K so i am making new door panels for my qx and always wanted courtesy lights but my qx doesn't come with it so i figured this is a good time to put some in but I don't know how to wire them up
I either want to wire them to the door pin or to the dome light if anyone can help me with either or both of the ways to do this
Wiring Couresy Lights
Re: Wiring Couresy Lights
Adding any lights adds current to an already minimal electric system, that may cause problems later. That said what do you want these lights to do...be explicit be as descriptive as possible...for example come on and off when, for how long, light up what specific area? Because the world is your oyster will all types of lighting but depending on your wants you may need a separate circuit instead of simply branching off of the existing lights. And what type of lights are you using, watts candle power...heat is your enemy.
Re: Wiring Couresy Lights
well about the electrical system i'm into car audio so i have a deep cycle battery up front and two group 31s in the back and planning on getting the HO alt very soon... so not too worried about that.
i was thinking i'll put some led lights underneath the car.... like underglow but bright white and only want them on when the car doors open.... i was thinking wiring it like the dome light so when i unlock the doors the light comes on but only stays on for the thirty seconds or so if the doors don't open, but i also want it to go on when you open the doors.
not too sure what kind of light yet but probably something from oznium or v leds
my thoughts on how to wire it is you need a relay... take the positive from the dome light and wire it to the relay and have that branch out to whatever i want to turn on (dome light, courtesy light, etc..) and then just have those grounded...... sounds like the right thing to do but i really don't know and also i feel like that might put too much strain on one run of power or something like that
i was thinking i'll put some led lights underneath the car.... like underglow but bright white and only want them on when the car doors open.... i was thinking wiring it like the dome light so when i unlock the doors the light comes on but only stays on for the thirty seconds or so if the doors don't open, but i also want it to go on when you open the doors.
not too sure what kind of light yet but probably something from oznium or v leds
my thoughts on how to wire it is you need a relay... take the positive from the dome light and wire it to the relay and have that branch out to whatever i want to turn on (dome light, courtesy light, etc..) and then just have those grounded...... sounds like the right thing to do but i really don't know and also i feel like that might put too much strain on one run of power or something like that
Re: Wiring Couresy Lights
If you use existing controls like the door switches and dome, use a relay to be operated by the existing controls then the actual power source for all the added lights use your battery, the deep cycle one, thus no big deal to the existing wiring, but fuse the relay and fuse the lighting circuits.
The only extra load to existing light circuit is the relay itself, but that is only 25 watts at the most and that is dependent on what relay you use, the number of poles etc. The relay can be electro- mechanical or solid state, but you must know the amp draw of each light, how long it is on and it is possible to use a relay combo with a on or off delay.
it is a wide open project.
Do you understand schematics?
The only extra load to existing light circuit is the relay itself, but that is only 25 watts at the most and that is dependent on what relay you use, the number of poles etc. The relay can be electro- mechanical or solid state, but you must know the amp draw of each light, how long it is on and it is possible to use a relay combo with a on or off delay.
it is a wide open project.
Do you understand schematics?
Re: Wiring Couresy Lights
no i don't understand schmatics... why do you need to know the amp draw of each light could you try to run me through the process? what do you mean relay combo? don't have to dumb it down too much i should understand majority of what you're saying
Re: Wiring Couresy Lights
1st, when adding to a car's electric system you are adding a greater load in amperage
2nd most cars are built to a fixed main load
3rd if adding load be prudent with the amount of load so when original equipment will be modified instead of just adding a lamp add a relay which should be less than the load of lights. Then the original load for that circuit will not be compromised.
4th, add a separate feed from a fused source that will feed the added lights.
When done and done correctly the added lights will seamlessly work with OEM equipment but not overload the original circuit and be protective of the added lights via the added circuit(s) for the added lights
I asked about reading schematics because schematics explain electrical detail easily.
A note about wire and fuses
Wire is sized by AWG #14, #12, #10 etc. The larger the # the smaller the wire. Wires by themselves in free air carry more current than wires in a bundle in an enclosed space. DC current used by a car travels within the wire whereas AC current travels closer to the edge of the wire.
Fuses rated at 15 A or 20 A and all fuses are used at 80% of their rating. # 14 can carry 15 Amps in a bundle, but 80# x 15 is 12amps.
