led puddle lights wiring to interior dome

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Lights, Neon, LEDs, HIDs
Forum Discription: Under Car Lighting, Strobe Lights, Fog Lights, Headlights, HIDs, DRL, Tail Lights, Brake Lights, Dashboard Lights, WigWag, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=111106
Printed Date: May 13, 2025 at 12:37 PM

Topic: led puddle lights wiring to interior dome

Posted By: phatmitzu
Subject: led puddle lights wiring to interior dome
Date Posted: January 29, 2009 at 12:48 PM

I wired up some under car LED puddle lights on my 2005 E-class. I wired them to the front dome lights(bulb socket) so it will turn on/off with the opening/closing of the doors. But for some reason it will only lit up for a second or two then it shuts down... Do you think I need resistors?

Thanks.

Replies:

Posted By: phatmitzu
Date Posted: January 29, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Heres the dome light housing. The two light bulb sockets are red arrowed.

posted_image

Posted By: ryan95x
Date Posted: February 02, 2009 at 10:26 PM

Did you use bare LEDs or a pre-made LED light bar?

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-Dual XHD6425 - HD Radio w/USB & 3.5mm in
-Power Acoustik PS4-840
-Infinity Components
-10" Clarion SW1051 in FG molded box

Posted By: phatmitzu
Date Posted: February 03, 2009 at 12:53 AM

ryan95x wrote:

Did you use bare LEDs or a pre-made LED light bar?

Pre-made ones. Five LEDs in a pod, 5 pods wired in a line. I kind of figured out why. I think the LEDs are draining too much power. If I took out the dome light bulb then the LEDs will kept lit.

Does this mean I will need a resistor? The dome light has a dimmer by the way. It gradually dims when its turned off.

Posted By: ryan95x
Date Posted: February 03, 2009 at 3:30 PM

The pre-made ones should already have resistors in them to handle 12v. If the problem is that they are draining too much then you might want to use a relay for the LEDs.

-------------
-Dual XHD6425 - HD Radio w/USB & 3.5mm in
-Power Acoustik PS4-840
-Infinity Components
-10" Clarion SW1051 in FG molded box

Posted By: phatmitzu
Date Posted: February 03, 2009 at 4:14 PM

A relay for the LEDs? Can you give some examples on which ones I should use?

Sorry, I am totally new at this.

Thanks.

Posted By: ryan95x
Date Posted: February 03, 2009 at 5:47 PM

No problem. Check out this page for a good explanation: https://www.the12volt.com/relays/relays.asp

-------------
-Dual XHD6425 - HD Radio w/USB & 3.5mm in
-Power Acoustik PS4-840
-Infinity Components
-10" Clarion SW1051 in FG molded box