12V wiring advice

[ScottD4]

Hi folks,

disclaimer: I am electrically inept.

Ok now that's out of the way, I was wanting to do a project on the van before Easter.

I would like to run a 5m LED Strip light the length of our van, just underneath where the awning sits (on the van). These come with 3M tape so it would just be taped to the van.

I've read some things online that just say to, "just tap into your nearest 12v power source and you're done!"

But to be honest I'm not exactly sure how to do that. :)

So do I seriously just run the new LED power and earth to my existing outside light's power and earth wires and solder my wires into the same circuit? That way, when I turn on my outdoor light the LED strip light will illuminate as well?

I also thought that I probably wouldn't need a fuse as the circuit is protected by the normal light circuit fuse?

Please help, I would like to get this done but don't really want to use the 12vdc power pack option as that is messy and just creates another cord that I don't want.

Scott.

[loanrangie]

Your van lights are most likely 240v unless it has already been setup with a 12v system.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

[ScottD4]

Your van lights are most likely 240v unless it has already been setup with a 12v system.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

Van lights are 12v.

[PhilipA]

So yes, but if it doesn't work you may have the polarity wrong, so just reverse the wires.
Regards Philip A

[Blknight.aus]

dont forget, take pics as you go post them up and if you have any doubt stop where you are and ask...

essentially, yes, its as easy as you think it sounds if the exisitng light is 12v plug the wires on and you're good to go.

Id also like to suggest modding your setup so you can switch the lights independantly of the main switch, you'd still have the main switch but youd also have 2 more so you could have the main light, the led lights or both.

you might also want to think about cutting 1-4 leds off of the strip and installing them inside the main light so they always come on, that way you can have a dim light for when you have to get up in the night but down want to light up the whole world, just enough to see the steps and the kids bike.

and since you've got a whole strip of lights there and youve got the wiring stuff out... stick a couple inside the battery box and to throw light on your fuses. wire them up to a switch so when you pop a fuse you can have some light where you need it most when you need it most...

While your at that....

put 2 inside the flap of your 240V inlet socket and put the switch for those where ever you keep the power supply cord so when you goto set up at night the light is right where you need it.


more than happy to help you out with a wiring diagram if you need it.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

After 6 months of living in our van I am firmly on the side of INDIVIDUAL (fused) 12V supplies to EVERYTHING.

especially lights.

There is nothing worse than lights flickering, its bad in all sorts of ways but especially psychologically. a flicker instantly brings forth the BLACKOUT emotion.
quickly followed by the YOU IDIOT verbal call and then by the WHAT THE F DID I DO WRONG NOW state.

( I am serious about the supply thing)

[ScottD4]

After 6 months of living in our van I am firmly on the side of INDIVIDUAL (fused) 12V supplies to EVERYTHING.

especially lights.

There is nothing worse than lights flickering, its bad in all sorts of ways but especially psychologically. a flicker instantly brings forth the BLACKOUT emotion.
quickly followed by the YOU IDIOT verbal call and then by the WHAT THE F DID I DO WRONG NOW state.

( I am serious about the supply thing)

Please go back and read my very first sentence.

Now put your response in a way I will understand.

Thank you.

[Blknight.aus]

What he means is that everything that is controlled by a switch and is run off of your 12v power has its own fuse.

most out of the box van configurations have one fuse that powers all of the 12v lights so if you have a problem with one light that blows the fuse you just lost all of your lights, its done this way as it saves them maybe $10 in wiring. this does you no favors if you desperately need a light on right now because your other half is in the middle of an asthma attack and you need to read the lable on the inhaler to make sure you're getting them the one that relieves not prevents and attack.....

its also less than helpful when you want to change that fuse so you turn a light on to see what you're doing and then realize that yes, the light I need to see to change the fuse is powered by the fuse I need to change so I can turn the light on.

this is why I wire up a couple of small lights on a seperate circuit with well protected wires. similar to what i suggested in the middle of my post a couple of posts ago.


Work keeps me in the dark often enough I don't need or like it when my camping gear does it too.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

does this help?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtlRiVv8kUs

or

Take your van to an auto electrician.
ask him to power your light strip via a dedicated supply wire, suitably fused.
Pay Money. Simples.

really,, 12V electrics are easy.
Drilling holes in the side of your van to supply your light,, and NOT make a mess, internally and externally, is considerably more difficult.

[CountryHonk]

Hi folks,

disclaimer: I am electrically inept.
...
Scott.

You may (or may not) like this site, ScottD4
Automotive Training and Resource Site (http://www.autoshop101.com/)
- there are others like this that I have found quite handy in learning basics, reading technical diagrams etc.

Cheers
Matt

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Hi folks,

disclaimer: I am electrically inept.

Ok now that's out of the way, I was wanting to do a project on the van before Easter.

I would like to run a 5m LED Strip light the length of our van, just underneath where the awning sits (on the van). These come with 3M tape so it would just be taped to the van.

I've read some things online that just say to, "just tap into your nearest 12v power source and you're done!"

But to be honest I'm not exactly sure how to do that. :)

So do I seriously just run the new LED power and earth to my existing outside light's power and earth wires and solder my wires into the same circuit? That way, when I turn on my outdoor light the LED strip light will illuminate as well?

I also thought that I probably wouldn't need a fuse as the circuit is protected by the normal light circuit fuse?

Please help, I would like to get this done but don't really want to use the 12vdc power pack option as that is messy and just creates another cord that I don't want.

Scott.


How'd you go Scott?:confused: