Wiring for Chicken Lights

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by fedman06, Mar 22, 2013.

  1. fedman06

    fedman06 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 22, 2010
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    I have lights all along the fairing of my Volvo and the wires are getting some age on them. I'm tired of fixing breaks so I'm looking to rewire the lights. Most of the wiring I'm finding on the internet is the type that if a wire breaks then the rest of the lights after that one will go out. I am wanting what I currently have which is where if one light goes out, the rest of them stay on. I don't know where the previous owner got the wiring or I'd just replace with the same. I've looked at the usual websites, iowa80, superbriteleds, awdirect Any specific links would be helpful. Thanks!
     
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  3. WitchingHour

    WitchingHour Road Train Member

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    So you want to wire them in a parallel circuit, rather than a series circuit, is what you're saying. Just take a look at what you've got for wiring, and reverse engineer it. If the brackets for the lights are still good, then why not just remove the old wire and replace it?
     
  4. Wildhorse192001

    Wildhorse192001 Light Load Member

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    That's what I'd do, probably be a whole lot cheaper too, well no probably about it I know it would be!
     
  5. Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    I got a daisy chain roll of 100 female bullet connectors from PM (Peterson) for my trailer lights. Only the distance between plugs was different than what I ordered so I had to chop it up and use lots of heatshrink waterproof crimp connectors. But I have enough female bullet connectors left over to do a whole other trailer with lights every 2 ft.
     
  6. 59BROCKWAY

    59BROCKWAY Light Load Member

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    Buy some christmas lights . :biggrin_255:
     
  7. fedman06

    fedman06 Bobtail Member

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    Thanks for the replies, I'll look at just doing it myself then, I didn't know if there was a go-to wiring that I wasn't aware of. Thanks again
     
  8. king Q

    king Q Road Train Member

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    Johannesburg sa
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    Its correct that they must be wired in parallel so as not to break the circuit if one goes out.
    In addition in series 12v would only drive 2x6v or 4x3v chicken lights for example as there is voltage drop over each light to the value of its rated voltage.
    In parallel connection the current required just increases with more lights and each light completes its own independent circuit so one not working does not affect the other.
     
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