Wiring tail lights - '92 Marathon

digdug

I have an electric '92 and want to add tail lights. I have purchased the lights, wires connectors and even purchased a new ignition with the key "light" setting. I have a toggle switch available as well in case I need to by pass the iginition. I have no preference either way.

I am a novice but would really like to do this on my own. I have completely modified everything else and would like to add this to my list of accomplishments.

I tried once, hit the power button on the toggle switch (I bypassed the ignition switch), and completely fried the wires. It was quite a show. I really want to get thses hooked up.

Here is my thought process, please tell me if I'm wrong. I ran a black pos. wire to the toggle switch and then both postive leads to the toggle switch seperately (maybe they should have been together?). I then connected the white wires from each light together and grounded them to the negative terminal to the next battery in the series. I did not ground the switch to anything as the lights themselves were already grounded.

Please remember I am a novice. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

`dig

BGW

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pggroves

How many wires are coming out of the light fixtures?

digdug

2 of them.

One black, one white .... there are three posts on the back of my toggle switch and then a couple extras on the ignition switch.

pggroves

OK, that's good.

Did the vendor you purchased the lights from provide a wiring diagram?

Here is a typical diagram for lights including brake lights and turn signals.

NOTE: All electric carts reference ground to battery negative. THERE ARE NO FRAME/CHASSIS grounds on an electric cart.

HTH!

digdug

Thank you ... however ... that might as well be written in swahili to me. I'm so bad at this.

Let me try and understand. I run each black wire from the lights to the switch. I run each white wire from the lights to the ground (at battery). Do I then pull postive black from the next battery back to the switch? Do I need to ground the switch or has that been done by grounding the lights?

Thanks so much for the help!!

`dig

Fleck

Let me give it a try. Depending on what kind of switch you are using( a two prong nonilluminated switch or a three prong switch that lights up when the lights are on) the prongs should be labelled on the side of the switch, The switch should have a "+" or power in mark (12V power from the battery). A marking for accessory or power out (goes to the positive wires for the lights. If the switch is the illuminated kind then the third prong goes to ground.Connect the two white wires together and connect to battery "-". Connect the two black wires together and hook them to the switch prong labeled Accessory or power out. Finally; run a power wire from the next battery in line "+" to the the prong on the switch labelled "+" or power in. ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS install an inline fuse (15 amp should be alright)on the "+" wire(in between the battery "+" and the switch "+"). Hopefully that will help> Good luck; You can doo it

buckmanmike

And use a volt meter before hooking the wires up to make sure you have 12v.

Fleck

Thanks. Forgot to add that and was tired of pecking at the keyboard.

digdug

thanks a ton! I think I got it. mine has 3 markings. load, earth and supply. I'm assuming earth is ground, load is to the lights and supply is from the power source?

thanks again!


~dig

Fleck

100% correct. Get R Done.