Electronics Need help wiring something up? Thinking of adding an electrical component to your car? Need help troubleshooting that wiring glitch?

which wire to use for a solid 12V source in fuse box?

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Old May 26, 2005 | 12:40 AM
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Max Dunlap's Avatar
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Car: white 3.1L'90 v6 Firebird
which wire to use for a solid 12V source in fuse box?

alright what would be the best 12V DC source around the fuse box area that I can tap into? which wire? how?


also where would I get the ground from under there?
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Old May 26, 2005 | 08:24 PM
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oh cmon, how about using the 12V source and ground from my radio? will that effect the way my radio works at all?
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Old May 26, 2005 | 09:46 PM
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From: conway, s.c.
Car: 1989 Iroc-Z
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Exactly what are you planning to use that 12V source for?
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Old May 26, 2005 | 10:05 PM
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Car: white 3.1L'90 v6 Firebird
An iPOD charger
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Old May 26, 2005 | 10:12 PM
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From: conway, s.c.
Car: 1989 Iroc-Z
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Can't you just plug it into the cigarette lighter and use that or are you planning a special application or mod in your car for it?
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Old May 26, 2005 | 10:41 PM
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Car: white 3.1L'90 v6 Firebird
Psh well who wants a big thing sticking out of their cigarette lighter and besides im pretty sure it doesnt even work? So I want to hide it under by seat. ive already fastioned up a housing and everything for the charger all i need it POWERRRR
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Old May 26, 2005 | 11:07 PM
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From: Worcester, MA
Car: 86 T/A
Engine: HSR 355
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 posi
Originally posted by Max Dunlap
Psh well who wants a big thing sticking out of their cigarette lighter and besides im pretty sure it doesnt even work? So I want to hide it under by seat. ive already fastioned up a housing and everything for the charger all i need it POWERRRR
Just tap into the positive and negative wires going to the cigarette lighter then.
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Old May 27, 2005 | 12:18 AM
  #8  
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how would you get to that?
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Old May 31, 2005 | 10:13 AM
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Car: Which one?
Engine: 355
Transmission: 465
Don't know exactly what your fuse panel looks like, but if it's like the 80's cars, there are plenty of spare "accessory" terminals (one connector slots) that can be used to supply battery 12V or ignition 12V.

That would be the "right" way to get power, along with fusing that lead appropriately. You can cut/splice a connector from a wrecking yard donor so that you have a locking connector.

Most GM panels use a circuit breaker for all accessory terminals, but they are "ganged" on a 30A breaker, which is typically way too much for accessories, short of power windows, etc.
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Old May 31, 2005 | 10:54 AM
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From: Worcester, MA
Car: 86 T/A
Engine: HSR 355
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 posi
Originally posted by Max Dunlap
how would you get to that?
From the back of the cigarette lighter.
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Old May 31, 2005 | 12:23 PM
  #11  
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Car: white 3.1L'90 v6 Firebird
yeah I got it working I looked at it for a while and started to figure out how to take off the panels until i got to the cigarette lighter
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Old Jun 1, 2005 | 10:25 AM
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From: Austin, Texas
Car: 2000 Trans Am WS6 (Black)
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
can you run power windows off of the cigarette lighter wiring?

/putting in automated window system
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Old Jun 1, 2005 | 12:25 PM
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From: Worcester, MA
Car: 86 T/A
Engine: HSR 355
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 posi
Originally posted by ScrapMaker
can you run power windows off of the cigarette lighter wiring?

/putting in automated window system
Even if it doesn't pop fuses you still risk a fire. Windows can draw alot of current and may burn up the wires.
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Old Jun 1, 2005 | 12:36 PM
  #14  
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From: Austin, Texas
Car: 2000 Trans Am WS6 (Black)
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
anyone know how large the wires are that run to the windows are? and where do they get power from?
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