General fuse/wiring question - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Cjax · 04-21-2014, 06:54 PM

Hey everyone,

New to my Camaro and new to adding enhancements to cars. So here's my question. I want to add some lighting to start with. LED lighting. If the light is controlled by a remote and so just needs constant power how should I wire it and where? In the fuse boxes I see a number empty slots and then on the diagram I see where it says spare. SO...if I stick a fuse tap into one of the empty slots in any of the fuse boxes will it "just work" or is there more to it than that? The spare fuses, which seem to be numerous in the main cabin's fuse box, are they truly just spares and again if I take one of them out and install a fuse tap will I be plugging into power or are those slots just holders for spare fuses? This seems to be a great community! Thanks in advance.

Chris

darkrider01 · 04-22-2014, 09:14 AM

Spares are just holders for spare fuses. Do you want to leave the lights on all the time, or would you only run these LED's when the ignition is on, etc?

Deke736 · 04-22-2014, 11:30 AM

Almost every fuse in the interior fuse panel is hot all the time. The only 2 that I think are switched are the 2 20amp fuses for the outlets in the console. In the picture below, they are the two neon yellow fuses between the relays (with the green wire running over it). I just typically try to avoid fuses for the PCM, BCM, ECM, etc, since the last thing I want is a fried computer module. As you can see, I used an add-a-circuit to tap into the panel to power some LED's on my car.

I would recommend installing a switch and not just relying on the remote to turn them on an off.

Cjax · 04-22-2014, 09:21 PM

Thanks guys...I have a few more questions but I'll need to take a picture of the fuse box under the hood to ask them appropriately. Deke - is an add-a- circuit the same as a fuse tap?

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Deke736 · 04-22-2014, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cjax

Deke - is an add-a- circuit the same as a fuse tap?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes!

Cjax · 05-05-2014, 07:31 PM

So this is where I get confused. Can I place an add a circuit into any of these open slots and I'll have power? If not then what are they for.

Also I just got an rgb controller that needs a 12v source. How do I tap into a 12v source?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cjax · 05-06-2014, 10:40 AM

Any I ideas folks?

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nmartin1216 · 07-23-2014, 06:32 PM

bump because i have this question as well! Anyone??

Notorious Bob · 07-25-2014, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cjax

So this is where I get confused. Can I place an add a circuit into any of these open slots and I'll have power? If not then what are they for.

Also I just got an rgb controller that needs a 12v source. How do I tap into a 12v source?

As Deke said, the best option for 12v power is to tap one of the 20Amp (yellow) mini-fuses for the power(lighter) sockets. These will also only give you power when the ignition is on and so you won't go draining the battery.

If you want "always on" you should tap one of the other circuits.

Carmikaze · 07-25-2014, 03:47 PM

If you have a controller with a remote for your RGB's, you can hook straight up to the power feed for your fuse box in the engine compartment and it will only be on when you turn it on with the remote. Main power to the fuse box is the post in the front of the fuse boxaground he ground to any bare metal or on an existing ground in the engine bay. You can PM or call me if you need step by step help or to discuss while w
Looking at or working on it. I added a controller with RGB's to my engine bay and behind the grill. Howie 661-972-4297

ntmad8tr · 07-25-2014, 05:48 PM

I did a small DIY in my build thread on how I ran power to and how I installed my Engine Compartment and grille lighting. Hope it can help you out a bit.

64stingray · 07-26-2014, 10:50 AM

TO CARMIKAZE, don't know about your car but my SS and ZL1, both have a hot power feed to the under hood fuse box and about 1/2 the fuses are always hot and some are switched, I have them all mapped if anybody interested

64stingray · 07-27-2014, 10:26 AM

Since I had a request, here it is, don't worry about the scribbles on so picture, my old stuff. The x's mean the 12v is on that side. the O's are always ON and S is SWITCHED. The picture of the dash fuses shows the 12v, only F17 and 18 are SWITCHED.
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Csfessler · 09-23-2022, 08:43 PM

So when tapping into a fuse that's a 20, do you use 2 10's or 2 20's? Trying to install LED's under a 2017 Camero RS. I tapped into F31 fuse under hood and worked just fine but then crazy stuff started happening a few weeks later. All of a sudden car would lock up, not start, "shift to park" would display. Coincidence? I'm not sure?

04-21-2014, 06:54 PM	#1
Cjax Drives: Ashen Gray 2014 2LT/RS Camaro Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Royersford, Pa Posts: 26	General fuse/wiring question Hey everyone, New to my Camaro and new to adding enhancements to cars. So here's my question. I want to add some lighting to start with. LED lighting. If the light is controlled by a remote and so just needs constant power how should I wire it and where? In the fuse boxes I see a number empty slots and then on the diagram I see where it says spare. SO...if I stick a fuse tap into one of the empty slots in any of the fuse boxes will it "just work" or is there more to it than that? The spare fuses, which seem to be numerous in the main cabin's fuse box, are they truly just spares and again if I take one of them out and install a fuse tap will I be plugging into power or are those slots just holders for spare fuses? This seems to be a great community! Thanks in advance. Chris

