parking light preference
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=129869
Printed Date: May 02, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Topic: parking light preference
Posted By: offroadzj
Subject: parking light preference
Date Posted: December 26, 2011 at 6:18 PM
So this is for all the experienced installers out there. With more and more vehicles having the ability of connecting either a + or - parking light connection, which do you normally prefer???
I'm stuck on the fence myself. The negative trigger connections draws a lot less power from the r/s unit, but you are also creating a possibility of backfeeding to the switch on some new vehicles. Where-as the positive connection draws more from the unit, but is USUALLY separated from the switch by the factory parking light relay...
So which do you prefer?
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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205
Replies:
Posted By: Ween
Date Posted: December 26, 2011 at 6:29 PM
hi,
negative, have the vehicle supply the power for the lights, not the alarm/remote start module. have seen modules with overheated/burnt positive parking light connections, as well as stuck on parking light relays.
mark
Posted By: metz35
Date Posted: December 26, 2011 at 6:49 PM
Negative. And that's why diodes are for.
Posted By: offroadzj
Date Posted: December 26, 2011 at 7:12 PM
metz35 wrote:
Negative. And that's why diodes are for.
This is very true, but that requires cutting the factory wire... which I prefer not to do if I don't have to. I usually stick to negative when I can, but I wanted to see about everyone else. ------------- Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205
Posted By: tedmond
Date Posted: December 26, 2011 at 9:09 PM
Negative when possible, if no negative triggers then the positive is used.
7/10 cars are negative, i rarely use the postive. with the compustars instead i change its function to trunk release. ------------- Ted
2nd Year Tier 1 Medical School
Still installing as a hobby...pays for groceries
Compustar Expert
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: December 27, 2011 at 3:03 AM
Always use neg where possible for above reasons, Metz's comment has made me think though, why and where? Between switch and connection or more logically after the connection with the band towards the switch which would make no difference to the circuit unless we are talking about back feed from the OEM relay.
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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.
Posted By: shortcircuit161
Date Posted: December 28, 2011 at 12:57 PM
I have to agree with the negative trigger also. I always prefer to tap into the negative trigger as it requires less current to pass thru the RS/Alarm and often times it's a more convenient connection to access. The positive trigger (although very simple as well) often requires diode isolating and connecting two or more wires on certain vehicles to catch all of the lights.
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