Power Source

[Burgies]

Hi guys. Im putting together a pretty simple led interior system into my car but im not too sure how i should power it. I know i can hook onto the back of the cig lighter, but then i dont think i will have a fuse, and seeing as im having 6 sets of LEDs i really want one. I have a power cable coming from the battery to power my amp, and that has an inline fuse. Im wondering if there is any way to hook into this, and if there is will it affect the power going to the amp? and in turn affect my bass levels?? Any suggestions guys? the set up im having is just from the power source, to a switch to each of the LEDs to the ground. Also, im 90% sure about this but i can just wire one set of LEDS to next cant I? Any help would be great, thanks!

-Burgies

ps sorry if this is in the wrong forum

[kleicl]

To do a good job You need

10M power cable GOOD one $15

Switch or Switches $ 5 each

Zip-ties $5

Solder KIT $10 or 40

Heat Shrink $10

Fuse holder $7

Fuse needs a 500ma or 3 amp for all $2

Wire it all up to the ciggy or find under the drivers side a fuse box with ( Pos and Gnd ) form acc switch wire up from there

Take the all the pos form the led's and the pos form the batt or acc and put the switch on there and all the Neg just wire all these together

easy as

Edited September 30, 2008 by kleicl

[Burgies]

I didnt realise fuses were so cheap, can i use the same kind of stuff you would use for wiring in an amp? but by it separetly, like not in an amp wiring kit? Sorry are you saying to put all the pos from the LEDs into one switch, or to wire the neg from one into the pos for another and create a loop back to the ground?

[Trav33]

You'll want to use the smallest fuse for the job.

Dont use the power cable going to your amp, unless you install a small inline fuse - the fuse at the battery-terminal will be massively overrated and wont offer sufficient protection.

I'd use cigarette lighter - its already fused, easily accessible, and will only supply power when you have your keys in the igntion.

[palmer]

you will also need a diode and/or resistor

convert the power down so that it doesn't overload the LED's

[Burgies]

if i use the cig lighter will i need a resistor cause they are made to be plugged in there?

[gumflapper]

if this kit u have is designed to be plugged into a cigarette lighter, then it SHOULD already have resistors inline with each LED in ur array... if u want to check you should hav approx 3.3VDC at all the individual LEDs

the resistor values if u can check them should be approx 435ohms. a resistor with that value will give a voltage drop of 8.7V from a 12V (3.3V) supply while maintaining a 20mA current (R = V / I)

435 ohms = (12V - 3.3V (8.7V) / 0.02A)

each resistor will also consume approx. 0.174watts of power

[Trav33]

With the questions your asking, you might be better off buying a 12V LED/Neon kit, which you can wire straight in.

[palmer]

^ that's exactly what i was thinking.

Otherwise your going need a lot of resistors etc to make it work without over powering any individual LED's

[Burgies]

I think its all solved. My gear has finally been delivered and they are kits, so they have the resistors etc, so im basically rewiring the power source of them from the cig lighter plug to the back of it via a switch thanks for all your advice guys, much appreciated