Soldering is easy mate, and heat shrink is even easier.

Give it a practice with a few bits of old wire. Youll get a much stronger, more reliable joint that you can trust more IMO.

Youll never go back

I tried soldering once......complete balls up! I am no good but didn't stick at it or watch any videos. My hands shake like a sh1tting dog so that doesn't help. Any soldering tips?

How does heat shrink work, I get the general idea and can easily do the whole crimping thing. Do you need a heat gun or will a hairdryer do?

I would say soldering and heat shrink would be gold standard tbh, followed by crimping, followed by connector blocks and trailing behind would be twist and tape.

One piece of advice would have to be to have a fire extinguisher in the boot if upgrading to HID and playing with wiring. I'm being VERY over cautious but for me it's a bit of peace of mind and also a good present to request for the 'guy who has everything'

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Edited 25 January, 201511 yr by jonro2009

Hm i doubt it'll bother the dealer if it's going in for any work will it? I mean it won't void the warranty or anything right?

I might just buy those connector strips where you push the wire through one end and the other through the other end and just screw them tight. Just need to buy some wire now and wait for the delivery in bloody 2050 lol

Hm i doubt it'll bother the dealer if it's going in for any work will it? I mean it won't void the warranty or anything right?

I might just buy those connector strips where you push the wire through one end and the other through the other end and just screw them tight. Just need to buy some wire now and wait for the delivery in bloody 2050 lol

You'd be surprised, I've heard of dashcams voiding warranty, Skoda are seriously picky

You'd be surprised, I've heard of dashcams voiding warranty, Skoda are seriously picky

Really? That's not great news. I will have to remember that if it ever goes in for work. Mind you, it's been in for its service so I guess they week have noted it already.

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Well i'll ring them first then before i attempt to do it and see what they say. I doubt 2 strips of leds will do a lot of damage...

Well i'll ring them first then before i attempt to do it and see what they say. I doubt 2 strips of leds will do a lot of damage...

Wouldnt ask them. Cos thats pointing it out.

Just take it in n hope the mechanic turns a blind eye

I tried soldering once......complete balls up! I am no good but didn't stick at it or watch any videos. My hands shake like a sh1tting dog so that doesn't help. Any soldering tips?

How does heat shrink work, I get the general idea and can easily do the whole crimping thing. Do you need a heat gun or will a hairdryer do?

I would say soldering and heat shrink would be gold standard tbh, followed by crimping, followed by connector blocks and trailing behind would be twist and tape.

One piece of advice would have to be to have a fire extinguisher in the boot if upgrading to HID and playing with wiring. I'm being VERY over cautious but for me it's a bit of peace of mind and also a good present to request for the 'guy who has everything'

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Have a play (: as soon as you get it up to temperature it runs freely n sorts itself out (:. I keep a tub of flux next to me, sometimes useful if the solder fails to run, and I've got it handy anyway, being a plumber.

You can use a fag lighter for heat shrink. Just hold it below (not in the flame) and itll just shrivel up and hold the joint .

Depends if it's wanted to be quickly whipped off before sale or dealer work etc in which case it might be worth using crimps. But yeah I agree if it's permanent soldering every time and some heat shrink

You can always cut out the joint and resolder it back to how it should be (: some colour coded heat shrink around it n theyd never know

Yeah good point, i'm thinking of heat shrinking it, is it a case of stripping both ends and connecting them by twisting and then instead of using tape i use heat shrink? Or have i got it wrong?

Yeah good point, i'm thinking of heat shrinking it, is it a case of stripping both ends and connecting them by twisting and then instead of using tape i use heat shrink? Or have i got it wrong?

That's how I would heat shrink, I've been watching some you tube videos and that seems to be the most common approach.

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Makes sense, i've watched a few videos for the boot ones but how do i take mine apart? Like all the sides and stuff so i can run the wire

Id personally solder it and use heat shrink over the soldered joint.

Wouldnt dream of just twisting wires together personally

Id personally solder it and use heat shrink over the soldered joint.

Wouldnt dream of just twisting wires together personally

 

 

when i fitted my puddle lights i crimped my connections from the new wiring install + led lamp assemblies as it was a given that itd be permanent the moment i drilled holes in the wing mirrors , also good ole' scotch-locks are a nice way of splicing into wiring without the need to solder/heatshrink ect ect.

when i fitted my puddle lights i crimped my connections from the new wiring install + led lamp assemblies as it was a given that itd be permanent the moment i drilled holes in the wing mirrors , also good ole' scotch-locks are a nice way of splicing into wiring without the need to solder/heatshrink ect ect.

Didnt happen to do a guide when you did it did ya mate?

Didnt happen to do a guide when you did it did ya mate?

 

unfortunately not, as with most things like where i work, im a sparky and everything is usually just kept in the brainbox, didnt think to note down how i was doing it lol, but im sure i could take a few pics or write something up if people are interested enough.

Edited 26 January, 201511 yr by vigyaz

unfortunately not, as with most things like where i work, im a sparky and everything is usually just kept in the brainbox, didnt think to note down how i was doing it lol, but im sure i could take a few pics or write something up if people are interested enough.

Ah i know that feeling. I never think of taking pics till after haha.

Is alright mate, dont worry. I might never get round to doing it haha

I'm gunna attempt the boot one first and if all goes well then i'll do the led strips under the door to act as puddle lights. So all i need to do is twist the two wires together and heat srink them? Soldering is not an option as i don't have one and don't plan on buying one for 5min work...

And yes, vigyaz some pics would be nice

Excuse my ignorance here.

Are the strips a little bit useless as puddle lights if under the door?

Youll only see when you open the door?

This is okay for getting out, but when you're walking towards the car to get in, its gonna be dark until you open the door, in which case its too late?

Excuse my ignorance here.

Are the strips a little bit useless as puddle lights if under the door?

Youll only see when you open the door?

This is okay for getting out, but when you're walking towards the car to get in, its gonna be dark until you open the door, in which case its too late?

I see your point about not being visible until the door is open, tbh that's never been an issue for me. I saw the problem from the other side....when getting out the light is on the wrong side of the door, if you open it fully then the light is not near the car.

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I really like the look of them under the door and as jonro2009 said i'd be able to see when i open the door. I would also fit ones in the side mirror if everything works as fine haha never say never

Any links as to what wire i'll need to join to the led strips and extend it to the main power source? Gunna give it a search when i get in but just wanted to be sure which one would work without any problems

I see your point about not being visible until the door is open, tbh that's never been an issue for me. I saw the problem from the other side....when getting out the light is on the wrong side of the door, if you open it fully then the light is not near the car.

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Ah yeah. Thats true aswel. Youd have the same problem, if not worse it they were on the mirror though i guess?

Only way round it is to put a strip under the car.

But the wiring will be a pain and itll get covered in road crap. :/.

Ah yeah. Thats true aswel. Youd have the same problem, if not worse it they were on the mirror though i guess?

Only way round it is to put a strip under the car.

But the wiring will be a pain and itll get covered in road crap. :/.

Look at Gee Mans Fabia VRS build with his puddle lamps that are automatic

Will do mate

Any links as to what wire i'll need to join to the led strips and extend it to the main power source? Gunna give it a search when i get in but just wanted to be sure which one would work without any problems

Check out post 46 for info on what type of wire mate.

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