Re Wiring Dome Light in Leer Cap

The dome light in my cap only works if my vehicle is running.

I'd like to re configure the wiring so I can flip the dome light whenever I need to.

Can anyone offer assistance on how to re configure this system?

 

Where is the dome light getting power from? I had to run a new wire from the fuse block all the way to my shell. If they already ran a wire for yours, then you you need to trace it back to the fuse block and find a power source that is always on.

 

It's getting power from the tail light fuse. They popped the left side corner panel off of my bed and connected it.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/13858-topper-mod-dome-light-power.html

Here's how I powered mine.

Mike

 

Thanks Mike,

This is great!!

 

One question:

How do you attached the fuse to the battery? Do you have to splice off of existing lines or just hook it right to terminal?

 

Drogers,

I used a new wire terminal and ran a new wire all of the way from the battery. No splicing into existing wires - I've always been worried about possible electrical gremlins due to corrosion (I live in the rust belt!).

Hope that helps.

Mike

 

I hear ya. I'm having a bit of a tough time. Bought all of the supplies but am unfamiliar with this stuff. Did you run 2 lines? I noticed that the dome light has 2 lines running into it.

 

One is the chassis ground. You can attach it to the ground in the tail light and just run one wire to the battery.

 

Did you get it working Drogers? I could take more pictures if it'll help.

Mike

 

Hi Mike,

Thanks for checking in. I haven't gotten it yet due to some uncertainty that I still have about the wiring set up, number of wires involved, where exactly you hook it up to your battery and where you end up splicing it into the dome light wires. I'm new to electircal work in vehicles and am nervous to start cutting or splicing into the existing wires. I bought all of the supplies that you suggested, just need a little more detail to feel confident in my novice skills.

Thanks very much.

 

I'll take some more pictures for you this week. Sorry, ran out of daylight tonight (trying to get rid of a bunch of stuff in the yard from the previous owners of my house!).

Mike

 

No prob Mike. I really appreciate your help on this. Any photos plus a more detailed description for a "rookie" would be very helpful. Hear from you soon.
Derek

 

Take power straight from the + battery terminal to an inline fuse (10A). Run a wire following the stock wires on the driver's side all the way back to the rear corner or tail light (or where ever the existing wiring is). Cut the existing power going to the light and connect it to the wire from the battery.

Done.

 

How the heck did they wire in the light to begin with? I just had a new Leer canopy put on this past weekend and I can turn the LED dome light on without the truck running. I do have to move the wires though so it looks cleaner, but I have to figure out where to put them first.

Best of luck...post pictures when you're done.

 

Sounds like they took the power from the tail lights.

 

So you're saying run 1 wire only from the battery terminal? I am confused since there are two wires that run into the dome light? Can you clear this up for me? Thanks!

 

Yes. The second wire is the ground, if the light works then its fine where it is. Odds are its tapped into the ground in the tails. With autos the frame is a massive ground, so you don't have to run a negative wire back to the battery.

 

I don't know what my problem is? I can't seem to get this to work out.

 

What is the ground wire tied into? What did you do exactly?