How to wire 4 LEDs to one switch?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Rep Power: 291 

How to wire 4 LEDs to one switch?
hey guys
Alright well im gonna be putting some LEDs in my car soon, under the seats and under the dash/steering column
So im wondering how to wire the 4 LEDs to one switch
Im pretty sure if i was doing one LED it would have two wires, black and red, and id put one to each side of the switch (its those pilot types of switches, they have 2 lil screws in which a stripped wire is supposed to touch each side). Then, when i flick it on, it should go on.
Its been a while since i wired up an interior neon/LED light so plz excuse me if im totally wrong in my assumptions.
anyways if someone could break it down for me, id really appreciate it. Id like to get this done before it gets too cold to do it outside so anyone who knows how to do this, plz help! thanks in advance!
EDIT: I found this link
http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...ghlight=wiring
Theres a diagram posted by Chicohonda02, if his diagram is what im supposed to use as a guideline, can someone kindly explain what to do if it aint too much trouble? Im not sure how it goes if im using 4 LEDs so plz help! TIA
Alright well im gonna be putting some LEDs in my car soon, under the seats and under the dash/steering column
So im wondering how to wire the 4 LEDs to one switch
Im pretty sure if i was doing one LED it would have two wires, black and red, and id put one to each side of the switch (its those pilot types of switches, they have 2 lil screws in which a stripped wire is supposed to touch each side). Then, when i flick it on, it should go on.
Its been a while since i wired up an interior neon/LED light so plz excuse me if im totally wrong in my assumptions.
anyways if someone could break it down for me, id really appreciate it. Id like to get this done before it gets too cold to do it outside so anyone who knows how to do this, plz help! thanks in advance!
EDIT: I found this link
http://www.7thgencivic.com/forums/sh...ghlight=wiring
Theres a diagram posted by Chicohonda02, if his diagram is what im supposed to use as a guideline, can someone kindly explain what to do if it aint too much trouble? Im not sure how it goes if im using 4 LEDs so plz help! TIA
Last edited by SiG; Oct 9, 2004 at 02:48 AM.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 










You just wire them in series. You can use one resistor before the power lead of each LED, or use one big resistor depending on how many leds you have hooked after it. For the blue I used, I think forward voltage is 4V, so the resistor is 560-580 ohm.


Banned
iTrader: (32)
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,407
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
Rep Power: 0 










Im sick of LEDs, and lights
anyways, your idea sounds cool, take pics after you are done.
I had a Varad LED 12" neon thing... It was annoying because the leds are focused. So, Either sand/shave the tips or figure out how to "aim" them?
anyways, your idea sounds cool, take pics after you are done.
I had a Varad LED 12" neon thing... It was annoying because the leds are focused. So, Either sand/shave the tips or figure out how to "aim" them?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Rep Power: 291 

Gearbox-Ill be using 4 LEDs, likely all 10 inch LEDs.
BTW im such a newbie with LEDs, half the stuff you said confused the crap out of me... Sorry, but can you let me know where each wire should go? Or if i have to take one wire from every LED and connect it to a wire that goes to ground, and the other wire from the leds all go to the switch... that probably isnt how it goes so plz let me know cuz im lost as ever. thanks
Thanks Impulse, Ill surely upload some pics when Im done!
BTW im such a newbie with LEDs, half the stuff you said confused the crap out of me... Sorry, but can you let me know where each wire should go? Or if i have to take one wire from every LED and connect it to a wire that goes to ground, and the other wire from the leds all go to the switch... that probably isnt how it goes so plz let me know cuz im lost as ever. thanks
Thanks Impulse, Ill surely upload some pics when Im done!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 










Well the pics explain it pretty well.
Power wire (from battery) to switch --> power wire from switch (second terminal) to 560 ohm resistor --> resistor to power lead on LED --> ground lead on LED to second resistor --> second resistor to power lead on second LED ....repeat until all four LEDs are in series.... then ground lead of final LED to chassis ground or negative battery terminal.
One LED has two metal leads coming out. The positive one is longer.
Power wire (from battery) to switch --> power wire from switch (second terminal) to 560 ohm resistor --> resistor to power lead on LED --> ground lead on LED to second resistor --> second resistor to power lead on second LED ....repeat until all four LEDs are in series.... then ground lead of final LED to chassis ground or negative battery terminal.
One LED has two metal leads coming out. The positive one is longer.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 










You can add all the resistance up and get a single resistor to put first, then wire the leds in series after that. Same thing. So instead of four 560 ohm, get one 560x4 ohm whatever it is. So then it goes power--big resistor--resistor to power lead on first led--ground lead on first led to power lead on second led,...etc.
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
MamaBear2015
Electrical, Wiring, and In Car Entertainment
0
Jun 11, 2015 07:33 PM
pincookie1
6th Generation Civic 1996 - 2000
2
May 4, 2015 12:22 PM




