Lighting issues...

[mason00168]

I just installed some new halogen lights on my T top and I ran the wiring to the fuse box, but nothing happened. I'm pretty green when it comes to electrical stuff so if anybody out there has done this before please let me know how to do it right... Thanks!!!

[BarryB]

Hi Mason,

I will assume you have never wired lights before so,

1. Attach one wire from your lights to one side of the light switch.
2. Attach the other side of the light switch with wire to a fuse.
3. Attach the other side of the fuse with wire to the positive terminal of the battery.
4. Going back to the light, attach the other wire from your lights to the ground of the battery.
5. Switch on power, if no light, check the fuse, also, don't assume the t-top is grounded.
6. If it still doesn't work, bribe a neighbor with beer and have him help you.

[pamarine]

I a m assuming you are talking about the halogen Deck lights that can be mounted to the rear of the T-Top to illuminate the aft deck. They are pretty simple to install. They each have two wires coming off of the back of the light, one red and one black. The red wire needs to be connected to a 12vdc+ source, whether it is a breaker or a fuse (I think that you will need something around 10 amps, but check the paperwork that came with the light to confirm). The fuse needs to be installed in the circuit on the source (battery) side of the switch, so that the switch and wiring are protected. The black wires need to be connected to the 12vdc- circuit. This will usually be a bus bar with other solid black and/or solid yellow wires going to it. I would hook each light directly to the switch, this way if one burns out, the other will still work. Make sure your switch is rated at at least 15 amps, so that it doesn't risk burnout before the ciruit breaker trips. Also , Make sure you use at least 16AWG so that you don't risk getting the wires too hot.