Rock light tapped courtesy lights blink

[culdbbi]

I got some led rock lights for Xmas. Ran them to an aux switch and tapped into the courtesy light via drivers footwear.

I hooked the yellow wire via a posi tap to a dual in diode and a positive from my aux switch to the diode.

I wired up the out of the diode to the rock lights, grounded to a ground spot under the hood, and they work fine from the switch, but they blink if I unlock the car. They will go solid when I open the door.

I think the voltage upon unlock is the problem. Checked on unlock only (via fob) and it was at 6v (and leds blink), when I open the door it jumps to 12v (and leds go solid).

I've not read of folks having this problem when tapping into the courtesy lights, so was wondering if someone smarter then me could help.

To be honest this was my first time wiring lights, and I watched and read a ton before starting. I thought I had everything good to go.

Thanks in advance.

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[RJinPV]

It's sounds like you wired both 12V sources (courtesy and aux) to the input side of the diode. Did I understand that correctly? Only one source should be wired to the input side (courtesy). The Aux input should be on the output side of the diode. Also, where are you measuring the voltage when you turn the lights on?

 

[culdbbi]

It's sounds like you wired both 12V sources (courtesy and aux) to the input side of the diode. Did I understand that correctly? Only one source should be wired to the input side (courtesy). The Aux input should be on the output side of the diode. Also, where are you measuring the voltage when you turn the lights on?

I'm using a roadmaster hy-powered diode, below. If i wired the courtesy in, and my aux switch out, wouldn't I have to have the aux switch always on?

It works as intended only except when unlocked via fob or door handle before the door is opened.

The lights were on when I measured the voltage, only 6v when unlocked before the door was opened. I measured this at the diode as I was having an issue getting my posi- tap to actually tap the wire (had to help it along).

 

[RJinPV]

This looks like it has multiple diodes in the assembly isolating both input power sources from each other. I was thinking you were using a single diode. In short, it sounds like you wired it correctly.

You measured the voltage at the output of the diode and read 6V until the door was opened. Was the Aux switch off?

 

[culdbbi]

This looks like it has multiple diodes in the assembly isolating both input power sources from each other. I was thinking you were using a single diode. In short, it sounds like you wired it correctly.

You measured the voltage at the output of the diode and read 6V until the door was opened. Was the Aux switch off?

Sorry, I measured it before the diode, not after the diode. The only thing i didn't measure cuz its hard to get your paws in there is at the courtesy light when unlocked, without the door opened. I only have like 3ft of 18g wire from the courtesy light to the diode.

I can maybe try and do that tomorrow when I get home from work.

 

[sharpsicle]

Based on your description, the lights will get their power from whichever circuit is providing power, the courtesy lights or the aux switch. The diode just ensures the courtesy and aux lines don't backfeed to each other. It sounds like it's working properly.

If you want the AUX switch to determine whether or not the courtesy lights turn on the rock lights, you'd need a different setup. One where the AUX button triggers a relay.

If your intention is to only have the lights turn on when the AUX switch is on, regardless of the courtesy lights, is there a reason you tapped into the courtesy lights circuit as well? I would think the AUX would do what you want by itself. Try unhooking the courtesy light wire and see if that gives you the result you're looking for.

 

[culdbbi]

Based on your description, the lights will get their power from whichever circuit is providing power, the courtesy lights or the aux switch. The diode just ensures the courtesy and aux lines don't backfeed to each other. It sounds like it's working properly.

If you want the AUX switch to determine whether or not the courtesy lights turn on the rock lights, you'd need a different setup. One where the AUX button has an "in" and "out", or the AUX triggers a relay.

If your intention is to only have the lights turn on when the AUX switch is on, is there a reason you tapped into the courtesy lights circuit as well? I would think the AUX would do what you want by itself. Try unhooking the courtesy light wire and see if that gives you the result you're looking for?

I wanted them to illuminate during unlock, but also turn on via aux switch. I just don't know why they blink when first unlocked before the door is opened. For what it's worth they blink once when the door is locked, so maybe it's a dimmer thing? I have the led package, so all my lights are led and none of them blink like this. The only reason I can see is that the voltage is lower than 12v when unlocked before the door is opened.

 

[sharpsicle]

I wanted them to illuminate during unlock, but also turn on via aux switch. I just don't know why they blink when first unlocked before the door is opened. For what it's worth they blink once when the door is locked, so maybe it's a dimmer thing? I have the led package, so all my lights are led and none of them blink like this. The only reason I can see is that the voltage is lower than 12v when unlocked before the door is opened.

OK yeah, then you're good with your diode setup.

When you say "blink", is it like a strobe effect, or like a slow blink like turn signals?

 

[RJinPV]

Sorry, I measured it before the diode, not after the diode. The only thing i didn't measure cuz its hard to get your paws in there is at the courtesy light when unlocked, without the door opened. I only have like 3ft of 18g wire from the courtesy light to the diode.

I can maybe try and do that tomorrow when I get home from work.

I understand that you are trying to have the rock lights come on when the Jeep is unlocked and the interior dome light is powered. It's a cool/safety feature. Also, you want to power them on with the Aux switch and not have the dome light come on. If I get rock lights I would do the same.

It would help if you sketched a wiring diagram and posted it so that we would know how it's hooked up and where the measurements are being made. I cannot think of a reason for the Aux or courtesy input to the diode to read only 6V after the doors are unlocked (but not opened) with the key fob. There is no 6V source on a typical vehicle.

 

[culdbbi]

OK yeah, then you're good with your diode setup.

When you say "blink", is it like a strobe effect, or like a slow blink like turn signals?

Blink like a turn signal.

 

[sharpsicle]

Blink like a turn signal.

I wonder if you've tapped into the wrong wire. What color wire did you tap into in the driver footwell?

 

[culdbbi]

I understand that you are trying to have the rock lights come on when the Jeep is unlocked and the interior dome light is powered. It's a cool/safety feature. Also, you want to power them on with the Aux switch and not have the dome light come on. If I get rock lights I would do the same.

It would help if you sketched a wiring diagram and posted it so that we would know how it's hooked up and where the measurements are being made. I cannot think of a reason for the Aux or courtesy input to the diode to read only 6V after the doors are unlocked (but not opened) with the key fob. There is no 6V source on a typical vehicle.

I stole this from someone else, but this is basically it.

 

[culdbbi]

I wonder if you've tapped into the wrong wire. What color wire did you tap into in the driver footwell?

The yellow one, it has a stripe, but I can't see that small, there is also a white one, but I thought that was the always on when running (controlled by the knob up by the steering wheel).

 

[sharpsicle]

Well there's a ton of wires down there. What I have says it's a brown/white wire.

I'm assuming you tested the wire you tapped into prior to putting the tap on?

EDIT: Wrong wiring diagram I was looking at. It's YE/VT

 

[culdbbi]

Tomorrow I'll stick my head down there and get a voltage reading from the yellow (and I think purple) wire when unlocked versus when the door is opened to see if I get the same reading.

Maybe I'll try tapping the wite/brown wire too and see what that does.

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