Wiring Question
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 872
Likes: 18
From: Jasper, Mn
Wiring Question
Hey guys, I am looking at putting a couple small LEDs in the pinch weld area under the doors on the cab. I want to have them come on when I open up a door. Where is the best place to grab power from the door switch circuit for that? The passenger side I was thinking of grabbing it where it goes into the sleeve between the cab and the door, but on the drivers side there are a lot of things in the way to get to that point. Can I pick it up down in the door jamb area? Is there a wire going to the dome light there?
Thanks,
Baatzy
Thanks,
Baatzy
FTE-Spread The Knowledge
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,287
Likes: 244
You can get LED strips in any color. Splice into the lower door light. You can buy a big roll of the LED's on Amazon cut them to length and solder on wires after removing coating. Use a little super glue it will compliment the adhesive that is on the back of the strips. Holds a little better than just by itself.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 872
Likes: 18
From: Jasper, Mn
I have the LEDs I plan on using, we'll see how they turn out. I may turn to an LED strip like described. One of my final projects is dealing with RGB LED strips so I have a few options if needed.
Where can I tap into the door switch at? Also, I don't have any wiring diagrams, so does anybody know what color wire I am looking for?
Thanks,
Baatzy
Where can I tap into the door switch at? Also, I don't have any wiring diagrams, so does anybody know what color wire I am looking for?
Thanks,
Baatzy
FTE-Spread The Knowledge
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,287
Likes: 244
The LED strips cost like $7 for 4'. Cutting to length and solding new leads on is an art, but the light they emit is well worth it. Not sure why you wouldn't tap into the existing door light but maybe you do not have one.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,609
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From: Arizona
Doesn't the door switch just switch the ground half of the circuit?
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2016
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Yes the door switch is a grounding circuit. As mentioned earlier you could tap into the wires going to the courtesy light on the lower door panel if your vehicle is equipped with that light. Or you could install a relay and have the door switch ground the coil on the relay and turn on your new LED lights.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 872
Likes: 18
From: Jasper, Mn
I get what you are saying about the courtesy light now. I could, but my lights are a round hole mount style. I would like to give them a try first as I think they will have a longer life than the strip style LEDs. I spend a lot of time on gravel and in different fields and have no mud flaps of any sort so the bottoms of my doors spend a lot of time filled with mud and other junk. That makes me not want to drill holes in the bottom of the door, or hope that a sticky strip is going to stay in place. Where as the pinch welds see a lot of mud and other junk as well, but it generally drops off.
I may end up there, but for now I would like to pull it from the cab if possible.
Baatzy
I may end up there, but for now I would like to pull it from the cab if possible.
Baatzy
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