how to wire...

rug 15 · Aug 6, 2012

ok forum newb here.. im sure if i looked around i could find the answer to this question but i figured id just ask.

ok all y'all know with the 2012 rams its a little dark in the floor area.. sooo i want to add led light strips..

now i know that auto zone had led strips.. and LEDglow.com has some decent stuff too.....

but how in the world do i install it? i get the placement.. and running wires.. and ground somewhere.. its the power i dont get. where do i put that? do i have to cut a solder a wire in? do i just shove it in one of the "thousand" plugs i see under my dash?

little help would be nice.. i kno i kno i must sound rediculous but wiring is not my friend... :banghead:

TexasRammer · Aug 6, 2012

use one of those quick splice connectors and tap into something light the 12v outlet or cigarette lighter

rug 15 · Aug 6, 2012

TexasRammer said:
use one of those quick splice connectors and tap into something light the 12v outlet or cigarette lighter

your underestimating my newbness with wiring.... thats the part i dont know how to do...... lol

TexasRammer · Aug 6, 2012

Lol. Find the power wire to whatever is easier, most likely red for one of those two things. Then get one of those quick splice connectors, put it around one of those power wires, then put the wire to your switch in it and crimp it down- it will look like this Google Image Result for http://apercu.gnomefoo.com/misc/etc/Water4gas/onlinebooks/usermanual/PICS/User-Manual_img_85.jpg

run that wire you just attached to the connector to a switch. Then take a wire from the switch and connect it to the lights.

WhiteExpress · Aug 7, 2012

I completely disagree. I would never use a wire tap. They are great in concept, but lead to problems down the road. If you're going to splice into a wire, do it properly, and seal the connection from the elements and be rewarded with long lasting trouble free wiring.

My personal preferred method is crimp non insulated butt connectors and heat shrink. I've used this method for years without a SINGLE failure.

TexasRammer · Aug 7, 2012

That may be a better and more clean way, but ive experienced no problems with quick splices and theyre more simple. I had my whole radio connections together using them at one time and they worked great. I even used them on my hellas outside in the weather and all for over a year and never had a problem.

GhostRam94 · Aug 7, 2012

I've used the quick splice way on all my pa system and my hella and KC with no issues and they have been through hell and back

Miami Son · Aug 7, 2012

Dude, no offense, but get someone knowledgeable to do it for you. You are obviously a 'shortcut' kind of guy (didn't want to search or look around before posting) and when it comes to electrical systems on these trucks that kind of attitude will get you in trouble. Much of this truck is connected to the CAN-BUS system and shorting or grounding the wrong wire can cause costly damage that will not be covered by warranty. I'm all for people working on their own vehicles, but a man's got to know his limitations.

rug 15 · Aug 7, 2012

Miami Son said:
Dude, no offense, but get someone knowledgeable to do it for you. You are obviously a 'shortcut' kind of guy (didn't want to search or look around before posting) and when it comes to electrical systems on these trucks that kind of attitude will get you in trouble. Much of this truck is connected to the CAN-BUS system and shorting or grounding the wrong wire can cause costly damage that will not be covered by warranty. I'm all for people working on their own vehicles, but a man's got to know his limitations.

non taken.. i just don't do electrical. not my thing. hence why i am on this forum.. trying to get help.... CAN-BUS? noo idea what that is. anyway im trying to avoid having someone else do it cause thats expensive as hell (one shop wanted 250$ for three lights....) yet again why im here tryin to find someone "knowledgeable" to point me in the right direction

Miami Son · Aug 7, 2012

We can point all we want, but electrical is something you have to have at least a little knowledge of. I know guys who can turn wrenches with the best of them, but put a wire stripper and a schematic in their hands and they break out in a cold sweat and ask for mommy. The electrical systems on these trucks is way beyond that of just 15 years ago and shorting the wrong wire can cause very expensive damage. That's why a good electrical guy gets the big bucks. Heck, the electrical systems on this truck are so sensitive that even something as seemingly simple as switching headlights or taillights causes problems. I use to wire Gulfstream G3-4 cockpits so I'm no stranger to electronics, but even with my background I approach anything electrical on these trucks with caution. I wouldn't even attempt it if I didn't know what I was doing.

Gardenfan · Aug 7, 2012

I have had to haul people to the dealer because they fried their computer messing with the wiring.

