Console power access question

[ablank135]

Ok, at the risk of committing sacrilege and revealing the limits of my electrical knowledge, could I ask for a little bit of help from the group?

I’m thinking about adding a small wattage light behind the shift console to illuminate upwards. (Looking to alleviate some of the nighttime dimness toward the radio and air controls.) Just a small incandescent bulb or a discreet LED where it’s out of sight.

I’m guessing there’s abundant options for connecting inside the console, switched to light with the ignition on. Any consensus on best point to connect? One of the window switches, or lighter? No reason to run back to the fuse panel, correct?

Any advice welcomed...

 

[kasbatts]

Lighter is a good source, but is powered up all the time even when keys out of ing

 

[alanmcg]

Window switchs have 'switched' power, but fuse panel is only about 3ft away, so easy to run wire from there too.

 

[Stevehose]

I would tap into the dimmer wire at the light switch and run that wire up past the radio into the console where you want to mount the bulb, that way it goes on, dims, and off with the rest of the lights. If you want to pursue further I will look on mine which color wire I tapped for my gauge lights in the speaker panel.

 

[ablank135]

I would tap into the dimmer wire at the light switch and run that wire up past the radio into the console where you want to mount the bulb, that way it goes on, dims, and off with the rest of the lights. If you want to pursue further I will look on mine which color wire I tapped for my gauge lights in the speaker panel.

Thanks, Steve. I see your point about the light switch. I'm actually not that concerned about dimmability or being always on, so keeping the wiring within the console might make the most sense. Will keep you posted on this very technical initiative...

 

[DerSchwede]

Don't E9s have a small 5W bulb integrated in the right side of the steering column cover speading a soft light over the centre panel like in the E3?

 

[ablank135]

Don't E9s have a small 5W bulb integrated in the right side of the steering column cover speading a soft light over the centre panel like in the E3?

Yep, and mine actually works. It just doesn't throw that much light. Maybe it's my aging eyes...

 

[Gernstetter]

Yep, and mine actually works. It just doesn't throw that much light. Maybe it's my aging eyes...

Try a 10 watt bulb....works much better

 

[ablank135]

Try a 10 watt bulb....works much better

But what about originality?

Kidding. That actually sounds like a better option. I assume that bulb is accessible with a couple of steering-column screws?

 

[rsporsche]

Yep, and mine actually works. It just doesn't throw that much light. Maybe it's my aging eyes...

but do you have one of Stan's acrylic prisms? that helps to disperse the light

 

[ablank135]

but do you have one of Stan's acrylic prisms? that helps to disperse the light

The original prism is still in there, so nope. Will now go research previous posts.

 

[pmansson]

"Stan´s acrylic prims"

Don´t all cars have such a prism in the aperture close to the key entry?
On at least one car I have put a small bit of black electric tape to cover part of the aperture as the light was annoying at night. Wonder if that car has lost its prism or the light is too strong...?