Autobody, Lighting, & Structural Tech This forum is brought to you by RPM Electronics in Burnaby.
Discussion about modifying your auotomotive lighting, retrofits, auto body, share projects, ideas, etc.
|
 | 
08-31-2011, 09:08 PM
|
#1 | | What hasn't Killed me, has made me more tolerant of RS!
Join Date: May 2011 Location: Surrey
Posts: 159
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
| Wiring switch to LED strip???
Hey, i cant figure out how to wire a switch to a led strip...
the led strip has a positive and negative wire attached to it, their very thin.. also there are two thicker wires used for positive and negative that are connected to the battery, and that the two wires from the led strip tap into..
now i cant figure how how to connect a switch so that i can turn the stupid thing on and off....
any help will be much appreciated, thanks
| 
|  | |
08-31-2011, 09:32 PM
|
#2 | | Media Officer / MOD
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: vancouver
Posts: 28,073
Thanked 5,751 Times in 1,724 Posts
|
put the switch in between one side
basically cut the positive wire put the switch in between. Done
| |
| | |
08-31-2011, 09:43 PM
|
#3 | | What hasn't Killed me, has made me more tolerant of RS!
Join Date: May 2011 Location: Surrey
Posts: 159
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
|
the positive thats coming from the batery?? this is the switch i have... i know there is supposed to be a (+) a (-) and a (load)ao what would go where... ?  | |
| | |
09-02-2011, 09:18 PM
|
#4 | | 2x Variable Nockenwellen Steuerung
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: N49.2 W122.1
Posts: 6,176
Thanked 1,174 Times in 704 Posts
|
+ve <----> Switch <---> LED driver / resistor <---> LED strip <--> -ve
To be doubly sure, you should test the leads of the switch with the continuity setting of a multimeter, just to make sure you are soldering to the right foot.
Last edited by godwin; 09-02-2011 at 09:40 PM.
| |
| | |
09-27-2011, 06:29 PM
|
#5 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 142
Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts
|
anyone know how to wire the leds to the door switch?
| |
| | |
09-27-2011, 06:37 PM
|
#6 | | Revscene.net has a homepage?!
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Coquitlam BC
Posts: 1,265
Thanked 94 Times in 48 Posts
|
Most cars have a negative door switch, so to wire the leds to come on when the door is opened they need to be connected to constant power. You can run a fused lead off the battery or use an add a fuse out of your fuse panel. Then tie the positive of the led strip to the constant power and use a tap to connect the negative to the wire coming off the door switch, then your lights will only turn on when the door is opened.
| |
| | |
09-27-2011, 06:42 PM
|
#7 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 142
Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by silva95teg  Most cars have a negative door switch, so to wire the leds to come on when the door is opened they need to be connected to constant power. You can run a fused lead off the battery or use an add a fuse out of your fuse panel. Then tie the positive of the led strip to the constant power and use a tap to connect the negative to the wire coming off the door switch, then your lights will only turn on when the door is opened. | Thanks
| |
| | |
09-27-2011, 07:08 PM
|
#8 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 142
Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by silva95teg Most cars have a negative door switch, so to wire the leds to come on when the door is opened they need to be connected to constant power. You can run a fused lead off the battery or use an add a fuse out of your fuse panel. Then tie the positive of the led strip to the constant power and use a tap to connect the negative to the wire coming off the door switch, then your lights will only turn on when the door is opened. | but say i want to do this: http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._8014938_n.jpg
would it be possible to wire up something like this with addition to door lights? another question is, u said to use a "tap" to connect negative. what is the "tap"? sorry, im new at this
| |
| | |
09-27-2011, 07:10 PM
|
#9 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 142
Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts
| | |
| | |
09-27-2011, 08:25 PM
|
#10 | | Revscene.net has a homepage?!
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Coquitlam BC
Posts: 1,265
Thanked 94 Times in 48 Posts
|
Are the lights on the door itself stock in the above photo? Are you just wanting to do the underdash/footwell lighting?
This is an example of a tap: T-Tap Connectors
They can be found at lordco/cantire/princess auto etc
I did some under dash lighting for the front of my car and only tapped the drivers door switch. Mine only turn on when the drivers door is open and it triggers both sides. If you wanted you could wire each strip to the negative of each door switch and have them all independent, or a more complicated setup that I think may work would be to use diodes on each run and hook up to all door switches. That way any door would cause all the lights to come on. You can't just common all the door switches together or your car would think all the doors were open each time you opened any. The diodes I believe would stop that from happening. No garantee though as I have not tried it. Posted via RS Mobile | |
| | |
09-27-2011, 08:32 PM
|
#11 | | Revscene.net has a homepage?!
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Coquitlam BC
Posts: 1,265
Thanked 94 Times in 48 Posts
|
One more thing, some cars have a positive door switch so you would need to check that. Also if your dome light wiring is accessible it is easier to tap into that. Posted via RS Mobile | |
| | |
09-27-2011, 10:22 PM
|
#12 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 142
Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by silva95teg Are the lights on the door itself stock in the above photo? Are you just wanting to do the underdash/footwell lighting?
This is an example of a tap: T-Tap Connectors
They can be found at lordco/cantire/princess auto etc
I did some under dash lighting for the front of my car and only tapped the drivers door switch. Mine only turn on when the drivers door is open and it triggers both sides. If you wanted you could wire each strip to the negative of each door switch and have them all independent, or a more complicated setup that I think may work would be to use diodes on each run and hook up to all door switches. That way any door would cause all the lights to come on. You can't just common all the door switches together or your car would think all the doors were open each time you opened any. The diodes I believe would stop that from happening. No garantee though as I have not tried it. Posted via RS Mobile | the leds on the door are aftermarket i believe. not original. ill give it a try. thank u so much !!
| |
| | |
09-27-2011, 10:24 PM
|
#13 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 142
Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts
|
i want to do a footwell and under door lighting. and i just found out that my rear door switches are positive door switches. i only have 1 dome light and its in the centre of the ceiling. two red wires running the dome light though
| |
| | |
09-28-2011, 04:39 AM
|
#14 | | Revscene.net has a homepage?!
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Coquitlam BC
Posts: 1,265
Thanked 94 Times in 48 Posts
|
The under door is easy, you can just take power from the lights already in the door. It you can access those red wires going to the dome light you could possibly wire the footwell lights to those. Posted via RS Mobile | |
| | |
09-28-2011, 03:52 PM
|
#15 | | Proud to be called a RS Regular!
Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 142
Thanked 17 Times in 8 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by silva95teg The under door is easy, you can just take power from the lights already in the door. It you can access those red wires going to the dome light you could possibly wire the footwell lights to those. Posted via RS Mobile | what if i dunt have any light sockets on the door?
| |
| | |
09-28-2011, 05:11 PM
|
#16 | | Revscene.net has a homepage?!
Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Coquitlam BC
Posts: 1,265
Thanked 94 Times in 48 Posts
|
sorry, from what you said i thought you did.
| |
| | |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:27 PM.
|
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
The banners on the left side and below do not show for registered users!
