Looking for an LED wiring expert

[bg1811]

Before anyone ask why I'm doing this.....the answer is because I want to. I have replaced the marker lights on my Diplomat with LED lights..no problem. I've added LED marker lights on the side of the MH..only problem, I had to disconnect the factory marker/turn signal lights on the sides. The factory wiring won't work with LED lights. OK every thing is going great so I decided to expand this project to the rear tail/brake lights and the amber rear turn lights. I purchased three light bars. The middle one replaces the "third" brake light. That light bar has hot and ground wires, no problem it works fine. Then my problems started. The two light bars designed for the left and right tail light have wires for tail, brake and ground. I hooked up the tail/ground combination by splicing into the wires going to the rear tail light and the LED bar works fine..when I attach the LED bar wire for the brake porting of the bar, the LED brake comes on even though the brakes are not being applied. If I disconnect the tail light wire, the brake portion works properly. I haven't attempted the turn signal wiring yet because of this problem. Two more problems, I also purchased 1157 led light bulbs to replace the regular 1157 bulbs for the brake/tail and the yellow turn signal. The tail light portion comes on OK, but when the brakes are applied, the bulb goes out. In re the turn signal, the LED bulb won't come on at all. I'M LOOKING FOR ANSWERS! I'm sure their are folks out there a lot more knowledge about this stuff than I have. I thought this would be easy.

[bg1811]

Before anyone ask why I'm doing this.....the answer is because I want to. I have replaced the marker lights on my Diplomat with LED lights..no problem. I've added LED marker lights on the side of the MH..only problem, I had to disconnect the factory marker/turn signal lights on the sides. The factory wiring won't work with LED lights. OK every thing is going great so I decided to expand this project to the rear tail/brake lights and the amber rear turn lights. I purchased three light bars. The middle one replaces the "third" brake light. That light bar has hot and ground wires, no problem it works fine. Then my problems started. The two light bars designed for the left and right tail light have wires for tail, brake and ground. I hooked up the tail/ground combination by splicing into the wires going to the rear tail light and the LED bar works fine..when I attach the LED bar wire for the brake porting of the bar, the LED brake comes on even though the brakes are not being applied. If I disconnect the tail light wire, the brake portion works properly. I haven't attempted the turn signal wiring yet because of this problem. Two more problems, I also purchased 1157 led light bulbs to replace the regular 1157 bulbs for the brake/tail and the yellow turn signal. The tail light portion comes on OK, but when the brakes are applied, the bulb goes out. In re the turn signal, the LED bulb won't come on at all. I'M LOOKING FOR ANSWERS! I'm sure their are folks out there a lot more knowledge about this stuff than I have. I thought this would be easy.

[ronboc]

Hi -

Welcome aboard We're really glad to have you here as a new member and are looking forward to reading your posts about your RVing experiences and adventures. You'll find a great bunch of folks on this site who are very knowledgeable of RVing, the rigs we use, and the places we go in them. Enjoy the forums and post often, and when you (or anyone else) want to be a official member of the forum, and not just a new member of irv2, just let me know.

I think, as has been mentioned elsewhere, that you need some diodes in your circuitry. Think of a diode as a traffic-cop, they allow current to flow in one direction only and stop it from reversing and going 'up' the wrong wire. Sounds like you've got a problem of the current 'running backwards' to what you want it to do, and need those diodes in there to keep it going the way you're hoping.

In addition, the LED's are actually small diodes in themselves. Which means they can also block the current-flow internally (as it were), possibly preventing the lite(s) from even coming on if not wired appropriately.

I'd suggest getting a sheet of paper and drawing out the overll layout you want, including the LED lites, making sure they are wired up in the right direction. Then, take a look at all the possible places current can flow, and draw in diodes (traffic-cops) to keep the current going ONLY in the direction you want/need.

HTH,
Ron