Custom LED Trunk Light Wiring Gauge/Size Question

[TheZProjekt]

I'm trying to do a custom LED trunk light mod in my 3 hatch. I'm using a dummy bulb (fake bulb) that goes in place of the stock one to power up an LED strip. Although I noticed that the LED strip's wiring is about 24 or 26 AWG, I think. The dummy bulb, I was told is 20AWG and I have no clue what gauge the power coming from the car is. So my question is this too risky to mix all these different wiring gauges and do I have to match the gauge coming from the car?

Thanks

[greyseason]

i would think that if the wire can handle 12V youre in the clear

[ace_master]

How long is the strip lighting? A typical 5050 30LED/m strip uses about 7watts per meter. So you should be fine with 1 meter of that, as long as you dont run the wires to far away from the socket.

I believe the stock bulb is 10watts.

[TheZProjekt]

The strip itself is about 30 centimeters but the actual wires leading to the strip are quite long, almost a meter. I don't plan to put the strip fire away from the socket itself but I'm just worried about any excess heat so I'm not sure if I should use metal splice connectors or solder the connection. Would the splice shed off any excess heat, if there will be any? I honestly don't know much about electrical systems so I'd appreciate any info.

[silverstarmazda]

i did this and just tied the leads to the connectors. taped the wires up high and left it like that. verrrry good light and is actually useful unlike the oem side light.

[TheZProjekt]

^ LOL that's just too risky for me

[silverstarmazda]

i dont see the risk. as long as your not shorting the circuit. there shouldnt be any heat. none that is noticeable anyways. i left mine on for over an hour and theres no heat.

[ace_master]

You'll be fine.

I'll be running at least 2M of RGB strip lighting in my hatch this spring, and it will run off that same switch with no modification to power aside from some pre installed cables run to the dash for sound activation.

I have my fair share of experience with these strips...
>My HoUsE<

[TheZProjekt]

Alright thanks you the reassurance everyone

[RobertL]

Did you pick up the dummy bulb online? I've check Canadian Tire's auto section and can't find an adapter that fits my bulb plug. Nextmod has an LED panel with the proper adapter that I was thinking of picking up.

[TheZProjekt]

Yeah, here's where I got it: http://www.oznium.com/dummy-bulbs They sell LED panel's and strips that go along with it too, I think but unfortunately unless you pick the express shipping it takes forever to get here.

If you don't want to wait, you should get it from Nextmod. I swear those bulbs took just a few days less than a month to get here and and try and get both the dummy bulb and panel from the place, because there's a chance the adapters won't match

[RobertL]

Thanks for the link. Yeah I think it might be easier just to pick some up from Nextmod. I've actually seen the panels that are available from Nextmod at CT but without the dummy plug end. It's actually cheaper with the plug at Nextmod than the panel light only at CT I think.