I ordered some LED stip lights for under the dash and the seats to light up the footwells for all passengers. In the future I plan on retrofitting an led into center console and cupholder. I have an '07 xlt so my shifter is on the steering column and the ambient light kits don't fit.

I want the lights to be on at night while I'm driving, when I open the doors, and be controlled by a switch so that I can turn them off while driving if I so choose. What power would i tap into? Would it burn them up if I spliced power from the parking lights with the interior lights together and ran that to the lights with a switch on the interior lights wire?

On another note, is there a way to run wires down inside the dash, under the hump, and up into the center console without removing the carpet or console? If not, what would be the best way to get a bundle of wires in there? I plan on running an ipod cable and usb extension there as well. I don't mind retrofitting stuff but I like to make it look as clean as possible. Thanks. My interior is just like the one in the pic.

 

Brown wire under the drivers door sill does it all. Just install a switch between the brown wire and first LED to be able to turn off and on if need be. A write up for guidelines here: https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...-lighting.html



Also I'd fish the cables to your console under the rug on the side of your hump with a coat hanger or something.

 

I already saw your write-up. Thanks for that, a very helpful start. But that only provides half my power. I want the lights to come on when the door opens and when the head lights are on. I think I need a relay but I'm not sure how to wire it up, or what kind of relay to use.

 

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Hi.

No, you don't need a relay (although this could be done using them if you wanted an overly complex solution to a simple job).

You need to use diodes; one in the feed form the door-open lead and another in the feed from whatever you use for headlite on feed.

Don't forget good wiring practices and fuse the addition.

Everything you need can be found here: http://www.the12volt.com/

Good luck

 

Yeah skip the relay as you are only running low power LEDs, you don't need a direct draw from the battery.
MGDfan, good call on the fuse! For some reason I always forget to mention the fuse.

Also the brown wire does everything you want, park lights, courtesy lights meaning whenever your interior lights or puddle lights go on the brown wire will supply the power. I cannot remember the function name for the brown wire but it's more then just park lights.
I'll check tonight when it's dark out just to make sure for you.

 

I just confirmed that the brown wire is for the park lights, but it does go through the light switch. If you set your lights to auto then the Leds will automatically come on with headlights. If you unlock your doors with the factory FOB the Leds will come on.

 

Thanks, cool. So I would need to run one splice off the brown wire and splice that in two, with one going straight to the circuit and one going to a switch then to the circuit, with diodes on both.

I haven't used LEDs before, I'll probably be back with more questions next weekend when I attempt to put them in.