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Old 03-09-2022, 06:42 PM
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Bluesky 07 Bluesky 07 is offline
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Location: Cherokee Co., GA
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Real Name: Russell (OB #9908)
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Bluesky 07 Bluesky 07 is offline
Senior Member
Bluesky 07's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cherokee Co., GA
Posts: 2,788
Real Name: Russell (OB #9908)
Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future Bluesky 07 has a brilliant future
I installed switched engine bay lighting on my ’07 Sport a few months ago and finally got a chance to finish the write-up. Thanks to everyone who has posted on how to do this; I've tried to find the exact thread that gave me the idea and guidance and my best guess for credit is @ElectroBoy , who has a nice write-up in the 5th Gen section.

Here’s how I did it; as with everything, YMMV.

Materials:
LED strip (Amazon)
Switch (Amazon) (Amazon's pic shows 5 switches but you can order just one.)
Wire wrap (Harbor Freight)

Electrical wire (~16 gauge)
Ring connector
Your choice of splice connector
Wire stripper
3/4“ keyhole bit



I didn’t want the LED strip to turn on automatically so I added a rocker switch. Mounting it here on the radiator shroud looked like the most convenient place.



Use a small, regular bit to drill a pilot hole then go to the ¾” keyhole bit to make the opening. Smooth the edges with sandpaper or a file, something I hadn’t done yet when I took the pic.



The installed switch looks clean.



Here's where to place the strip. Wipe the metal down first with alcohol on a rag to help ensure the best adhesion.



Run the wires through the wrap then route the wrap under the hood pad. I brought it out at the driver's side rear corner and used a zip tie to secure it there, then tucked and/or zip tied it along the inside top of the fender up to where the wires connect to the switch, battery, and ground.



The switch prongs, from left to right in this pic, are:
1. Left, dark colored: ground
2. Middle: Battery (constant 12V power)
3. Right: Red wire from the LED strip



It's been a minute so forgive me if this is off, but a black wire and a red wire come off the LED strip and - IIRC - this is how everything connects using the prong numbers listed above. Figuring it out is easy enough if this isn't exact:

1. Run a ground wire off the dark-colored switch prong, splice the black one from the LED strip to it, and connect it with the ring connector to the ground bolt as shown below.

2. Constant 12V goes to the battery; in my case, a Blue Sea Systems fuse box.

3. Connect the red wire from the LED strip to this prong.




Done. This mod is way up there in usefulness and bang for the buck.




Last edited by Bluesky 07; 03-11-2022 at 11:26 AM.
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