STEP BY STEP LED install instructions!!!
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 281
Likes: 6
From: Alabama
STEP BY STEP LED install instructions!!!
Hey guys I recently installed some LED strips in my truck for the footwell lighting, and I had a hard time finding exact instructions on what to do with them. It's not hard, but for a guy who doesn't know a lick about electricity, it can be quite the grueling task. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of me installing them, but if you have questions I can send pics of the wiring and etc.
STEP 1
First things first. Get your lights. Quick way is to go to your local AutoZone or Advanced Auto Parts and pick up a couple strips. The CHEAPER way is to go to amazon.com and search "LED Light strips". I got mine five 30 cm strips for about 11 bucks, and they work great! Most will be "Add-on Items" but if you do some searching you'll find the right ones.
STEP 2
Get your supplies. Once your lights come in, you'll need some wire (any gauge really is fine, probably around 16-18, depends on your lights), some wire strippers, and electrical tape. I also recommend you grab some blue wire connectors and some wire to bolt connectors(This is mostly for neatness, but it also gives you a much more constant ground, and less a chance of something coming undone) One more thing that is strongly recommended is an "Add-A-Fuse", "Add-A-Circuit", or "fuse tap". These can also be found at your local auto shop. I'll explain these later.
STEP 3
Find where you're going to run your wire. For instance, on my 98, there is a hole that runs from the passenger side to the drivers side right under the radio toward the floorboards. You'll just have to look for a way to the other side of the cab. If you want them in the back, you will also need to find a way to run them to the fuse box from there.
STEP 4
Time to start wiring. Cut a generous length of wire (you can always cut some off, it's a lot harder and less neat to add more), and attach this wire length to the LED Strip. (Red to red, black to black of course) To do this, twist the red wires together and use a connector to crimp them together and make sure they don't come out. Repeat that with the black wires.
STEP 5
Get ready to mount. Peel the 3M tape and put the strips wherever you want them to go. If you don't care too much about putting a tiny screw hole under your dash, i would drill a screw into each end of the strip(BE CAREFUL NOT TO HIT AN LED), because the adhesive tends to not be very good. Only do this if you KNOW there is nothing to be harmed behind it!!!!
STEP 6
This is where it starts to depend on personal preference. Now we have to decide when we want the lights on. What I did was put the wire into the radio's fuse, so that whenever the ignition is on, the lights are, but when it's off, they aren't. You can also make them only come on when the door opens, which was my first option, but when I did it they stayed on with the door closed, so you'll have to figure that one out!
Anyway, the best way to find out which fuse is which is turn on the ignition and start pulling. As soon as the radio goes off, thats the fuse you want. If you got the fuse tap, put the orginal radio fuse back into it, as well as a new 5-15 amp fuse(depends on lights). Then run the positive(red) wire into the blue clamp on the fuse tap. Now just a couple more things and you're on your way!!!
STEP 7
This is where the wire to bolt connector comes in handy(I can't think of the precise name, but it's a little metal circle and the wire goes in one end). Connect the bolt connector to the wire and find a good bolt that attaches to the chassis. (I can show pics on this if anyone needs them). Slip the ring around the bolt and screw the bolt back in where it came from. If you turn your ignition on, you should have light!!!!
If anyone has any questions at all please ask on this thread or PM me!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!
STEP 1
First things first. Get your lights. Quick way is to go to your local AutoZone or Advanced Auto Parts and pick up a couple strips. The CHEAPER way is to go to amazon.com and search "LED Light strips". I got mine five 30 cm strips for about 11 bucks, and they work great! Most will be "Add-on Items" but if you do some searching you'll find the right ones.
STEP 2
Get your supplies. Once your lights come in, you'll need some wire (any gauge really is fine, probably around 16-18, depends on your lights), some wire strippers, and electrical tape. I also recommend you grab some blue wire connectors and some wire to bolt connectors(This is mostly for neatness, but it also gives you a much more constant ground, and less a chance of something coming undone) One more thing that is strongly recommended is an "Add-A-Fuse", "Add-A-Circuit", or "fuse tap". These can also be found at your local auto shop. I'll explain these later.
STEP 3
Find where you're going to run your wire. For instance, on my 98, there is a hole that runs from the passenger side to the drivers side right under the radio toward the floorboards. You'll just have to look for a way to the other side of the cab. If you want them in the back, you will also need to find a way to run them to the fuse box from there.
STEP 4
Time to start wiring. Cut a generous length of wire (you can always cut some off, it's a lot harder and less neat to add more), and attach this wire length to the LED Strip. (Red to red, black to black of course) To do this, twist the red wires together and use a connector to crimp them together and make sure they don't come out. Repeat that with the black wires.
STEP 5
Get ready to mount. Peel the 3M tape and put the strips wherever you want them to go. If you don't care too much about putting a tiny screw hole under your dash, i would drill a screw into each end of the strip(BE CAREFUL NOT TO HIT AN LED), because the adhesive tends to not be very good. Only do this if you KNOW there is nothing to be harmed behind it!!!!
STEP 6
This is where it starts to depend on personal preference. Now we have to decide when we want the lights on. What I did was put the wire into the radio's fuse, so that whenever the ignition is on, the lights are, but when it's off, they aren't. You can also make them only come on when the door opens, which was my first option, but when I did it they stayed on with the door closed, so you'll have to figure that one out!
Anyway, the best way to find out which fuse is which is turn on the ignition and start pulling. As soon as the radio goes off, thats the fuse you want. If you got the fuse tap, put the orginal radio fuse back into it, as well as a new 5-15 amp fuse(depends on lights). Then run the positive(red) wire into the blue clamp on the fuse tap. Now just a couple more things and you're on your way!!!STEP 7
This is where the wire to bolt connector comes in handy(I can't think of the precise name, but it's a little metal circle and the wire goes in one end). Connect the bolt connector to the wire and find a good bolt that attaches to the chassis. (I can show pics on this if anyone needs them). Slip the ring around the bolt and screw the bolt back in where it came from. If you turn your ignition on, you should have light!!!!
If anyone has any questions at all please ask on this thread or PM me!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!
noob :)
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 697
Likes: 104
From: Alberta Canada
any of the flexible led strips I have used run the copper power and negative down each side of the circuit... you run a big risk of shorting out the strip with a screw... I find mounting the sticky strip to a thin aluminum strip works nice, then you can drill or zip tie up the long strip and its easy to take down if you want to repair a solder 