Hot wire?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by TruckerPete1990, Feb 15, 2017.

  1. TruckerPete1990

    TruckerPete1990 Road Train Member

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    So I got a 07 9400i. I'm trying to tap into my work lights to run new ones... problem is they won't power my leds. Is there away to make that wire produce more power without melting them lol

    On my muiltmeter it's only doing about .12....
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2017
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  3. strollinruss

    strollinruss Road Train Member

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    Do you need to ground them?
     
  4. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Short answer: No, a wire will melt if you try and draw too many amps through it.

    LED's are polarity sensitive. Did you hook them up properly?
     
  5. TruckerPete1990

    TruckerPete1990 Road Train Member

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    I have it grounded to a bolt outside. If i take the wire i ran from my LED light and touch to the Battery it works but taping into the old Wiring that already has a switch it won't power the led. Im trying to avoid having to run another wire & Switch
     
  6. TruckerPete1990

    TruckerPete1990 Road Train Member

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    yeah im sure its grounded out on a bolt that has a Really good ground. If i touch hot wire to the battery powers right up. But soon as i hook into old wire it won't power it. Im still getting .11 from my muiltmeter at the top where the new work lights just wont power em. Didn't think LED would need more power then what its getting lol
     
  7. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    So are you just splicing into the power wire to the existing lights? Are the old lights working?
     
  8. TruckerPete1990

    TruckerPete1990 Road Train Member

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    Correct Yes the old ones work fine. They power up.. Its what got me stumbled lol
     
  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Yeah that makes no sense unless you've got the leads on the LED's reversed or you have a poor ground on the lights. I would advise making sure the wiring and components in the circuit you are tapping into are capable of handling the increased amperage.
     
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  10. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    Sounds like the ground that you're trying to use isn't a good one. Try running a temporary ground wire back to the battery from the LED lights and see if they come on. If so, that's your issue.

    edit: Just read the post where you said they work if you run a positive straight to the battery.

    In that case, you have a bad connection somewhere in your original circuit. You're going to have to physically trace the wire back and check for corroded splices or connections.
     
  11. TruckerPete1990

    TruckerPete1990 Road Train Member

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    But at the Top where they wire spices into led im getting the same .11 - .12 there same as where the original spice in it is. Im thinking that the wire just can't handle it.
     
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