Attn: TJ Electro Aces & Wire Nuts

MFMauceri

Good enough. Isn't.
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2019
Messages
41
Location
Los Angeles
I want to wire a simple 12v circuit that powers a dash LED light ONLY when the ignition is completely off (no ACC). Light has two wires (black & red). Suggestions on which wires to tap behind 2003 TJ rocker switch console would be swell. Yes, I can read a diagram if there's jeep-specific one out there

Thanks in advance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NskLJ
I want to wire a simple 12v circuit that powers a dash LED light ONLY when the ignition is completely off (no ACC). Light has two wires (black & red). Suggestions on which wires to tap behind 2003 TJ rocker switch console would be swell. Yes, I can read a diagram if there's jeep-specific one out there

Thanks in advance.

There are full factory service manuals complete with wiring diagrams in the resources section for every year. Off hand I don't think you will find a source that will be hot with the key off that is not also hot with the key on.

What you can do is use a 5 pin relay, wire pin 86 to an ignition "ON" source, pin 30 to ground, pin 85 to ground, your red LED wire to an "always hot" source and your LED black to pin 87a. With the key on the relay will energize and open the ground to your LED, key off the relay de-energizes and closes the connection to 87a completing the ground to your LED. (pin 87 will not be used)
 
  • Like
Reactions: MFMauceri
Alternatively you could connect your "always on" source to pin 30 and your LED red to pin 87a and your LED black to ground. It would mean bringing 2 circuits to the relay though, and it would mean pin 87 would be energized with the key on so you'd want to be sure that was insulated. whichever works out easier, both will work. In my mind switching the ground (negative) is simpler.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MFMauceri
There are full factory service manuals complete with wiring diagrams in the resources section for every year. Off hand I don't think you will find a source that will be hot with the key off that is not also hot with the key on.

What you can do is use a 5 pin relay, wire pin 86 to an ignition "ON" source, pin 30 to ground, pin 85 to ground, your red LED wire to an "always hot" source and your LED black to pin 87a. With the key on the relay will energize and open the ground to your LED, key off the relay de-energizes and closes the connection to 87a completing the ground to your LED. (pin 87 will not be used)


Screenshot 2024-12-24 at 17.57.37.png


One of these?.. Are there single female socket ends to solder the wire lead into, or just attach with spades? Scratch that, I see they come with harnesses. Just don't need a box of 5 of them!

Thanks.
 
cigarette lighter for key on power and ground to body. There's a ground point with a 5/16" hex head screw in each footwell.

Perfect. I put in an Alpine DIN2 unit with all the bells and whistles, and I want a pseudo self-arming "alarm system". Especially for when the soft top's on, and/or pulled down.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: psrivats and jjvw
There might be a ground wire at the lighter too, I don't remember. I had a fake alarm led for awhile too with a battery pack and switch but then I just installed a real alarm wired to the door switches and a hood switch and a dash led..
 
If you want a wire to tap into for lights the console light is an easy one to find. I'd have to look at a schematic to tell you which one it is. But it's down at the bottom of the center dash piece.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MFMauceri
Perfect. I put in an Alpine DIN2 unit with all the bells and whistles, and I want a pseudo self-arming "alarm system". Especially for when the soft top's on, and/or pulled down.

So .. basically for your peace of mind rather than actually stopping anything, with the hopes of a visual deterrent to casual looky-loos? Not trying to be a dick, just trying to understand the reasoning here because I don't see the point. If one is intent on stealing, a solid dash LED light won't deter them. Hell, video cameras don't stop them.
 
So .. basically for your peace of mind rather than actually stopping anything, with the hopes of a visual deterrent to casual looky-loos? Not trying to be a dick, just trying to understand the reasoning here because I don't see the point. If one is intent on stealing, a solid dash LED light won't deter them. Hell, video cameras don't stop them.

It actually IS a deterrent. And one that doesn't blow the neighbors (and me) out of bed when a garbage truck rolls past at 6:00 AM. And for what it's worth, the LED blinks.
 
I want to wire a simple 12v circuit that powers a dash LED light ONLY when the ignition is completely off (no ACC). Light has two wires (black & red). Suggestions on which wires to tap behind 2003 TJ rocker switch console would be swell. Yes, I can read a diagram if there's jeep-specific one out there

Thanks in advance.

If you want a LED to simulate an alarm LED hook the positive wire to battery (B+) and the neg wire to an ACC circuit. The ACC circuit will be the ground when the key is off. When you turn the vehicle on both wires will have power which will turn the led off. There are flashing led’s you can buy. One problem I always encountered is the flasher LED’s required a large hole to mount or were just ugly. In that case, wire the flasher in series with the visible LED. The flasher will flasher the visible LED and hide the flasher under the dash.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jscheu
IMO any layer of protection helps. If you have a flashing LED that makes it look like an alarm and your neighbor doesn't there is a good likelihood a thief will move on to the neighbor. Just like some thieves avoid cameras and some don't. I'd bet more thieves avoid alarms than cameras.