Wiring a relay from stereo dimmer 12v+ for some LED strips

[floating_weasel]

Afternoon.
I have in my possession several mini-relays (SPST) and was wondering how I would wire it up so that it would power some leds as well when the 12v+ orange dimmer wire for the stereo was active (that is what I am tapping into for my switch)

This is the relay but I am no electronics engineer and so I am a bit stuck.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150471442052&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

There are three pins on the bottom and two on the top. From what I understand the two outside pins on the bottom need a +charge and a ground to operate the electromagnetic switch. When charge is applied to the middle bottom prong it will bridge the two top prongs in a circuit. However, after trying several different ways on a test bed I can't make it work. Thanks for any help you can offer, even if it is to tell me I am a moron and got the wrong relay and where to get the right one.

I just need to know the order of the circuit and what leads to solder to the relay.
(or if there is an easier way to get LED lights to go on when the headlights go on)

JP

[Noisy Crow]

Go here: www.the12volt.com (http://www.the12volt.com)

And read through the section on relays.............. the tutorial is here: http://www.the12volt.com/relays/relays.asp

[floating_weasel]

Thanks Crow. Sorry I missed that section. Will look harder next time.

[floating_weasel]

Problem with those things is that my relay is not laid out like that.

[Noisy Crow]

Problem with those things is that my relay is not laid out like that.
It does the same connections though..... there is probably a little diagram on it showing which two pins are the for the coil, etc. In fact, I just looked at the bottom of the eBay auction page and there is a diagram there.

[JayJay18]

http://www.sure-electronics.net/DC,IC%20chips/DC-RR004-6.jpg

If you look at the image above, the pin in the middle at the bottom is your 12 volt source (power), then the pin to the left and right are your triggers.
Lets say left goes to ground and the right pin goes to the 12v+ dimmer wire.
then your led strips will either go on the left or the right at the top.
You will have to test it while its on and off to see which top pin works when your interior lights are on.

Problem is you LEDs will not dim with your interior lights, relays only work as on or off.

Another problem is that dimmer wire might not be a constant power source. So you may have to tape into your light switch so that the LEDs come on when your parking lights come on

Another option is to put these strips on a switch either way it is up to you

[sudz]

HiJacked... A buddy got me 10 White LED strips for my car.

I am thinking - Splice the wire from the dimmer switch in the dash of my 2007 GS Sedan - And install an additional On/off switch beside the dimmer.

Would this allow:

Interior Lights On, LED switch on = Power.

Interior Lights on, LED Switch off = No power

Interior Lights Dimmed, LED Switch on = Dimmed LED strips?

It wouldn't be a relay, it'd just be a straight on off Switch.

Does this make sense?

Can the Dimmer handle more load (say, 4X 12 LED strips ? I have not replaced any bulbs behind the dash (that are effected by dimmer)

[sudz]

I'm also thinking I could do a 3 Way rocker switch with a diode in place, and do a Full bright option, which just applies 12 volts straight, no dimmer.

[dj_adamix]

HiJacked... A buddy got me 10 White LED strips for my car.

I am thinking - Splice the wire from the dimmer switch in the dash of my 2007 GS Sedan - And install an additional On/off switch beside the dimmer.

Would this allow:

Interior Lights On, LED switch on = Power.

Interior Lights on, LED Switch off = No power

Interior Lights Dimmed, LED Switch on = Dimmed LED strips?

It wouldn't be a relay, it'd just be a straight on off Switch.

Does this make sense?

Can the Dimmer handle more load (say, 4X 12 LED strips ? I have not replaced any bulbs behind the dash (that are effected by dimmer)


Installing a on/of switch by splicing a dimming wire will just control all your lights with a flick on or off.
even if your car is on, lights are on but the switch is off, dash wont be lit.

check your relays, there should be a number or some letters on it, google those and download a datasheet. youll find a full pinout there.

you could hook up the coil to you 12V orange, and then dommer to rest, there will be 3 pins left, you use two. 85 and 87 i believe? not sure.

I think it should handle few more leds. just make sure you measure the voltage on it. white leds need higher voltage than red so it might happen that they just wont light up at all.

especially if your led strip is designed for 12V input. they might already have resistors in them which will only supply efficient voltage to LED while @12V input.

you should check the voltage range on the dimmer wire and make sure its good.

[dj_adamix]

If you want a on off switch to controll what ever leds you have hooked up to your relays, it would be easier to install it in series with orange 12V wire. that will controll the relays with a switch, LEDs would only work if the switch is ON and if the key is in on position. kinda like a AND gate :P

[djdusk]

I was thinking about going this way, but decided to dumb it down a little and just use the constant 12V from my Cig lighter.

I assume it will work fine, I got a small 8A fuse with an inline fuse holder for safety, and I plan on just cutting off the wire to the cig lighter to avoid any issues since I don't use it anyways.

I am just going to wire everything to a simple rocker switch in the console and mount that somewhere. Should be easy as pie....unless I am forgetting something.

[cwp_sedan]

I was thinking about going this way, but decided to dumb it down a little and just use the constant 12V from my Cig lighter.

I assume it will work fine, I got a small 8A fuse with an inline fuse holder for safety, and I plan on just cutting off the wire to the cig lighter to avoid any issues since I don't use it anyways.

I am just going to wire everything to a simple rocker switch in the console and mount that somewhere. Should be easy as pie....unless I am forgetting something.

As long as you know that the cig lighter doesn't have constant power than you should be fine. It only has power when the ignition is turned to "ON". Just in case you wanted to turn your lights on when the car was off.

[djdusk]

As long as you know that the cig lighter doesn't have constant power than you should be fine. It only has power when the ignition is turned to "ON". Just in case you wanted to turn your lights on when the car was off.

Yeah, I don't think I will ever want them on when the car is not on...I like it that it will not have power unless I have the car on... just in case I forgot to switch them off one night. Although I know the LEDs wouldn't drain my battery very quickly its better to be safe than sorry in my opinion.

[Souls]

bah... I didn't read through all of this, but I hooked up my LEDs (sunroof switch and drink holder glow) to the cig lighter "light" - the connection for the ring around the lighter. they all come on with the parking lights and all dim with the OEM dimmer.

easy