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Under the dash neon Question?

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Old 10-08-2003, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by 97NAbonneville1
The fuse that is there now isn't like a normal car fuse... it is one of those small clear cylindrical fuses that are in car chargers for cell phones, how would I put that in the line? If I can just drop the whole fuse thing all together I would like to, is that possible and just have it rely on the fuse that is already there in the car?
I wouldn't recommend leaving out that fuse; it does no harm to leave it in the power lead that you're going to connect to the car. That tubular design is older than the knife-type fuses that the car uses, but a fuse is a fuse is a fuse. Its rating is probably lower than that of the accessory circuit, so if your neon does do something bad, the tubular fuse should blow first, leaving the rest of the accessory circuit up and running.

If you leave out that tubular fuse and your neon system shorts something out, your entire accessory circuit will blow instead, not something you'd like to have happen if you can avoid it.
Old 10-08-2003, 09:45 PM
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Very true, but I have no clue how to wire that fuse in, like how would I attach it to the wire? Also, would I want to strip the orange wire down, attach the power lead somehow put in that cylindrical fuse, then to a switch then to the neon. And the ground just directly to the black ground wire?
Old 10-10-2003, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by 97NAbonneville1
Very true, but I have no clue how to wire that fuse in, like how would I attach it to the wire?
Do you mean that you don't have any wire lead coming out from the neon'* fuse holder? I'd have thought you'd have something to work with there. Is this a brand-new out-of-the-box neon kit, or something you got used from somewhere else?

If you're missing a lead on the fuseholder that will enable you to connect it to the circuit, maybe the best thing to do would be to get the rating of the fuse in it, then replace the whole thing with a new in-line fuse holder (probably cost all of about 79¢ at Radio Shack) that will have wires you can attach it with.

Also, would I want to strip the orange wire down, attach the power lead somehow put in that cylindrical fuse, then to a switch then to the neon. And the ground just directly to the black ground wire?
That'* pretty much how the connections go, yes. Me, I'd use a soldering iron to melt off a little insulation from the existing wires, then solder the new wires to them, but you can also use a sharp knife to strip the insulation if you're not going to cut your fingers off by mistake.

Remember that the orange wire will be live when you're working on it, unless you've either disconnected the battery or (preferably) pulled the accessory fuse that controls it (whichever one that is; I can't remember offhand).
Old 10-10-2003, 10:40 PM
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I'll get a picture of what I'm talking about... that should make it easier.
Old 10-13-2003, 06:24 PM
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These are the wires I have to work with... which one do I want to use as a power source? Thanks!
Old 10-14-2003, 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by 97NAbonneville1
These are the wires I have to work with... which one do I want to use as a power source? Thanks!
I haven't been in that part of town myself, but it looks like you may have grabbed the harness leading to the power seat controls. That'* fine; the main thing is to focus on the colors you need and ignore the rest. (Most will be outbound wires to the various pumps and motors for the seats.)

So, again, if you're looking for an unswitched power source (i.e. one that'* hot at all times), it is going to be a solid orange one. Since the power seats are hot at all times, you should in fact find an orange wire in that bundle somewhere. (I think I see one but can't be sure.) You'll need a solid black-color wire for your ground connection, but if you find any handy sheet-metal bracket down there that you can attach to, that'll be a good ground, too.

When looking for wiring colors, a near-miss is not good enough; e.g. you must find a solid-orange wire, not one with a tracer stripe on it.

Get yourself a cheap 12-volt circuit tester with a needle probe on the end; that will be enormously helpful for you.
Old 10-15-2003, 04:37 PM
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I have alot of switches in my car and they all run to lights of some kind or another. I tried to wire my neon tube I have up to a switch and it would not turn on. The switch power wire and ground I have used before on other things so I know that the switch works, but when I hooked up the neon bar it would not come on. But once I put the plugin back on it worked, so I think you need the extra fuse to make it work
Old 10-15-2003, 10:27 PM
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Alright, thanks... I plan on trying to tackle this on saturday if I get everyting else I need to get done first. So if it doesn't turn on, then I will def. try finding a way to put that fuse in-line.
Old 10-15-2003, 11:46 PM
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what a pita
Old 10-16-2003, 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by joe
what a pita
For what? I'm confused :?


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