Footwell LED (Switch Only)

I've searched all over about Footwell LED's and I've mainly seen people who wire them up so they will come on with the dome light. HOWEVER, I would like to have some LED strips wired up to an on/off switch (that I will hopefully mount in one of the empty switch spots on the dash).

What do I need to accomplish this? Like I said, I only want the leds to be able to be turned on via a rocker switch. Can someone that is electrical savvy tell me how to wire this up? I've done it in the past with other vehicles but that was many years ago and I dont remember how I did it, and I also have heard horror stories about LEDS in the gen 3 tacomas and I want to make sure I dont fry something.

Thanks for any helpful info!

(Unrelated pic just because I liked how the light in the garage made my tint look so dark!)

 

I was considering this switch and a wiring instruction is included:

$22 CH4X4 Push Switch for Toyota Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Fortuner, Hilux, 4Runner, Prado 12V 3Amp - Footwell Lights Symbol - Blue LED

https://www.amazon.com/CH4X4-Push-Switch-Toyota-Footwell/dp/B06Y4DWTDH

 

NICE! I will definitely get that! I just want to make sure I wire them up correctly. So any kind of instruction on which fuse to tap and whatnot is appreciated!

 

Welcome to the forum from Eastern North Carolina.

 

Be aware that CH4x4 makes 2 sizes of Toyota switches. The one in the link above appears to be what they just call a push switch. Gen 3 Tacomas only have 1 spot for it. Most of the other spots use what CH4x4 calls a Small push switch.

Make sure you get the correct size.

https://www.ch4x4.com/


You can see them side by side in the above photo.

 

I'm still having a hard time, even with the wiring diagram included with the switch, understanding how exactly to wire these up... It would be cool if they turned on and off with the dome light but were also able to be controlled via a toggle switch. But mainly I just want to be able to turn them on and off manually.

I'm just really cautious about making sure I understand how to do it correctly before attempting it. Any more info on proper wiring of stuff like this is appreciated. I've seen the threads about using the DSIM relay but i'm kinda confused by how that actually works and how to run it properly.

 

Hot source for fuse - fuse to mini relay - fused source to relay pin 30 & 86. Relay pin 87 to Footwell lights Y harness (Left & Right) - Footwell lights needs a ground.
Relay pin 85 to SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) switch. Wire from relay pin 85 to center pin on SPDT switch. Remaining pins (Top & Bottom) on switch - One to ground for ON when you want, the other pin tap to the purple wire on the bed illumination switch. This gives you the ON with the unlock/door open...

 

Thank you! I will continue to read this over and over again and HOPE that somehow the information will begin to make sense in my brain... as of right now I can tell there is useful info here, but it appears to be in a language I'm not familiar with.

Maybe if someone could draw it out on a napkin for me? LOL

Thanks again!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-added-lamps-to-cargo-sw.587660/

 

dude. you're amazing!

 

Relay location not used at all. Get un-insulated female crimp terminals, crimp to wires, pay attention to dual crimp for pins 86 & 30. Make them long enough so you may connect them to relay through open slots. Place terminals on relay and carefully push relay into the slot.


Finish the other ends to where they go...lamps and switch.

 

Or however it's easier for you.

 

DAMN MAN! You went all out!!! I really appreciate it!! I'm going to look into doing this in the coming weeks and will definitely give you all the credit if I dont fry my electronics or set the truck on fire!

Thanks so much for all the info!!

 

What method do you recommend for tapping into the bed light wire?

 

Since it's such a small gauge wire, you could crimp a 2.8 mm male terminal

and wedge it on the back of the connector and tape in-place. If you want to get fancy, they sell a connector to tap into the the stereo amp that uses the same matching/mating connectors to the Bed Lamp switch. You'd have to de-pin it...

 

What power source would you recommend? What size fuse? Maybe I should just do more research into this before attempting it LOL. The minute I feel like im beginning to understand, i totally lose it and feel completely incompetent. I feel like I have a general idea of what needs to happen, but the small details that I cant even seem to form into valid questions keep confusing me. I really do appreciate all the work you've done to help me with this! I wish like hell there was a video tutorial so I could visually see the process. I have an idea how it would go but I just cant picture the entire process. Anyway, Thanks again!

 

Source: with an add-a-fuse, to the sliding roof fuse (always "hot").



Fuse size: what the LED's you are going to use indicate. Probably less than 2 amps...