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Car Forum / Honda Cars / January 2007Spoiler LED Wire type
What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the "OEM" LED wire was so thin that it would melt. Can I use copper speaker wire? > > What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on > the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the "OEM" LED wire > was so thin that it would melt. Can I use copper speaker wire? how do you know it would melt? how much current is it conducting? >> >> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on >> the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the "OEM" LED wire >> was so thin that it would melt. Can I use copper speaker wire? > > how do you know it would melt? how much current is it conducting? Uh, it COULD be due to the fact that he reverse connections earlier this month and blew a fuse. Then, after reconnecting it properly (he says), he had still more problems. Frankly, while I believe everyone should learn how to do this simple stuff, I'm glad he's "learning" on his own vehicle and not someone else's. I hope that's the case anyway. Search back on his posts. The best recommendation for him MIGHT be to find somebody who knows what they're doing and have them do it for him/her.  SignatureThis post is Sponsored by: www.overheadsoft.com http://www.linkreferral.com/cgi-bin/linkreferal/adwel.cgi?oldrefid=20013 >>> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on >>> the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the "OEM" LED wire [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > find somebody who knows what they're doing and have them do it for > him/her. Well the Honda dealer would not touch it since it is an after market spoiler. I also feel that the guy did not know anything since he had little words. I think he was new. All I am asking about are wire types or why this thin LED light wire keeps melting. Right now I bought some in-line fuses to see what happens next. After that I will not have any wire left to try it once more. Could wire length have anything to do with it? This wire was very long. SignatureThis post is Sponsored by: www.overheadsoft.com http://www.linkreferral.com/cgi-bin/linkreferal/adwel.cgi?oldrefid=20013 >> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on >> the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the "OEM" LED wire was >> so thin that it would melt. Can I use copper speaker wire? > > how do you know it would melt? Well it melted twice now. how much current is it conducting? That, I am not sure about but it could be 12v. >>> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on >>> the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the "OEM" LED wire [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > That, I am not sure about but it could be 12v. Let's start with the wire size. Locate the fuse the circuit is getting power from. If the fuse is 5A or less, you can use 22 guage wire or larger. At 10A use 18 guage wire or larger; for a 20A fuse use 16 guage wire. The fuse exists to protect the wire, and if the wire is melting you already have a problem. The LED bar itself should be drawing well under 5 amps. The overheating wire is a good indication the wiring between the melted wire and the light is bad; shorted or backward, that sort of thing. Both situations need to be corrected before you drive safely and happily. Definitely get the wire size corrected, or you could have a car fire. No fun. Mike SignatureThis post is Sponsored by: www.overheadsoft.com http://www.linkreferral.com/cgi-bin/linkreferal/adwel.cgi?oldrefid=20013 >> >>>> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Mike Thanks, that makes thing a lot clearer. When the fuse blew, I replaced it with a yellow 20A fuse. This also controlled the horn and left the car in park. What you write makes sense since the Honda wire is a lot thicker. Now, I went to Radio Shack looking for wire, is there another place to look at? Will any wire, 16 gauge do the job or does it have to be auto wire or something specifically marked? > Thanks, that makes thing a lot clearer. When the fuse blew, I replaced it > with a yellow 20A fuse. This also controlled the horn and left the car in > park. What you write makes sense since the Honda wire is a lot thicker. > Now, I went to Radio Shack looking for wire, is there another place to look > at? Will any wire, 16 gauge do the job or does it have to be auto wire or > something specifically marked? dude, it's not the freakin' wire, it's the freakin' unit. led's draw /very/ little current. skinny wire works just fine /if/ the led's are fine. go fix the unit and suddenly all your wiring problems will disappear. >> Thanks, that makes thing a lot clearer. When the fuse blew, I >> replaced it with a yellow 20A fuse. This also controlled the horn [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > fine. go fix the unit and suddenly all your wiring problems will > disappear. Why does this "Guest" guy preface his posts with the "-- " signature code? Doesn't he realize what this does when you reply using many common newsreaders? SignatureTegger The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ >>> Thanks, that makes thing a lot clearer. When the fuse blew, I >>> replaced it with a yellow 20A fuse. This also controlled the horn [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Doesn't he realize what this does when you reply using many common > newsreaders? i don't think it's him, i think it's his "sponsor". if he even knows or cares. SignatureThis post is Sponsored by: www.overheadsoft.com http://www.linkreferral.com/cgi-bin/linkreferal/adwel.cgi?oldrefid=20013 >> >> Thanks, that makes thing a lot clearer. When the fuse blew, I replaced [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > fine. go fix the unit and suddenly all your wiring problems will > disappear. Oh, so how do I go about that? Do I need to get a new LED? >> > Guest wrote: >>> >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Oh, so how do I go about that? Do I need to get a new LED? unless there's a simple "gotcha" like a shorted connection, yes. > http://www.linkreferral.com/cgi-bin/linkreferal/adwel.cgi?oldrefid=20013 >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Oh, so how do I go about that? Do I need to get a new LED? My guess is that the wire itself is shorted to ground, most likely where it can be pinched or goes through a small hole. I'm not familiar with the latest in LEDs, but for