battery with a fuse at least 18" in line from the battery. Heres a wiring diagram.

each neon is generally .5amps