Led Running boards courtesy light wiring

Hello TacomaWorld, I am thinking about wiring a few Led strips to my 2013 Tacoma. I firstly want to wire 2 5feet led strip for the running boards like so that it can it illuminate the way to my truck and a 3feet led strip to the rear of my truck so it can illuminate the way to the tailgate and a 3feet led strip to my truck’s bed. I want this I turn on every-time I unlock my truck(turns on with the dome light) but I also want to wire a three way switch in the circuit so that I can turn it off or on or automatic(with dome light). My dome lights and map lights will be LEDs so it will not draw so much power but I want to know if I am able to wire 4 led strip to the dome light without blowing a fuse ( EACH ONE IF THE LED STRIPS ARE 12W EACH). I also want to know what all materials do I need. If anyone has a wiring diagram or any help please send me. Thank TW.

 

I drew this diagram myself but I don’t know if it’s correct....

 

@bagleboy is real good with this subject matter

 

That’ll work but... That blue wire that you’re tapping into is the ground for the dome light that is provided by the Body ECU. The schematic has a mistake in it. Where the triangle is in the blue wire, would be the body ECU. I doubt anyone knows what the current limit of the ECU driver transistor is. If you fry that transistor, you won’t have a dome light and the only way to fix it is another body ECU. So, after you swap the dome light to a LED, the net increased load on the circuit will be slightly less than 4A. The safest way to do this would be to put the LED strips on a relay. It would be a simple matter to supply fused power to the relay contact and relay coil and use the body ECU for the ground for the relay coil. Then the relay would be supplying power to the LED strips and the other side of the strips would be grounded. This would simplify the strip wiring because you can just ground each strip right at the strip.

 

But the LEDs have constant power from the battery, so all it is getting from the dome light is a ground... So it will still overload even if it's a ground???

 

But if I add a relay will I still be able to use the 3 position switch? Because I need it to be able to be on when I want it to, off when I want it and automatic when I want it.

 

“BAD THINGS” can happen if you fuck this up. See this thread. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dome-lights-wont-turn-off.402358/page-9#post-22980305

 

The body ECU is providing the ground for the dome light. Think of it as a switch inside the ECU. When the door switches signal the ECU that a door is open, the ECU driver transistor closes to provide a ground circuit for the dome light. They speced the transistor to handle a single dome light.

You can still use your switch. The ground side of the relay coil will go to the center terminal. The other switch terminals will be the same as your schematic.

 

When you have time can you draw me a sketch or a wiring diagram please...

 

Yes. The led strips would be on the powered side of the relay circuit and the dome light and 3-sway switch would be on the low current coil side.

 

Sounds like you’ve got this. Checking out.

 

Why not just add a fuse tap on the dome light fuse? Ground it to a good source call it a day?

 

Cause it will not come on when I unlock the truck.

 

And what will the 30 connect to?

 

You’ll find that blue wire at connector 1E terminal 9.

 

And change it to 5 5feet led strip. Two for the sides, two for the side of the bed and one for the rear.

 

Terminal 30 and 85 are both connected to fused 12V.

 

Interesting. Tacoma problems......