GUIDE: INSTALLING NEONS IN FOOTWELLS!
Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 8:24 pm
Hi there guys, on request, I have been asked to create a guide on how to successfuly install some neons in the footwells (first guide on the forum, so no harsh criticisms please guys 
)
This is a guide to install on a Polo 9n3. Instructions are the same, but finding the wire or the colour of the wire to tap into maybe different on different polo's or different years.
Tools Required:
Neons themselves (The decent and extremely bright neons are called Cold Cathodes) which can be found here: http://www.all-ur-mods.co.uk/ (note: these cathodes are orginally designed for a PC but this guide will tell you how to wire them to a car)
Stanley Knife (Or some sort of sharp object to cut the rubber surrounding wire)
Soldering Iron
Solder
Insulation Tape
Double Sided sticking pads (including with the cathodes)
A great deal on time and patience is needed, as this should be a 20-30 minute job, can seem a 2 day job if you aren't patient.
Ok the guide!
1. First of all you want to order your cathodes from the above site, these ones or ideal as they sent the cathodes which have an extended length of wiring which is useful, as some places send you cathodes with wires the size of your toe nail!
2. Once you have received your cathodes, you will notice that you have a bundle of wires, with a switch, a blue/black/white box (depending which colour they send you, and 2 cathodes (if you chose to buy 2 cathodes) and also you will receive a little rocker switch, which is quite useful. A bit like this: http://www.all-ur-mods.co.uk/images/gre ... kit_01.jpg
3. Now, connect the wires up accordingly. Plug each cathode and wires into the module, at this point you will be thinking, "what the f*ck are these little plastic ends".
4.
Cut the wires shown in the picture for your desired method of wiring them in (note, cutting the wire so the use of the rocker switch is disabled will shorten the length of the wire and may well be a trouble sticking the cathodes in a desired place).
5. Now to your pride and job, your polo! Take out your head unit and the pocket so it leave big area to work with.
6. Above where you have just taken your head unit out, there should be a hazard light switch, and to the right of it should be a switch to turn the de-misters on, on the rear window. From behind, push out this button (make take a bit of force, but should break anything, I hope!). This should release the button, unclip the wires from the actual switch itself so you don't have to work with an annoying piece of plastic in the way.
7. This step may vary for different cars. On the wires you have just unclipped out of the de-mister switch, If you want to wire the cathodes into the illumination wire which should be grey (wire which powers the lighting for the interior when you turn on your sidelights), then you will have to use a stanley knife and cut about half an inch to an inch of rubber, which surrounds the wires inside, off. Or if you do not want it on an illumination wire then do the same process on a 12v positive wire. Then do the same for a ground (or negative) wire which I think is brown or black, I am not quite sure.
8. From where you cute the wires on your cathode kit, use a wire stripper and strip an inch of rubber off, on both the red (or yellow, depending on which kit they send you) and black wires, so you have some wires to work with. Twist them so they are not all apart.
9. When you have stripped the wires and twisted them,locate the illumination wire (or the positive 12v wire) and wrap the red (or yellow) wire arround the revealed copper wire of the illumination wire (or 12v positive wire) making sure that it is stable and tightly secured.
10. Solder these 2 wires together making sure that they are stable and are not lose, and wrap with insulation tape.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for the negative wire on the cathodes with the ground wire in the car.
12. Once you have successfully tapped into these wires you can now clip back on the de-mister button and place in back into place. There should be quite large gaps just above the climate control knobs for storage of wires, so place your module in one of these gaps just to tidy it up.
13. Unplug the cathodes from the module and stick the cathodes above the footwells to the dash (just underneath the glove box on passenger side and just underneath the steering wheel on driver side) with double sided sticking pads (making sure they are hidden and not visible for a professional look).
14. Once you are happy with the position of your cathodes, feed the wires from the cathodes up into the inside of the centre console through gaps (designed for wires) in the very back, bottom left and bottom right of the centre console and plug them into the module.
15. Securely place back in your headunit, being gentle as possible incase you unplug any cables, and put it back into place.
