Hey guys, I am upgrading my head unit that I purchased from Trewyn, and I have already installed 4 new(ish) speakers that I purchased from another member here. The speakers are Alpine S series and are about 5 years old, were only used during the summer and so are in really great condition. I am waiting on the head unit to come in and then I will be replacing that as well. Since I have to take off the entire Dash cluster, I think I am going to take this oppurtunity to install my LED lights as clean as I can. The LED plug into a Controller Box:



in which I will have the rear seat lights on port B, and front on Port A. (They are on the side so you can't see them too well) that way if people complain about them in the back being too bright or something I just turn them off without permanently turning all of them off. What I will do is where my fog light would be (if I had fog lights, will wire them to brights in future if I get any) I am going to put in an On / Off Switch. When it is on the LED will have power, when it is Off, they lose power. I will wire the switch to the battery so that I can have them on while my vehicle isn't - since it is connected to a constant supply. When I hit the off portion, it breaks the circuit thus making the LED's turn off and the battery not lose anymore juice! I think that it will look rather nice when it is finished. Dash will be removed so removing center console will be easy and leading wires from the seats into the front of vehicle hidden inside that console for a nice clean look.

Here is what would look like:


What do you think of it so far?

Any advice is much appreciated!
cody

PS(I do not suppose anyone knows if they are still in production and if so where I can find one? - Knights Emblem,

mine is a bit damaged in the top right corner. - Thanks again!)

 

Check Ebay or Chevy dealer..

Ebay used one Link:GM 00 05 Monte Carlo Header Panel Front Grille Emblem Ornament | eBay


Chevy dealer new one..
10289678 - EMBLEM


<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="3" width="567"><tbody><tr vAlign="top" background="images/trans.gif"><td vAlign="top" width="101"> </td><td class="reg">GM PART # 10289678
CATEGORY: Bumper/Fascia Emblem
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00


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You switch install looks good. I like clean installs

Maybe consider using a switched supply on your switch, so you don't accidentally leave them on and run the battery down. You can still use them while the car is off with a switched supply, you just have to have the key in accessory.

 

Not sure what the difference between a switch supply and an on/off switch is? If I am not mistaken if I connect the on off to the battery, and then to the controller box, if I move the button to off then it will cut the circuit and it wont use any of the car battery. So it only uses the battery when it is in On function. Or am I mistaken about that? Not an electrician so I do not know.

Just basic physics that I know of, the switch I was looking at had load 1 and load 2. When in off position Load 1 doesn't connect with Load 2, when in On position load 1 connects with load 2. So if you give load 1 wired from battery and then load 2 wired with LED controller box, if I turn it off then they wont stay on, if I turn them on, even with vehicle off will still be on.

Perhaps you can set me straight on it?

 

Thanks Jerry! But the one I posted is actually on the side of the body of the car behind the half window. Would it be the same emblem? Not sure how it is installed on there.

 

NO they are diff.
Sorry I thought it was the front bumper one here's the one on the side..

Ebay LINK:GM 2000 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Roof Ornament | eBay


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<noscript><style type="text/css">.vi-hide-mImgThr {display: none;}</style><img id="icImg" class="img img500" itemprop="image" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Nos-GM-2000-2001-Chevrolet-Monte-Carlo-Roof-Ornament-/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/$(KGrHqNHJFQE+Tcoj(WrBP2HmzUr8Q~~60_12.JPG" style="" clk="" /></noscript>


Nos GM 2000-2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Roof Ornament


Chevy dealer..

10404075 - EMBLEM


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CATEGORY: All
PACK QTY: 1
CORE CHARGE: $0.00


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</td><td class="reg"><table><tbody><tr><td>List Price:</td><td><del>$34.65</del></td></tr><tr><td>Price:</td><td>$21.21</td></tr><tr><td>You Save:</td><td>$13.44 (39%) </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

 

Thanks Jerry that's awesome! Will be the next things I replace. Given that they aren't difficult to replace haha. I totaly coulda searched ebay for them sorry, didn't know what the were called though - Either way, thanks so much!

 

You are 100% correct on this.

What I am suggesting is that you connect the power to the switch (Load 1 in your case) to a switched accessory wire instead of straight to the battery. A switched accessory wire is a power source that only gets power from the battery when the key is turned to accessory (usually backwards or one click forwards of the key). A common one is the power that hooks up to your radio.

The benefit of connecting up to a switched power source is that you can't run down the battery on accident. For example: you turn the lights on during the day to show a friend, forget to turn them off, and the leave the car. You would then likely run down the battery if the lights stayed on all night or longer without driving the car.

You can still use the lights while the car is running, and while the car is off (but the key in the accessory position). Because it is pretty much impossible to leave the key in the accessory position, you will never be able to accidentally run down the battery. Once you shut the car off and pull the key, your LEDs can't be powered.

Another benefit is you can easily find an accessory wire under your dash. You can tap into one of those, and avoid having to run a wire through the firewall and onto the battery.

Obviously this has a drawback, where you can't power the LEDs without the key in the ignition. But I feel like a dead battery on accident is much worse.

Maybe you aren't forgetful like me, but I like to build in these fail safes so I can't screw anything up Either way you do it will work fine, but I was just suggesting

 

Alright well is there a free fuse on the fuse box at driver side that is for an accessory connection? I do understand what you are saying now! Just as a fail safe don't do it to the battery. I know that there are a lot of extra spaces on the driver side fuse box so surely one of them is an extra accessory slot right? One that acts like you explained?

 

Were those roof ornaments stock on the 2000-2001 years? Don't remember them. Thanks