 Quick question, LED hook up |
  |
 Sep 8, 2004 - 7:16 PM
|
 
|
 Enthusiast  Joined Jul 16, '04 From Los Angeles Currently Offline Reputation: 8 (100%)  |
Im putting a set of 12v led's in my hi beam unit and plan on using power from my low beams.
My question is can i connect both the positive and negative wires directly with my low beam wires, OR do i have connect the negative/black wire to the ground or negative termal on my bat? Im pretty sure i can just hook the led straight up with the low beams with out running a wire all the way to the ground/negative terminal, but better safe the sorry. Thanks in advaced |
|
Sep 8, 2004 - 11:40 PM
|
|
 Enthusiast Joined Nov 4, '02 From Hecho en la Republica Dominicana/Living in NJ Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
if i was you i wouldn't tap into the wiring for the head lights.. i would use the trun signels or the sidemarkers... and yes you can connect them stirght you don't have to hook up the negative to the battery
-------------------- |
|
Sep 9, 2004 - 12:30 AM
|
|
|
Enthusiast Joined Jul 16, '04 From Los Angeles Currently Offline Reputation: 8 (100%) |
why is it a bad idea to tap power off of the head lights?
|
|
Sep 9, 2004 - 7:41 AM
|
|
|
Enthusiast Joined Nov 4, '02 From Hecho en la Republica Dominicana/Living in NJ Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
cause you run the risk of causing a short.. or cause more power to go through the wires then what it can support... and you don't want that while you are driving at night ..
-------------------- |
|
Sep 9, 2004 - 9:15 AM
|
|
 Enthusiast Joined Feb 25, '04 From Wisconsin Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Its just always a better idea to use the sidemarkers - easy
|
|
Sep 9, 2004 - 11:19 AM
|
|
|
Enthusiast Joined Jul 16, '04 From Los Angeles Currently Offline Reputation: 8 (100%) |
cool will do thanks for the tips and advice.
|
|
Sep 10, 2004 - 6:36 PM
|
|
 Enthusiast Joined Feb 16, '04 From San Diego Currently Offline Reputation: 0 (0%) |
Hope the LEDs aren't 12V max, cuz 14.6V will be very nasty to them.
--------------------  |
|
Sep 10, 2004 - 6:42 PM
|
|
||
 Administrator Joined Aug 23, '02 From Seattle, WA Currently Offline Reputation: 14 (100%) |
I know that he's already decided to tap into the sidemarker wiring, but in addition to Mac's reasons, tapping into the headlight wires will most likely increase resistance due to the connector being in place of a straight, insulated wire. And increased resistance will mean less power will be getting to your lights, which will make them illuminate the road less. And those factory headlight wires are tiny to begin with. Mine have been cut and put back together and stuff because for a while I had 12 gauge wires and a relay powering my low beams(in hopes of getting more light output and being able to run higher wattage bulbs, but I got no increase in light and the extra heat kills the high-wattage bulbs anyway), but I'd guess that those factory wires are 16 gauge or maybe even 18 gauge. And when you do this, be sure to solder your connections and insulate them. The area where those wires are gets exposed to a lot of moisture, which can easily eat away and corrode crimp-on connectors. 
-------------------- New Toyota project coming soon...
|
||
|
Sep 10, 2004 - 10:51 PM
|
|
|
Enthusiast Joined Jul 16, '04 From Los Angeles Currently Offline Reputation: 8 (100%) |
soldering and insullating tmw morning.
and yes i did tap them into the side markers and they look very nice. Thanks to everyone for all of the infomation. weeee |
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
| Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: August 1st, 2025 - 12:12 PM |