16. Test your cathodes! And your end result should look.... Something like this:
)This is a guide to install on a Polo 9n3. Instructions are the same, but finding the wire or the colour of the wire to tap into maybe different on different polo's or different years.
Tools Required:
Neons themselves (The decent and extremely bright neons are called Cold Cathodes) which can be found here: http://www.all-ur-mods.co.uk/ (note: these cathodes are orginally designed for a PC but this guide will tell you how to wire them to a car)
Stanley Knife (Or some sort of sharp object to cut the rubber surrounding wire)
Soldering Iron
Solder
Insulation Tape
Double Sided sticking pads (including with the cathodes)
A great deal on time and patience is needed, as this should be a 20-30 minute job, can seem a 2 day job if you aren't patient.
Ok the guide!
1. First of all you want to order your cathodes from the above site, these ones or ideal as they sent the cathodes which have an extended length of wiring which is useful, as some places send you cathodes with wires the size of your toe nail!
2. Once you have received your cathodes, you will notice that you have a bundle of wires, with a switch, a blue/black/white box (depending which colour they send you, and 2 cathodes (if you chose to buy 2 cathodes) and also you will receive a little rocker switch, which is quite useful. A bit like this: http://www.all-ur-mods.co.uk/images/gre ... kit_01.jpg
3. Now, connect the wires up accordingly. Plug each cathode and wires into the module, at this point you will be thinking, "what the f*ck are these little plastic ends".
4.
Cut the wires shown in the picture for your desired method of wiring them in (note, cutting the wire so the use of the rocker switch is disabled will shorten the length of the wire and may well be a trouble sticking the cathodes in a desired place).
5. Now to your pride and job, your polo! Take out your head unit and the pocket so it leave big area to work with.
6. Above where you have just taken your head unit out, there should be a hazard light switch, and to the right of it should be a switch to turn the de-misters on, on the rear window. From behind, push out this button (make take a bit of force, but should break anything, I hope!). This should release the button, unclip the wires from the actual switch itself so you don't have to work with an annoying piece of plastic in the way.
7. This step may vary for different cars. On the wires you have just unclipped out of the de-mister switch, If you want to wire the cathodes into the illumination wire which should be grey (wire which powers the lighting for the interior when you turn on your sidelights), then you will have to use a stanley knife and cut about half an inch to an inch of rubber, which surrounds the wires inside, off. Or if you do not want it on an illumination wire then do the same process on a 12v positive wire. Then do the same for a ground (or negative) wire which I think is brown or black, I am not quite sure.
8. From where you cute the wires on your cathode kit, use a wire stripper and strip an inch of rubber off, on both the red (or yellow, depending on which kit they send you) and black wires, so you have some wires to work with. Twist them so they are not all apart.
9. When you have stripped the wires and twisted them,locate the illumination wire (or the positive 12v wire) and wrap the red (or yellow) wire arround the revealed copper wire of the illumination wire (or 12v positive wire) making sure that it is stable and tightly secured.
10. Solder these 2 wires together making sure that they are stable and are not lose, and wrap with insulation tape.
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for the negative wire on the cathodes with the ground wire in the car.
12. Once you have successfully tapped into these wires you can now clip back on the de-mister button and place in back into place. There should be quite large gaps just above the climate control knobs for storage of wires, so place your module in one of these gaps just to tidy it up.
13. Unplug the cathodes from the module and stick the cathodes above the footwells to the dash (just underneath the glove box on passenger side and just underneath the steering wheel on driver side) with double sided sticking pads (making sure they are hidden and not visible for a professional look).
14. Once you are happy with the position of your cathodes, feed the wires from the cathodes up into the inside of the centre console through gaps (designed for wires) in the very back, bottom left and bottom right of the centre console and plug them into the module.
15. Securely place back in your headunit, being gentle as possible incase you unplug any cables, and put it back into place.
16. Test your cathodes! And your end result should look.... Something like this:
See not so hard afterall huh?
just to confirm 