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Installing interior LEDs with wiring directly to car battery
Hello all. I'm currently trying to install a set of interior lights in my 2015 Honda Civic LX Sedan, and there are a number of things I don't understand.
I want the LEDs ("Type-S" brand interior lights and trim lights) to draw power from the battery, and I want to do so by creating an independent fused circuit to the bluetooth controller and the lights.
I need to ask, however, a number of questions. First, with an inline fuse, what current-rating fuse should I be using for the circuit? The lights are designed to draw from a 12V power source, and the fuses I have on hand are 10A through 30A in increments of 5A, and I'm not sure when one I need to use. Second, how should I be attaching the wires to the battery? I have an electric terminal kit, but I'm shamefully unaware of how to properly use it, or how to attach anything to my car battery. I can't find resources online, though I'm sure they're there, and I'd appreciate links to resources. Third, if the DC cables included in the lighting kit, which connect the controller to a power source, aren't long enough to reach my battery and/or grounding points, what should I do? How can I extend them so that they can reach their necessary terminals?
And finally, though I'm able to find a number of threads about it online, I'm uncertain about going through the firewall of my car. Is there a specific grommet for 9th gen Civics that I can locate? I've read that if I remove the battery, there's one in the back of the engine bay directly behind it, but I haven't looked there yet. On the inside of my car, I can't seem to find any appropriate holes.
Re: Installing interior LEDs with wiring directly to car battery
1.) How many amps do all the LED's draw?
2.) Wire size is determined by current draw and length of the run.
3.) I would solder and heat shrink the longer wire onto the ends you have.
You also only want the lights to turn on when the key is in the ignition or a door is opened. I would use a control relay to switch the power to the bluetooth box on when the car is running or key is in ACC.
Re: Installing interior LEDs with wiring directly to car battery
NO!
lol, but seriously this is hella wrong.
Either run it to an interior power source like a "cigarette lighter"
or
Buy a fuse adapter (shown below), plug it into a fuse in you interior fuse box.
theres only one wire because this is a positive tap, you can ground to any metal part of the car connected to the body (look for bolts going through the frame).
