Installed LED Brake Light - Blowing Fuses
Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 11:16 am
I recently replaced an LED license plate frame with third brake light because the original stopped working. It was 16 years old. I wired the new frame according to instructions (designed for a 12v system) and everything seemed to be fine.
However, after having the trike on the road only 3 times since the replacement, the fuse has blown 3 times: it didn't blow the first day, but it did once the second day out, and so far twice today (I'm at work; will still have to take my chances going home).
When it blows it takes out all of my running lights and my turn signals, but my brake lights still work (I had originally thought it wiped out my brake lights, too).
The fuse does not blow right away. It takes a while, usually a mile or more.
I am a bit perplexed. My first impression is an exposed/shorted wire (original wires that I plugged into). Beyond that, I'm not sure. If the last setup was LED and this one is also, and I used the same terminals to connect the wires, and followed written instructions, then I don't understand how this could be happening unless there is something defective in the manufacturing?
The license plate illuminators use tiny 20 or 18 ga. wires, and the third brake light uses a step or two larger, if that amounts to anything? Same as the old license plate lights that stopped working completely.
However, after having the trike on the road only 3 times since the replacement, the fuse has blown 3 times: it didn't blow the first day, but it did once the second day out, and so far twice today (I'm at work; will still have to take my chances going home).
When it blows it takes out all of my running lights and my turn signals, but my brake lights still work (I had originally thought it wiped out my brake lights, too).
The fuse does not blow right away. It takes a while, usually a mile or more.
I am a bit perplexed. My first impression is an exposed/shorted wire (original wires that I plugged into). Beyond that, I'm not sure. If the last setup was LED and this one is also, and I used the same terminals to connect the wires, and followed written instructions, then I don't understand how this could be happening unless there is something defective in the manufacturing?
The license plate illuminators use tiny 20 or 18 ga. wires, and the third brake light uses a step or two larger, if that amounts to anything? Same as the old license plate lights that stopped working completely.