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LED Lightbar Backlighting DIY

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by MTopp, Oct 14, 2014.

  1. Oct 15, 2014 at 9:25 PM
    #41
    ProForce

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    LOL that picture shows the wires connected all wrong. Green connected to Red, Blue connected to Green, and Red connected to Blue #FAIL
     
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  2. Oct 15, 2014 at 9:32 PM
    #42
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    Yeah, thats very odd haha
     
  3. Oct 15, 2014 at 9:36 PM
    #43
    XPOTRPR

    XPOTRPR CNC Programmer/Machinist

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    Ill find it again. One sec.

    Boom. Probably what ill end up getting too.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/251600873240

    Yeah. Was thinking of those too.. not sure where I would place them though.. and how many I would need.. I guess between the remote and the strips..

    Would go:

    [Power] power wires [remote] one set of RGB wires [amplifier] however many sets of RGB wires [LED strips]
     
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  4. Oct 15, 2014 at 9:36 PM
    #44
    XPOTRPR

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    Hahaha!! Wow. Didn't even see that. That's awesome. :rofl:
     
  5. Oct 15, 2014 at 9:42 PM
    #45
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    Thanks man, may get one or 2
     
  6. Oct 15, 2014 at 9:45 PM
    #46
    XPOTRPR

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    Ill probably wait to see how many I need.. then order accordingly.

    As of now, I think ill need a 1 to 5 or 6. So ill definitely do an amplifier between the controller and the splitter
     
  7. Oct 15, 2014 at 9:49 PM
    #47
    NmBeefTaco

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  8. Oct 15, 2014 at 10:19 PM
    #48
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    Sounds good
     
  9. Oct 16, 2014 at 9:08 AM
    #49
    XPOTRPR

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    so im drawing up a wiring diagram for what im wanting do to. Im to the point where the amplifiers come into play..

    Ive noticed there are a few options.. the small inline amps.. or the large ones.

    since I will have about 5 things lit up with LED.. im wanting them to all be connected to the same controller so they all match, at the same time, and are controlled as one.

    so.. I could do one controller, then a 1 to 4 or 5 splitter.. then do inline amps on each line I split..

    or do the controller into an amp.. then split..

    the amp is for two reasons.. because some of the LEDs will be far down the line, needing RGB extensions.. so there will be power loss there.. but also because i will have so many LED strips tapped into one controller.. also causing power loss.

    if any of that makes sense.. :eek: lol
     
  10. Oct 16, 2014 at 10:13 AM
    #50
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    Yeah, not sure which method would be better for you, multiple amps isnt a bad idea, but a lot of wire to run
     
  11. Oct 16, 2014 at 10:13 AM
    #51
    Rattletrap66

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  12. Oct 16, 2014 at 11:04 AM
    #52
    XPOTRPR

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    exactly.. although, I do already have ground and power wires ran the length of the truck from my previous rock light setup.

    I think the best method would be to do inline amps right before the leds so that every one is consistent and the same as far as brightness.. might do that.
     
  13. Oct 16, 2014 at 12:25 PM
    #53
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    Oh yeah, I have those wires ran too..duh. so inline amps right after the controller basically?

    Thanks man! I forgot to pm you about this, but you found it lol
     
  14. Oct 16, 2014 at 1:18 PM
    #54
    XPOTRPR

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    after the controller.. but right before the LEDs. that way everything is consistent. since some of the thing that will be lit up will be at the front of the truck.. and some at the rear.. adding the amps RIGHT before the LEDs begin should result in even, consistent lighting/power. as opposed to having the amps right after the controller.. then the length RGB extension wire to the LEDs kill some of the output.. if that makes sense.

    I just dont know if the power ran throughout the truck will be enough (gauge of wiring)
     
  15. Oct 16, 2014 at 1:39 PM
    #55
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    True about wire gauge. I'm no expert on how that's gonna flow so idk
     
  16. Oct 16, 2014 at 2:00 PM
    #56
    XPOTRPR

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    in theory it makes sense. lol

    also.. say i wanted to do my halos and my grille lights.. I was planning on making that one "split" since they are smaller... then making my led bar and some other small lighting one "split" and the under lights their own.. then the rear lights (4 small leds) their own.. making use of the 1 to 4 splitter.

    or.. is everything going to need their own dedicated wire/split point ya think.. just trying to cut down on the "splitter" portion.. otherwise i would need like a 1 to 11 or so splitter. lol
     
  17. Oct 16, 2014 at 2:27 PM
    #57
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    I think do the first paragraph. Your controller now can power up to 5 meters of LEDs. For each added strip get an amp and the run splitters for each area..grille/headlights...whips
     
  18. Oct 16, 2014 at 2:38 PM
    #58
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    I was feeding my face so wasn't reading good. But I say first paragraph and separate amps for underside LEDs and whips and heads/grille. Then regular wired to your LED bars. Question is, constant power to those amps? May run down the battery, I'd do them off ignition
     
  19. Oct 16, 2014 at 2:41 PM
    #59
    XPOTRPR

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    thats why i was gonna do the inline amps.. just put one on each set of RGB wire right before the LEDs themselves.

    true about the power drain.. but my other idea was to put it all on a on/off toggle.. so i can park the truck.. lock it.. but have the lights going. for TW meets,car shows, or whatever. lol
     
  20. Oct 16, 2014 at 2:58 PM
    #60
    MTopp

    MTopp [OP] Professional bear handler

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    oh yeah, I'd definitely do that, my "rock" lights are on an spdt switch now. on/off/on with dome light ground. Thats the only thing is that mine are directly wired into the dome light grround, which doesn't matter that much really, and then i have constant power to them. So basically they have constant power and a switched ground. Only thing I would then worry about adding the amount of LEDs your adding
    to your setup to mine is overloading the switch if not using a relay.

    I'd have to plan out my wiring way before I did what you're doing, not just jump into it like I usually do.

    Now, I want my lightbar to come on with my parking lights/off/on whenever..but I kind of want it to come on with the dome like my rock lights. Gotta figure that out now
     
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