04-22-2014, 09:14 AM	#2
darkrider01 Aural Assault Vehicle Drives: 2010 IBM 2SS/RS, 2015 Sierra Denali Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 792	Spares are just holders for spare fuses. Do you want to leave the lights on all the time, or would you only run these LED's when the ignition is on, etc? __________________ My amplifier pop/click/thump solution thread Power Mods * K&N Typhoon CAI, Flowmaster American Thunder cat-back exhaust, Hurst Short Throw Shifter Exterior Mods * Black Phantom Grille * 22" T.I.S. 537MS wheels w/ Nitto INVO rubber * OEM body kit Suspension Mods * BC Racing Coilovers * Lakewood Strut Tower Brace Audio Mods * Stinger SPP 2250 Battery * Mosconi 6to8v8 w/ RCD * Pioneer AVH-X7500BT * Scosche Dash Kit * 2 - Mosconi AS200.4 * 2 - JL Audio 13W6v2 * Focal 165KRX2 Power (active) * Mosconi Gladen One 240.2 * Rockford Fosgate Power T1692

04-22-2014, 11:30 AM	#3
Deke736 COTW 12/3/12 Drives: 2012 Ashen Gray ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Glen Carbon, IL Posts: 3,279	Almost every fuse in the interior fuse panel is hot all the time. The only 2 that I think are switched are the 2 20amp fuses for the outlets in the console. In the picture below, they are the two neon yellow fuses between the relays (with the green wire running over it). I just typically try to avoid fuses for the PCM, BCM, ECM, etc, since the last thing I want is a fried computer module. As you can see, I used an add-a-circuit to tap into the panel to power some LED's on my car. I would recommend installing a switch and not just relying on the remote to turn them on an off. __________________

07-25-2014, 05:48 PM	#11
ntmad8tr Music City Camaro Club Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Spring Special Edition Join Date: May 2014 Location: Christiana, TN Posts: 642 View My Garage	I did a small DIY in my build thread on how I ran power to and how I installed my Engine Compartment and grille lighting. Hope it can help you out a bit. __________________ EMC(SS) USN RET. 2014 2SS *Spring Special Edition*,1 of 293. Cold Air Inc. CAI,Apex Catch Can, Kooks 1-7/8" headers, Kooks HF Cats, X-pipe, Kooks mufflers,Graphite, BMR Toe links, BMR rear trailing arms, MRR228s,RGB ORACLE Colorshift Halos, RGB LED Engine bay and Grille lighting, Diode Dynamics RGB Fog Lights. NightOwl LED control system. Painted engine cover by S.L. Customs. River Cities Creations painted strut brace. My Build Thread

07-27-2014, 10:26 AM	#13
64stingray Drives: 64vette,2010 2SS,2013 Zl1 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: kanata,on,can. Posts: 89	fuse map Since I had a request, here it is, don't worry about the scribbles on so picture, my old stuff. The x's mean the 12v is on that side. the O's are always ON and S is SWITCHED. The picture of the dash fuses shows the 12v, only F17 and 18 are SWITCHED.

04-22-2014, 09:21 PM	#4
Cjax Drives: Ashen Gray 2014 2LT/RS Camaro Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Royersford, Pa Posts: 26	Thanks guys...I have a few more questions but I'll need to take a picture of the fuse box under the hood to ask them appropriately. Deke - is an add-a- circuit the same as a fuse tap? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05-05-2014, 07:31 PM	#6
Cjax Drives: Ashen Gray 2014 2LT/RS Camaro Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Royersford, Pa Posts: 26	So this is where I get confused. Can I place an add a circuit into any of these open slots and I'll have power? If not then what are they for. Also I just got an rgb controller that needs a 12v source. How do I tap into a 12v source? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05-06-2014, 10:40 AM	#7
Cjax Drives: Ashen Gray 2014 2LT/RS Camaro Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Royersford, Pa Posts: 26	Any I ideas folks? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-23-2014, 06:32 PM	#8
nmartin1216 Drives: 14 white Camaro 1LE 2SS/RS Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 341	bump because i have this question as well! Anyone??

07-25-2014, 03:47 PM	#10
Carmikaze HTCC Membership Director Drives: 2013 RS Camaro Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cypress TX Posts: 277	If you have a controller with a remote for your RGB's, you can hook straight up to the power feed for your fuse box in the engine compartment and it will only be on when you turn it on with the remote. Main power to the fuse box is the post in the front of the fuse boxaground he ground to any bare metal or on an existing ground in the engine bay. You can PM or call me if you need step by step help or to discuss while w Looking at or working on it. I added a controller with RGB's to my engine bay and behind the grill. Howie 661-972-4297

07-26-2014, 10:50 AM	#12
64stingray Drives: 64vette,2010 2SS,2013 Zl1 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: kanata,on,can. Posts: 89	TO CARMIKAZE, don't know about your car but my SS and ZL1, both have a hot power feed to the under hood fuse box and about 1/2 the fuses are always hot and some are switched, I have them all mapped if anybody interested

09-23-2022, 08:43 PM	#14
Csfessler Drives: 2017 Chevy Camaro RS Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Ohio Posts: 2	So when tapping into a fuse that's a 20, do you use 2 10's or 2 20's? Trying to install LED's under a 2017 Camero RS. I tapped into F31 fuse under hood and worked just fine but then crazy stuff started happening a few weeks later. All of a sudden car would lock up, not start, "shift to park" would display. Coincidence? I'm not sure?