the most part the active device needs resistance in series to limit current. That would probably prevent the LED from appearing as a short on the supply. Mike >>>>> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on >>>>> the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the "OEM" LED wire [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > look at? Will any wire, 16 gauge do the job or does it have to be auto > wire or something specifically marked? Back up one step. The fuse has to be changed back to what it was originally because there was already wiring on the circuit. The fuse has to protect that wire also. For example, if the original fuse was a 10A the existing wiring would be sized for 10 amps... but with the overrated fuse in there it could be subjected to twice that much current in the event of a fault. Twice the current also means twice the voltage drop across the wire, so the wire will get four times as hot before the fuse blows. Don't shrug this off; notice the recent thread about the 2002 Civic destroyed by an electrical fire. Ordinary stranded, PVC jacketed wire is fine. Radio Shack probably carries it as will many car parts stores. The guage should be at least as heavy as the original fuse size dictates (from my earlier post). As the others say, there is still something wrong with the LED if it blows the original size fuse. They don't draw much current. Mike SignatureThis post is Sponsored by: www.overheadsoft.com http://www.linkreferral.com/cgi-bin/linkreferal/adwel.cgi?oldrefid=20013 >> >>>>>> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > Mike So I guess I might just buy a new one. The guy I bought it from on Ebay has been kicked off. He offered a lifetime warranty, but you need a return authorization number first, but it is impossible to contact him via email or phone. They are Exotic Truck and Auto Gear. Damn them! I should have bought Honda OEM like I started to... > So I guess I might just buy a new one. The guy I bought it from on Ebay > has been kicked off. He offered a lifetime warranty, but you need a > return authorization number first, but it is impossible to contact him via > email or phone. They are Exotic Truck and Auto Gear. Damn them! I > should have bought Honda OEM like I started to... Before giving up, inspect every place the wire goes through tight spots, either in metal or with the ground wire along with it. Pinched wires are common sources of shorts. Mike SignatureThis post is Sponsored by: www.overheadsoft.com http://www.linkreferral.com/cgi-bin/linkreferal/adwel.cgi?oldrefid=20013 >> >> So I guess I might just buy a new one. The guy I bought it from on Ebay [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Mike Oh? I did do the plastic tie things all over. Maybe I put them on too tightly? The rubber grommet that the wire goes through was not exactly clear. I assumed that since it was rubber, it should no harm. >>> So I guess I might just buy a new one. The guy I bought it from on Ebay >>> has been kicked off. He offered a lifetime warranty, but you need a [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > tightly? The rubber grommet that the wire goes through was not exactly > clear. I assumed that since it was rubber, it should no harm. If the wire is soft, the ties really could be too tight. Carefully cut them and check it out again. The grommet should be okay. Mike >> how much current is it conducting? > That, I am not sure about but it could be 12v. Your response is all the reason to believe that you should not be doing this work yourself... > Guest wrote: >>> >> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > That, I am not sure about but it could be 12v. ok, if the wire melted, there's something wrong with the light unit. total current should be under 1 amp. well under. don't try re-wiring it until you sort it out - probably replace it. as pointed out by mike, failure to fix could lead to a car fire. volts are different to amps. >>>> >> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED >>>> light on >> the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > it until you sort it out - probably replace it. as pointed out by mike, > failure to fix could lead to a car fire. Here, I believe, is the problem (as I mentioned in my first response). As written by Guest on 1/09/2007 "I installed a spoiler on my car and when I first installed it, the light did not come one and I later found out that I put the wires on in reverse and blew a fuse. Some of the wiring even melted. I corrected the problem and it was working correctly. Then yesterday, I bought a splitter for the cigarette light plug so that I can plug in a radar detector and a cell hone at the same time. As I was backing out of the lot, I noticed that the spoiler light was not on. I had just plugged the splitter in the socket before I started the car up. I checked and the wires were melted again and were still very warm to the touch. This time, the fuse was not blown. " Methinks that Guest and other items, like water, should be kept away from electrical devices. SignatureThis post is Sponsored by: www.overheadsoft.com http://www.linkreferral.com/cgi-bin/linkreferal/adwel.cgi?oldrefid=20013 >>>>> >> What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED >>>>> light on >> the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Methinks that Guest and other items, like water, should be kept away from > electrical devices. f.ck you. I cam for advice, not smart a.s comments. Michael Pardee gave advice. > What type of wire do you suggest using for wiring up the LED light on > the spoiler? I need to solder a new wire on since the "OEM" LED wire > was so thin that it would melt. Can I use copper speaker wire? ---------------------------------- LED's are light-emitting DIODES, and if you've ever run juice through a diode backwards, they may be shorted, which will keep on blowing up the wiring, no matter if its thin or heavier. Remove the + and ground connections from your car and try powering the diodes directly from another 12 V source, like a different battery. Put a fuse in the line (as you suggested) or just a tail light bulb (way better), since the LED's are supposed to take way less current than a light bulb and if the light comes on bright, you know the diodes are indeed shorted to death. Don't bother trying a battery charger as your power source. . many don't put out any power unless they are connected to a half-ways alive battery. 'Curly' |
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