So be diligent with any extra circuits that you add. Be certain that the wire is insulated as the OEM.
If you do the job with care and concern it should work without troubles, but if you compromise the system you will have a load of headaches.
Be smart!
2nd most cars are built to a fixed main load
3rd if adding load be prudent with the amount of load so when original equipment will be modified instead of just adding a lamp add a relay which should be less than the load of lights. Then the original load for that circuit will not be compromised.
4th, add a separate feed from a fused source that will feed the added lights.
When done and done correctly the added lights will seamlessly work with OEM equipment but not overload the original circuit and be protective of the added lights via the added circuit(s) for the added lights
I asked about reading schematics because schematics explain electrical detail easily.
A note about wire and fuses
Wire is sized by AWG #14, #12, #10 etc. The larger the # the smaller the wire. Wires by themselves in free air carry more current than wires in a bundle in an enclosed space. DC current used by a car travels within the wire whereas AC current travels closer to the edge of the wire.
Fuses rated at 15 A or 20 A and all fuses are used at 80% of their rating. # 14 can carry 15 Amps in a bundle, but 80# x 15 is 12amps.
So be diligent with any extra circuits that you add. Be certain that the wire is insulated as the OEM.
If you do the job with care and concern it should work without troubles, but if you compromise the system you will have a load of headaches.
Be smart!
Re: Wiring Couresy Lights
oh s*** i feel dumb i just read over the whole thread and don't know why i didn't understand what you were saying the first time so the battery is your source of power, the relay turns it on and off gotcha now what i still don't understand is relay combo like you posted above and how do you calculate the draw of your lights from the OEM wiring?
Re: Wiring Couresy Lights
Watts a measurement of true power can be easily converted to amps using the formula
W =V x I or watts = Volts x Current
The lamps you will use have a wattage rating at a nominal voltage of 12 Vdc
EG Say your light bulbs add up to 60 W @ 12 V, 12 is the nominal range of a 12 V system that actually ranges from 10-15 VDC.
Using W = V x I. Plug in the known values. 60 = 12 x X, you do not know I or amps, thus X
X = 60/12
X = 5
So at a nominal range of 12 V your lights draw 12 Amps.
So if your using a relay it must have a load carrying capacity of at least 5 A.
That means the contacts must be able to handle at the very least 5 A at 12V, but the coil of the relay will be what it is and there lies the quality of the relay. A quality relay can handle the nominal ratings of what you want, but being able to handle more is good. The relay should be rugged enough for vibrations, solid for higher voltages and enclosed.
If this is my car, I would only use name brand relays that are certified by: CSA, CE, DIN,UL,UL-Can, SAE or others. Stay away from cheap crap and be sure to properly fuse your branch circuits.
All your parts are available at auto parts stores, but all electrical parts are not created equal. You may pay more for quality parts, but cheap crap is too expensive, because when it fails or burns up you will lose your time and effort but what about your car and life.
Be smart, be safe, learn before doing if you do not know. Electrical failures can be deadly.
W =V x I or watts = Volts x Current
The lamps you will use have a wattage rating at a nominal voltage of 12 Vdc
EG Say your light bulbs add up to 60 W @ 12 V, 12 is the nominal range of a 12 V system that actually ranges from 10-15 VDC.
Using W = V x I. Plug in the known values. 60 = 12 x X, you do not know I or amps, thus X
X = 60/12
X = 5
So at a nominal range of 12 V your lights draw 12 Amps.
So if your using a relay it must have a load carrying capacity of at least 5 A.
That means the contacts must be able to handle at the very least 5 A at 12V, but the coil of the relay will be what it is and there lies the quality of the relay. A quality relay can handle the nominal ratings of what you want, but being able to handle more is good. The relay should be rugged enough for vibrations, solid for higher voltages and enclosed.
If this is my car, I would only use name brand relays that are certified by: CSA, CE, DIN,UL,UL-Can, SAE or others. Stay away from cheap crap and be sure to properly fuse your branch circuits.
All your parts are available at auto parts stores, but all electrical parts are not created equal. You may pay more for quality parts, but cheap crap is too expensive, because when it fails or burns up you will lose your time and effort but what about your car and life.
Be smart, be safe, learn before doing if you do not know. Electrical failures can be deadly.