LED and Neon wiring ?s

[metall_guitarist]

Hello, I have some L.E.D.s and a couple of neons that I've added to the cab of my sonoma. I powered them directly from the battery with and inline fuse...but I know there is probably a better way of wiring them, but I don't know what that is. Can someone tell me a good way of wiring them up? I'm going to add more probably in the future too, if that has any impact on your answers. Thanx!

[rlith]

Run relays...

[metall_guitarist]

sorry i don't know a whole lot about the electrical stuff...what are relays and how would i "run" them?

[rlith]

look here http://www.the12volt.com/relays/relays.asp

[metall_guitarist]

so when i set up these relays..do i just run a single wire from the battery and split it? or is it sumthin totally differant?

[rlith]

No, you run the power to the light from the battery, and turn it on via the relay

[metall_guitarist]

oh ok..thanx!

[CreepingDeath94]

When do you want the lights to turn on?

[metall_guitarist]

well right now i just have them hooked straight from the battery with an in-line fuse to a switch...but I want to keep the switch.

[CreepingDeath94]

Well, because if you only want them to come on with the vehicle running, you should run it off an accessory circuit. You can still switch it to turn it off or on if you want but only with the key in the on position. Unless you want to be able to turn these lights on all the time, key or no key, I wouldn't run it with constatnt power.

[metall_guitarist]

alrighty, thanx for your help... btw...Creeping Death...Metallica..

[fattcatt8006]

their is no right or wrong way to do it relays are just prittyier but more to go wrong keep it the same way

[rlith]

Originally Posted by fattcatt8006

their is no right or wrong way to do it relays are just prittyier but more to go wrong keep it the same way

You don't understand DC electricity do you? Relays are the prefered way to run anything that takes a heavy draw (like lighting) off of a 12 volt system. If you wire the lighting (or other heavy duty item) to the battery and not to the existing wiring harness (which is not designed for heavier than specified loads) there is less chance of setting your car on fire or premature electrical death. To say that relays are just prettier is stupid in the extreme. But hey, if you wanna torch your car, be my guest...

[OffRoadSonoma]

I'm not trying to be a smart ass or anything, but how come when you hook up a car stereo you hook the amp right up to the battery? That puts a heavy draw on the charging system. Is there a better way to hook the amp up? I've talked to people and asked them if I could hook it right up to the alternator and they said no, but couldn't give me a very good reason why.

[rlith]

Originally Posted by OffRoadSonoma

I'm not trying to be a smart ass or anything, but how come when you hook up a car stereo you hook the amp right up to the battery? That puts a heavy draw on the charging system. Is there a better way to hook the amp up? I've talked to people and asked them if I could hook it right up to the alternator and they said no, but couldn't give me a very good reason why.

1st the correct way is to the battery. You are not hooking up through the harness. The amp is turned on through a 5/12 volt relay inside the amp itself (the turn on lead). So you are not drawing through the harness. That's why on large amps it's reccomended you use 4 gauge or better power wire.

As to why not from the alternator, you'd immediately kill the diodes inside the alt because it couldn't handle the constant draw. Cars don't run off the alternator, they run off the battery which is charged by the alternator. The reason larger amp alternators are better is because the more load you put on the system, the harder the alt has to work to charge the battery and maintain the proper voltage levels..

If you want to run your amps and anything else directly to the alt though, be my guest. But don't bitch when your truck goes up in flames or you keep burning the alternator every other day.