How to power neon in sub box?

black06stang · 09-22-2006, 08:17 PM

I am building a sealed sub box, with two 12 inch neon tubes on the inside. What is the best way to power these neon tubes? Thanks for any suggestions.

scott_fx · 09-22-2006, 08:21 PM

i guess you could use another speaker wire cup to get power to the tubes. or just run wire into the box through a hole then silicone the hole up

black06stang · 09-22-2006, 08:35 PM

Where would I connect the power wires from the neon to?

scott_fx · 09-22-2006, 08:39 PM

the battery. better yet, add a relay that is switched on/off by the acc lead.

black06stang · 09-22-2006, 10:39 PM

There is no way to hook it up to speakers or the amp? I really do not want to mess with the ignition wires...

Jahntassa · 09-22-2006, 11:39 PM

You could do it if you have a relay. Wire the relay in-line with the remote-turn on lead from the radio, and power it off the battery line going into the amplifier.

The relay would then be able to connect to the amp's remote-turn on and power the neons, without damaging whatever is providing the turn-on voltage.

scott_fx · 09-23-2006, 12:24 AM

err...isn't that what i just said?

Jahntassa · 09-23-2006, 04:27 AM

Well, yeah, it was. I was just, y'know...expanding on it.

"scott_fx's advice, now in High Definition!"

FC3S · 09-23-2006, 07:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by black06stang

There is no way to hook it up to speakers or the amp?

no truly safe way, you could hook it up to your cigarette lighter if you wanted, but its not the safest way

and get LED's they run off 12v anyway, then you wont need an inverter/transformer box (whatever they run on)

Shadow · 09-23-2006, 07:29 AM

Quote:

isn't that what i just said?

No, you said acc lead, not remote turn-on wire

scott_fx · 09-23-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Jahntassa

Well, yeah, it was. I was just, y'know...expanding on it.

"scott_fx's advice, now in High Definition!"

hahaha

Quote: Originally Posted by Shadow

No, you said acc lead, not remote turn-on wire

hahaha...again

Killa200 · 09-23-2006, 02:12 PM

don't hook the neons into the remote turn on line if its from your cd player as well as the amp, that will draw too much current, and the step up transformers in the neon sets will introduce interferance into the line its on more than likely. Make sure you use the relay like others stated.

FC3S · 09-23-2006, 03:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Killa200

don't hook the neons into the remote turn on line if its from your cd player as well as the amp, that will draw too much current, and the step up transformers in the neon sets will introduce interferance into the line its on more than likely. Make sure you use the relay like others stated.

use LEDS and not neons, and u dont have transformer issues..

or current issues either, as LEDS use barely anything

Ces///M3 · 09-23-2006, 03:50 PM

depending on the kind of car you have, If its a sealed trunk wire into the light that comes on when you open the trunk, whats the point of having the neon on when nobody can see it..

And heres a link to a nice and small terminal cup that will work well in this application

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=260-301

Jahntassa · 09-23-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Killa200

don't hook the neons into the remote turn on line if its from your cd player as well as the amp, that will draw too much current, and the step up transformers in the neon sets will introduce interferance into the line its on more than likely. Make sure you use the relay like others stated.

I had neons in one of my previous sub boxes hooked up the way I suggested, I never had any sort of 'interference' introduced anywhere because of it.