wiring help please?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

wolfman_moya

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
Location
Concord, Massachusetts
hey all,
so i got a LED strip to put under my grill and im 99% sure i have the wiring right but for some reason they just refuse to work!

so here's a diagram of my wiring (hopefully y'all can see it)

for clarification:
i have the lights grounded to the frame of the jeep, and the positive lead going to the load prong of the switch.

i have the switch grounded to the battery and getting power from not a fuse tap, but something similar.

can anyone tell me if this is right and if it is any suggestions i can try to get them to work? thanks!!!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20140117_192200.jpg
    IMG_20140117_192200.jpg
    85.9 KB · Views: 23

CzarKJ

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2013
Messages
2,605
Reaction score
3
Location
Townsend, MA
Ok from there you will need a relay in between the switch and the lights. The relay will have a separate power source from the battery.

Something like this.
Novita/4 pin 40 Amps 12 Volts accessory relay (RL44) | Relay and Resistors | AutoZone.com

And do it like this.
You must be registered for see images


Good luck! Don't shock yourself!

EDIT: Note. For those LEDs you wont need as heavy of wire or relay. The diagram is for some off road lights.
 

Billwill

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2009
Messages
2,193
Reaction score
668
Location
White River, South Africa
The option shown with the relay is the best way of doing things...I do not exactly understand why the first diagram shows the switch being grounded...rather use the relay as shown!
 

CactusJacked

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
2,407
Reaction score
11
Location
Chicago Suburbs
The option shown with the relay is the best way of doing things...I do not exactly understand why the first diagram shows the switch being grounded...rather use the relay as shown!
It must be an illuminated switch he's using, those need a ground for the light to work. A conventional single pole switch would not have a ground connection.
 

Ohio-white-kj

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
192
Reaction score
15
Location
ohio
hey all,
so i got a LED strip to put under my grill and im 99% sure i have the wiring right but for some reason they just refuse to work!

so here's a diagram of my wiring (hopefully y'all can see it)

for clarification:
i have the lights grounded to the frame of the jeep, and the positive lead going to the load prong of the switch.

i have the switch grounded to the battery and getting power from not a fuse tap, but something similar.

can anyone tell me if this is right and if it is any suggestions i can try to get them to work? thanks!!!

Not sure what you mean by an LED strip. What is the amp. pull? If it's under 4 or 5 there is no reason you need a relay.

No idea why your diagram is not working - unless you are using the wrong terminal on the switch (maybe the ground and load reversed). Are the terminals labeled? Verify with a VOM and also jumper your power to the lights lead and see if they work, if they don't work jumperd - you have another issue.

Have you even checked to see if they work?
 

CactusJacked

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
2,407
Reaction score
11
Location
Chicago Suburbs
Have you even checked to see if they work?
Yeah that. Connect the light directly to the battery to make sure it isn't defective. And I have to agree about not needing a relay. Using one for an LED light is overkill and unnecessary. Your light is likely in the 1 amp draw range, if that.
 

wolfman_moya

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
Location
Concord, Massachusetts
hey thanks for the responses! uh yeah i connected it to the battery and they do work. and that set up that i have pictured in my op worked for a couple of hours until i shut my jeep off. then when i turned it back on they wouldnt work anymore so im not really sure whats wrong here haha
 

CactusJacked

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
2,407
Reaction score
11
Location
Chicago Suburbs
Ehhhhhh, did you check the fuse? ;)
And I take it you tested the light connected directly to the battery after the fact, and you're not talking about before you wired it?
 

wolfman_moya

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
Location
Concord, Massachusetts
yeah i checked it beforehand. the thing i dont get is that the switch is an illuminated switch. so even if the lights were dead, if the switch would still light up if it was getting power and was grounded. so when i turn the switch on it doesnt light up which tells me that the switch either isnt getting power or isnt grounded correctly which baffles me because im pretty sure it is
 

CactusJacked

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
2,407
Reaction score
11
Location
Chicago Suburbs
yeah i checked it beforehand. the thing i dont get is that the switch is an illuminated switch. so even if the lights were dead, if the switch would still light up if it was getting power and was grounded. so when i turn the switch on it doesnt light up which tells me that the switch either isnt getting power or isnt grounded correctly which baffles me because im pretty sure it is
Whether or not the switch is getting grounded has no effect on it passing current through to the lights. The switch doesn't need to be grounded to make the LED lights work, only for the switch to light up for effects. If you bypass the switch and connect the supply and load wires together, the lights should work. If they do, the switch is bad. If they don't, you lost your supply and need to trace it back to the source.
 

Latest posts

Members online

Top