License plate light power/wiring ideas?

[photowrite]

I've installed a new rear bumper that uses these simple, old-style, pop-in license plate lights (I’ve had them on other bumpers for decades). I can't get them to work...

The OE license plate lights on my '14 2500 have a black wire and white with blue stripe wire (my Haynes says white w/ light green). Before wiring them, with the light switch ON, I used a test light to confirm the white w/blue stripe wire was the power wire. After the lights didn't work, I tried grounding the black wires to see if that would make the license plate lights shine; nope.

I know newer trucks can be a pain when wiring accessories, but these are just license plate lights (the big off-load lights will be next).

Surely it's possible both new lights are defective, but unlikely. I'll order couple more to rule out that possibility.

Any thoughts or ideas on why these light may not be working would be helpful, thanks in advance.

James

 

[B.G. Smith]

Is it possible the new lights are led? If so they will be polarity sensative. bg

 

[photowrite]

Nope, they are simple lights with just one black power wire.

http://blazer-international.com/productdetail.php?itemno=160B&cat=9

 

[mwilson]

They ground thru the bumper. You may have to scrape some paint off where they push through the bumper.

 

[mwilson]

Those prongs that hold them in are also the ground path.

 

[photowrite]

They ground thru the bumper. You may have to scrape some paint off where they push through the bumper.

Makes senses. Of course if prefer to not remove nice, new powder coating.

 

[mwilson]

You could solder your black wires to the plate light body.

 

[mwilson]

Another option would be changing the plate light internals over to two prong pigtails instead of your current single wire. I can't remember the bulb number that works with that set up but they do exist.

 

[photowrite]

Another option would be changing the plate light internals over to two prong pigtails instead of your current single wire. I can't remember the bulb number that works with that set up but they do exist.

Thanks for input, it was very helpful. I just tested one light using the retaining prongs to ground directly to a battery and sure enough, it works. So I'll either ground them with a separate wire as you suggested and/or look for the two wire versions.

Thanks!

James

 

[mwilson]

You can purchase the internal pigtails for very little money. When I get back to a PC tonight I will show you what it amounts to.

 

[photowrite]

Cool, thanks.

 

[mwilson]

Here you go, a two wire LED version made by Grote. Probably the easiest and best result...

http://www.grote.com/products/g6121-hi-count-clear/

 

[photowrite]

Thanks much for sharing the Grote LED part. I'm sure I will like these better long-term, they cost about twice as much but I bet they last more than twice as long, maybe 'lifetime'

My temporary solution that seems to work was to add a ground wire to the back of the lights. I'd rather have the cleaner, better LEDs.