Cigarette Lighter Circuit Blowing a Fuse consistently

[azrangerman85]

Im trying to use the cigarette lighter circuit to wire up some under dash lights. MY lights work just fine, in the on position, but once I flip the switch to off....the fuse blows . Ive used a 30 amp, a 25 amp, a 15 amp fuse. Any ideas of what is wrong here? everything I wired was soldered and clean, I connected the wires to the cigarette lighter wires....but the fuse consistently blows.

 

[Dirtman]

You wired it wrong...

 

[azrangerman85]

You wired it wrong...

yea, I think I forgot to add a ground at the end of the circuit, one that connects to the metal body of the truck. is that about right?

 

[Josh B]

Where is the switch, in relation to the fuse? Might be one thing to consider.
I'm no electrician but fuses usually blow due to overload, just seems to me somewhere between on, and off, maybe somehow it's getting a jolt

 

[Dirtman]

Can't say what you did wrong without seeing what you did...

 

[snoranger]

Stop changing to different amp fuses... the wires are not designed to handle higher amps. Do you want to start a fire? Only use the correct amp fuse for what the circuit was designed to handle (or lower).
Lights are a simple circuit. You need power and ground and they will work. If you’re popping a fuse, power is connected to ground when you shut it off.
There are a few ways you could have done it wrong. Post pics or a good description and someone will steer you in the right direction.

 

[azrangerman85]

I actually realized I didnt ground the end of the led strip to the body of the truck... is this what would cause it?

 

[Josh B]

I actually realized I didnt ground the end of the led strip to the body of the truck... is this what would cause it?

How hard would it be to find out?

 

[Dirtman]

Umm I'm more confused why it was actually working if it wasn't grounded. It was obviously grounding through something and that ground somehow shorted to positive with the switch off. How many beers deep were you when you did this?

 

[azrangerman85]

Umm I'm more confused why it was actually working if it wasn't grounded. It was obviously grounding through something and that ground somehow shorted to positive with the switch off. How many beers deep were you when you did this?

Im confused too ... But there is a wire that is ground that isnt connected at the end its just open... doesnt that leave it parallel circuit?

 

[ericbphoto]

As mentioned above, it is difficult for us to guess what you did wrong without seeing it and knowing more details.

What you are wanting to do is simple. Connect a wire from the 12v positive terminal of the cigarette lighter to one terminal of your switch. The switch should be “SPST” (single pole, single throw) . That means it has 2 positions - on and off. Then connect another wire from the other side of the switch to the positive terminal of your lights. Then connect a wire from the “-“ or ground side of your lights to a ground point. The negative or ground side of the cigarette lighter would work for this or there is probably a ground connection point behind the passenger side kick panel. If so, you will most likely find two or more wires already connected there.

That’s it. Simple light circuit. If your lights pull too much current (amps) for that circuit, then you will need to develop your own new circuit with its own fuse holder and fuse.

 

[azrangerman85]

I think the problem was a 3 dollad switch that had no load connector. I picked up a 3 prong "ground" load and power switch

 

[Uncle Gump]

No load connector?

It should just have 2 prongs... power in... power out. Unless it has an indicator. Then it will have three... ground for the indicator.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hell... was the original a three prong? If so... it's just wired wrong.

 

[azrangerman85]

No load connector?

It should just have 2 prongs... power in... power out. Unless it has an indicator. Then it will have three... ground for the indicator.

I bought a 9 dollar switch from Oreillys and soldered it , the hot wire to power terminal, the accessory(light) positive to the positive center terminal ,and ground to ground terminal...now it works. no blown fuses, I added an inline mini fuse too , I tapped the 12 volt socket plug for a new circuit and placed it there . maybe it was a faulty switch, I swear my wiring seemed right the first time I didnt change a thing but the switch