Spent the first 10 years out of high school as an electrician, and I was real careful when I put my grill lights in. And hell, even I didn't know that in the daytime, the headlights aren't getting full voltage. Would have figured it out when I got to my multimeter, but still puzzled me for a bit lol.

The computer controls the lights, it isn't just a power wire to a switch and then a wire to the bulb and then to ground anymore.

freeline30 · Aug 7, 2012

I had my led installed under the dash and cab to light up the step bar. Leds come on when doors open or alarm is turned off i love it looks great. But like i said i had it installed i tryed it could not do it and i know my way electrical components and cars. I must say for me its going to be a completly new learning curve

rug 15 · Aug 7, 2012

well shiatt yeah i see what yall are saying and i appreciate it.

once i find the leds ima use ima try to see if i can just hunt down the power wire to the cigarette lighter. hopefully that shall work for me. (or if i can find a fuse panel inside.. just do the add a fuse thing)

think thatll work?

will this "Crazy wiring" of these trucks cause an issue when i install some offroad flood lights?

TexasRammer · Aug 7, 2012

nope, lots of people run extra offroad lights. I would just run them to the battery, cant really **** anything up that way...

mikelr · Aug 7, 2012

TexasRammer said:
That may be a better and more clean way, but ive experienced no problems with quick splices and theyre more simple. I had my whole radio connections together using them at one time and they worked great. I even used them on my hellas outside in the weather and all for over a year and never had a problem.

No offense Rammer but I don't think you've been on the planet long enough to provide a appropriate case study on the longevity of wire tap splices.. LOL!! :roflsquared:

TexasRammer · Aug 7, 2012

mikelr said:
No offense Rammer but I don't think you've been on the planet long enough to provide a appropriate case study on the longevity of wire tap splices.. LOL!!

haha non taken. Im not sayin im a specialist in this or anything. Ive just never had a problem with them or heard of anyone having problems with them if you use them right. They may not last a lifetime, but theres nothing wrong with them if you need a cheap and easy way to tap into a wire

mikelr · Aug 7, 2012

I agree, especially if you limit their usage to inside the vehicle. Exposed to the elements they are not so bueno..

Miami Son · Aug 8, 2012

The problem with these taps (Scotchlock) are A) they damage the wire by first exposing the copper strands to the elements and then by nicking them and making them weaker. It is not unusual to see a wire that is subjected to movement eventually break at the point of the splice. B) the metal inside the splice will eventually corrode if exposed to the elements causing the connection to break down or eventually fail.

These Scotch-lock taps are primarily used for temporary connections on non-critical items. I personally prefer a soldered and shrink-sleeved or butt-spliced crimp connector on anything I expect to last and be trouble free. I have a mil-spec crimper from my days as an avionics installer and I use it whenever soldering is not feasible. I would only use a Scotchlock on something I expect to either redo later or not need to last and definitely not on something that the failure of would cause great problem.

TexasRammer · Aug 8, 2012

Miami Son said:
The problem with these taps (Scotchlock) are A) they damage the wire by first exposing the copper strands to the elements and then by nicking them and making them weaker. It is not unusual to see a wire that is subjected to movement eventually break at the point of the splice. B) the metal inside the splice will eventually corrode if exposed to the elements causing the connection to break down or eventually fail.

These Scotch-lock taps are primarily used for temporary connections on non-critical items. I personally prefer a soldered and shrink-sleeved or butt-spliced crimp connector on anything I expect to last and be trouble free. I have a mil-spec crimper from my days as an avionics installer and I use it whenever soldering is not feasible. I would only use a Scotchlock on something I expect to either redo later or not need to last and definitely not on something that the failure of would cause great problem.

So when you use the butt splice crimp connectors to tap into a wire, do you cut it and insert the wire into both ends and then put the wire your adding into one of the ends as well? Ive never used these connectors, just soldered or those quick splice ones

quietpeen · Aug 9, 2012

rug 15 said:
well shiatt yeah i see what yall are saying and i appreciate it.

once i find the leds ima use ima try to see if i can just hunt down the power wire to the cigarette lighter. hopefully that shall work for me. (or if i can find a fuse panel inside.. just do the add a fuse thing)

think thatll work?

will this "Crazy wiring" of these trucks cause an issue when i install some offroad flood lights?

as far as i know there are no fuses on the inside of the truck. the problem with getting your power from the cigarette lighter is that unless you go to a switch the lights will always be on when the truck is running. I know i wouldn't want that much light in the truck when driving at night

how to wire...

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