Quick Question on Wiring LEDs

[HeavyHauler]

OK, I've got a pretty simple question... I have a set of lights coming for the bottom side of my cab and I know that they have the standard positive (+) and negative (-) wires. It is just one long strip of lights not a lot of them wired together.



Is the negative the same as a ground and is it necessary to ground this wire? If not, can I just cut it off and wire the positive straight in? If it does need to be grounded, should I just drill a small hole into a metal support under the truck or does anyone else have any better ideas?



Any information is appreciated. Tips are also welcome - I've never wired lights like these into a pickup.



Please help on this one; the LEDs should be here tomorrow.

 

[bmoeller]

They shouldn't be any different than standard bulbs as far as wiring goes. If they have a wire for the ground and not using a mounting screw to ground, you will need to use it.

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by bmoeller

They shouldn't be any different than standard bulbs as far as wiring goes. If they have a wire for the ground and not using a mounting screw to ground, you will need to use it.

LED's are almost like standard light bulbs to wire up... unless they have a rectifior built in, they need to be wired correctly matching the polarity [+ to +, - to -]...

 

[wes reeves]

If they have a ground wire they need to be grounded. Instead of drilling a new hole, I would just run a wire to a bolt that goes in the frame and pinch it between the bolt head and the frame.



All your grounds can be tied together in any way. This way you dont have to run multiple ground wires to bolts.

 

[HeavyHauler]

Originally posted by wes reeves

All your grounds can be tied together in any way. This way you dont have to run multiple ground wires to bolts.

wes, I believe that this is what the manufacturer had in mind. I got the lights in today and read the directions and they mentioned connecting the negative wire to the negative lead that's already on the truck. I guess all I have to do now is find that wire. I assume everything is all there together; I haven't bothered to look - won't be able to install until Thursday.



Thanks for all the replies.