A little illumination.

[Mark.4810]

Hello all.
I'm after a little advice please around fuses and electrics. I'm installing a small LED light that I'm going to piggyback off a fuse (I think that's the correct phrase!) I would like this light to come on when the van unlocks, stay on, then go off once I lock the van again. I have diagrams of the fuse box layout thanks to others previous posts on here, but I'm unsure which fuse to piggyback off that would meet these requirements - that's if it's possible at all ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Rather than take try each one individually, lock and unlock the van to see if any work, and risk cocking something important up, I thought I'd seek advice from the professionals on here.
Thanks in anticipation guys...

 

[CJW]

I’m nowhere near as experienced as most on here but that sounds like you want to tap into the courtesy light supply.

There are posts like this that point to @Dellmassive ’s excellent range of guides.

I am planning on adding some ambient and courtesy lights. This is what I want to add at the moment.

2 courtesy step lights for the front doors.
2 courtesy lights in the front front footwells.
2 ambient lights in the front footwells.
2 ambient lights on the rear of the front 2 seat bases.

I am wondering where the best place is to connect these lights to without causing too large currents in the OEM loom.

I already have a courtesy light wired into the slider step, this one is connected to the front if the 2 ceiling lights that were in the OEM panels (OEM lights now removed.)

I know there is the white connector behind the glove box. Will these cables be ok to tap into for the 4 courtesy lights
As for ambient light is the wires to the switch capable of handling the current for the 4 planned ambient lights? TIA

 

[Mark.4810]

I’m nowhere near as experienced as most on here but that sounds like you want to tap into the courtesy light supply.

There are posts like this that point to @Dellmassive ’s excellent range of guides.

Thank you CJW, that would never have occurred to me! Would that remain on until the van is locked too?

 

[CJW]

Mine does. I leave the van, turn round to lock it with the remote, lights go off.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Mine does. I leave the van, turn round to lock it with the remote, lights go off.

IIRC the courtesy lights time out after around 20min even if the van is un-locked. I’m happy to be corrected though.

 

[CJW]

IIRC the courtesy lights time out after around 20min even if the van is un-locked. I’m happy to be corrected though.

Yes, good point.

 

[Mark.4810]

Thanks guys...

 

[roadtripper]

If you have VCDS the BCM timeout can be increased as far as about 2 hours if needed.

LED Interior Cargo Lights - How I Done It.

LED rear interior lights - How i done it. so a few have asked, so i though i would just list it here as a post so i could refer back to it in the future. The lights were purchased from The T6F shop over here > We were planning to do the carpeting at around the same time, but for the purpose...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Mark.4810]

If you have VCDS the BCM timeout can be increased as far as about 2 hours if needed.

LED Interior Cargo Lights - How I Done It.

LED rear interior lights - How i done it. so a few have asked, so i though i would just list it here as a post so i could refer back to it in the future. The lights were purchased from The T6F shop over here > We were planning to do the carpeting at around the same time, but for the purpose...

www.t6forum.com

I don't unfortunately Roadtripper. I'll find another way around it. I could do with a fuse that's the exact opposite of the one for the alarm, that would be perfect!

 

[roadtripper]

Look for folks on here with the VCDS badge, always worth an ask to see if anyone is nearby who may be happy to help for a few beers:

VCDS users

We often see posts from people who are looking for VCDS/VagCom users in their area to make changes to their vehicles (often in exchange for a few beers or a bottle) so we are looking for anybody who has VCDS and is open to helping out other members. VCDS users are given the yellow VCDS user...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Salty Spuds]

I could do with a fuse that's the exact opposite of the one for the alarm, that would be perfect!

You could pick up a feed from some output of the alarm, maybe to the ultrasonic module & use it to drive a relay to reverse the state. I.e. feed from alarm “armed” output opens the relay, when the alarm is disarmed, the relay drops out & closes a NC contact.

 

[roadtripper]

There are also these threads for external lights but the same power logic:

+12v feed powers on unlock / powers off on lock ?

I had thought I had the solution until I tested it today so wondering if any bright spark has a solution (did search however didn't find the answer) I was going to use the footwell LED power to light my knight rider bonnet light as having observed the LED light it looked ideal: - would come...

www.t6forum.com

DRL feed for additional LED lights

@Shaun Witts - does it come on with ignition or side lights / headlights? Any chance (pretty please) of photos re wiring routes & terminations? Mine currently come on with the ignition, though I want to eventually configure them to come on with the welcome lights as well. I used the same...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Mark.4810]

Thanks folks, that's exactly what I'm after. There's a few options there by the looks of it. I searched but didn't get any results like that!