lighting query....I have a plan...

[Robsey]

I'm not a technical boffin but,...I have a Vectra Energy 2oo5 1.9cdti...which is pre-facelift but full can bus...I do not have climate control

now my query is this...I am looking for a light that comes on via the light switch...not the ignition, that I can use as a power source for a low wattage relay...
As mine is a full can bus jobby...I am trying to go around the houses to obtain a switched live circuit driven via the lighting circuit without upsetting the can bus....
From here I plan to operate half of a quite complex fog light circuit.....this will hopefully operate via a small electronic circuit that converts the momentary contact of the fog light switch into a latching circuit which in turn will operate a standard relay circuit as discussed in excellent detail by Mr Armoured Farmer in his how two.

going back to the original query....Is there a non-can bus sensitive light switch operated circuit from which a small relay could be driven..?

[Harry]

I'm not a technical boffin

you're too modest, you lost me after 'now my query is this...'

[Ian S100]

I searched for one of these when I fitted the new Head Unit to my 2005 Vectra - I needed it for the dimmer circuit but I never found one. I though of the light on the cig lighter but there's no power going to it & when it works it's an ignition switched live anyway - all the wires behind the light switch & the heater panel are Can Bus too

[Duncan]

I though of the light on the cig lighter but there's no power going to it & when it works it's an ignition switched live anyway

On mine the little light for the cig lighter/ashtray is headlight activated not ignition. Turn on the ignition and it doesn't light up, but turn on the side/headlights and it does. It's where I tapped off for my first boost gauge so that it only illuminated when I had my lights on. Mine's half-CanBus but I wouldn't have thought the ashtray/cig lighter light would be any different wiring on a full CanBus?

One possible downside for you of tapping off there is that when you first unlock the car, the instruments lights/graphic display centre console lights come on (including the cig lighter/ashtray) so your relay would be activated briefly. Don't know if that would be a problem?, may depend on your other wiring. For a boost gauge it wasn't a problem it lighting up when the car was unlocked - looked kinda cool at night too!

D

[Robsey]

Sounds okay to me...the light controlled circuit will be connected to the coil side of the fog light relay. The light powered relay itself will be controlled via the converted momentary switch on the the coil side
....does that make sense...
If it does and I am successful I will try and do a how 2 thingy...will let you know mid october...

[Duncan]

The light powered relay itself will be controlled via the converted momentary switch on the the coil side
....does that make sense...

Yeah, perfect sense!! <thinks> is a converted momentary switch?</thinks>

[plasma]

all makes sense to me although i do know of a relay which takes an impulse and can lock the relay on. But the relay wouldnt be big enough for driving the fog lights, only to power a secondary relay which could..

[Ian S100]

On mine the little light for the cig lighter/ashtray is headlight activated not ignition. Turn on the ignition and it doesn't light up, but turn on the side/headlights and it does. It's where I tapped off for my first boost gauge so that it only illuminated when I had my lights on. Mine's half-CanBus but I wouldn't have thought the ashtray/cig lighter light would be any different wiring on a full CanBus?

The wiring is there for the cig lighter/ashtray illumination but I've checked all combinations & there is never any power to it & it's certainly never lit up. I'm intrigued again now though & i'm gonna have another fiddle this weekend

[Robsey]

Found the lights-on live circuit during a reply to someone elses thread...it is...

a white plastic plug inside the plastic console to the left of the gear lever...you will need to remove the gear lever gaiter trim...sort of unclips..
There should be two wires to this as follows: -
Grey and Yellow..from can bus - body control module (light switch feed)
Brown - ground...-ve or earth return...

I have successfully tried a relay across these two wires with no can bus problems being raised...Yippeee!!

Hope to have it all done and working by friday 5th October...will let you know.

[Duncan]

Found the lights-on live circuit during a reply to someone elses thread...it is...

a white plastic plug inside the plastic console to the left of the gear lever...you will need to remove the gear lever gaiter trim...sort of unclips..
There should be two wires to this as follows: -
Grey and Yellow..from can bus - body control module (light switch feed)
Brown - ground...-ve or earth return...

That'll be the ashtray light as per.....

On mine the little light for the cig lighter/ashtray is headlight activated not ignition. Turn on the ignition and it doesn't light up, but turn on the side/headlights and it does. It's where I tapped off for my first boost gauge so that it only illuminated when I had my lights on. Mine's half-CanBus but I wouldn't have thought the ashtray/cig lighter light would be any different wiring on a full CanBus?