almost electrical fire!!...help

S

slimster

New Member

Jan 13, 2007

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Las Vegas

Jan 24, 2007

#1

• Jan 24, 2007

• #1

ok, I tried to hardwire some neon lights today, and this is all pretty new to me. I have a rocker switch (it's got three "prongs" on the back side), and two neon lights. I tied both +12v neons together and attached them to the rocker switch, and the ground wires from each I tied into the ground from my radio. then I ran a wire from the rocker switch to the battery wire from the radio. I put the keys in, flip the switch, and instantly blew the fuse and the wires started melting. had flames and everything. I now feel like an idiot, and am wondering what I did wrong. help, before I set my car on fire! thanks fellas

 

forum155pl

New Member

Jul 11, 2006

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the 509

Jan 24, 2007

#2

• Jan 24, 2007

• #2

simple... remove all neons.. problem solved ..

 

forum155pl

New Member

Jul 11, 2006

520

0

0

the 509

Jan 24, 2007

#3

• Jan 24, 2007

• #3

anyway, all grounds should go to the chassis... i would run a dedicaded line from the battery for the positive and put a inline fuse on it..

 

0

007

Founding Member

Jan 29, 2002

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69

Broke

Jan 24, 2007

#4

• Jan 24, 2007

• #4

See what happens when you rice out a mustang. They dont like it!

 

S

Streetstrip00

New Member

Oct 26, 2004

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Jan 24, 2007

#5

• Jan 24, 2007

• #5

Only hondas have the extra wiring for neons.

 

S

slimster

New Member

Jan 13, 2007

16

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Las Vegas

Jan 24, 2007

#6

• Jan 24, 2007

• #6

wow, some hard core neon bashing going on! yeah, I know it's considered "rice", but all my gauge lights, radio, and hvac lights are now custom blue, and I just wanted a couple neons to give a little blue glow to the floorboards. I'm really gonna sound dumb, but how to you go about doing a "inline fuse"?

 

LaserRed01GT

Banned

Oct 3, 2006

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Clearwater, FL

Jan 24, 2007

#7

• Jan 24, 2007

• #7

View attachment 408229

 

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.

20+ Year Stangneter

Mar 2, 2003

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Sea of Tranquility

Jan 24, 2007

#8

• Jan 24, 2007

• #8

forum155pl said:

anyway, all grounds should go to the chassis... i would run a dedicaded line from the battery for the positive and put a inline fuse on it..

Click to expand...

This is the route to go.

An inline fuse is just a fuse link on the hot wire like what your stereo head unit has.

 

forum155pl

New Member

Jul 11, 2006

520

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the 509

Jan 24, 2007

#9

• Jan 24, 2007

• #9

its just a fuse that you crimp onto your power wire.. if you go without the fuse expect another fire..

 

T

thomas91169

I'd donkey punch my sister.

Aug 19, 2005

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Modesto, CA

Jan 25, 2007

#10

• Jan 25, 2007

• #10

its time to unpimp ze auto!

 

sgarlic

Founding Member

Apr 21, 2001

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Jan 25, 2007

#11

• Jan 25, 2007

• #11

You probably overheated the switch. You should run a dedicated and fused power wire to the switch, a dedicated ground wire to the switch, and then splice the neons together and run that one wire to the switch. My guess is you had something wired backwards.. perhaps you wired the power to where the neon lead is supposed to go on the switch.

 

Dusstbuster

I love meat more than anything! I just have a spec

May 31, 2004

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Moorhead, Minnesota

Jan 25, 2007

#12

• Jan 25, 2007

• #12

also what gauge wiring are you using? If you're using some superthin wire that'll fry pretty easily too.

 

DTNODYA

Member

Dec 15, 2005

831

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16

Jan 25, 2007

#13

• Jan 25, 2007

• #13

Are they neon lights that you had to cut the cigarette lighter plug off and splice the wires? If so, you probably just wired it up backwards. I also agree with the above mentioned that too small wire will fry quick-like.

 

COBRA90GT

Mustang Master

Sep 22, 2001

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HOCKEYTOWN ® , MI

Jan 25, 2007

#14

• Jan 25, 2007

• #14

thomas91169 said:

its time to unpimp ze auto!

Click to expand...

Oh snap! LOL



The inline fuse is a good idea. Might want to also consult a wiring diagram as well.

 

Jinx

I like cats, cats like me. Cats and I fully agree.

20+ Year Stangneter

Oct 2, 2003

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Cat Country

Jan 25, 2007

#15

• Jan 25, 2007

• #15

Don't go cheap on the switch either, buy a quality one. I've seen the cheap ones (usually the ones that are shipped with kits) melt on the back side because the plastic body can't handle the heat of the electrical load. Seen it happen on swithches that control neons, switches that control fogs, switches that control KC lights.