led lights blowing fuse.

I got a new bumper and thus got a new license plate mounting point on my rear and with the bumper came 2 LED lights to wire into the stock wiring. I have since had continual problems with the fuse going to the tail lights and the dash being blown as a result because they are on the same circuit.

When I wired them in I wired both LEDs to a single set of wires for one halogen bulb thinking that because they draw so much less power then they would be fine. The fuse is a 10A fuse. I tried replacing it with a 20 just to see if they were drawing just over the 10A but the 20 got blown, and then a 30 i had to use because it was dark out. I did cut the wires so I would at least have a tail light.

So now the question is, what is causing this? I used a quick disconnect on the connection so I could unplug it when offroad and get the license plate up and out of the way. Then I electric taped the snot out of it to keep water off. This has to be the problem but IDK why at this point. Could a dirty connector cause this?

I know it is not wired backwards as in + to - because it will turn on for a short time before the fuse blows, I know its not the amperage draw because even a 20A blew when it was originally a 10 and there is no way two tiny single bulb LED lights are drawing more than 10A.

 

Upon doing some review of my process I just now realized that I neglected to insulate the + connection from the - connection before I taped them together. I bet They got bounced and touched, thus creating the short.

Thanks for the help TW!

 

so you have the LED license lights tapped into the brake light right?

 

ohhh.... you followed up

solder them!

 

I bet 1000 dolla that fixed your problem. I also blew a fuse while wiring up reverse lights when my + and - touched. just make sure you wrap them good and you shouldnt have anymore problems.

 

Im avoiding soldering these because I want to be able to remove the license plate for off roading situations. It is mounted on a steel plate and bolted into the bumper and is 4-5" lower than anything else on the rear end. Already destroyed 1 license plate the same way

 

No, the new led lights are wired into the old license plate light wiring. just cut off the old one and connected these.