All Elecrical Gurus
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Coral Springs
Think you can do this!!!
I have some LED lights i want to install around the interior of the car near the dash... I know how to hook them up to a switch but i dont know how to ground the wire or hook the lights up to the battery for the power.. also does anyone know how to hook them up to the headlight switch.. so when the headlights turn on they turn on...
Last edited by JakexTrainer; Sep 24, 2006 at 01:24 AM.
Evolving Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: Igloo
I hope you have some basic knowledge of direct current electricity, specifically the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance. See here: http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/led.htm
Basically you need a resistor if you are only using one LED. But who only uses one? You can use a few LED’s wired “in series” to total 12-14 volts (what your car uses).
Be careful to ensure you wire them with the correct polarity. LED’s are always rated with a forward current and a backward current. The backward current is always much lower, and you will burn it out it you put in it backwards.
There are a TON of web resources out there. Search, Search, Search! After you play around with regular LEDs, get some “Luxeon Stars.” They are much brighter and more practical for illumination in the car.
Most cars use microprocessors to control nearly everything in the car (lights, windows, A/C, etc.). If you draw too much power from the headlight switch or accidentally short the circuit, you might freak out the microprocessor. Have fun.
Basically you need a resistor if you are only using one LED. But who only uses one? You can use a few LED’s wired “in series” to total 12-14 volts (what your car uses).
Be careful to ensure you wire them with the correct polarity. LED’s are always rated with a forward current and a backward current. The backward current is always much lower, and you will burn it out it you put in it backwards.
There are a TON of web resources out there. Search, Search, Search! After you play around with regular LEDs, get some “Luxeon Stars.” They are much brighter and more practical for illumination in the car.
Most cars use microprocessors to control nearly everything in the car (lights, windows, A/C, etc.). If you draw too much power from the headlight switch or accidentally short the circuit, you might freak out the microprocessor. Have fun.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: la
a quick way of doing it will be to locate the fuse for your headlights and connect the positive to that fuse. make sure you only connect your positive wire to one side of the fuse. Your neg can go anywhere were there is a good ground. amost every metal part of the car can work. or if you dont want your headlights to be a switch just buy a switch and use the power that comes to your cig. lighter. power only comes to it when your ingition is turn on. hope this helps.
Dude Seriously, IMO Get some Cold Cathodes They are Brighter Easier to Wire and Sometimes come out to be cheaper. Usualy they come with a switch and the Power tranformer. So you just give them 12 volts at the Transformer and flip the Switch. You want to put a fuse in either the LED setup or any other setup.