LED lights consume less power, are durable, and come in different colors and designs, which makes them preferable to the big rig drivers. Let’s explore how to install LED lights on your semi truck to get the most out of it.
To install LED lights in your semi truck interior, you will need the following tools and materials: LED light strips or pods, electrical tape, wire connectors, a fuse tap, a voltage tester, a wire stripper/crimper tool, zip ties or mounting clips, a power source, and a clean, dry cloth for surface preparation.
Step 1: Plan Your Installation
The first time, make up your mind on where to fit the LED lights in your semi truck interior. The common areas covered are under the seats, side of the dashboard, near the footwells, and storage areas. It is always good to plan for the placement so that the issue of lighting coverage is taken care of as well as the kind of installation to undertake.
After deciding the placement of the LED strip lights, measure the areas to make sure you get the right size of LED strips. In the case of LED pods, consider how many you are going to require in order to illuminate the desired areas.
Step 2: Prepare the Surface
Clean the areas where the LED lights will be placed so as to make sure that dust or dirt does not interfere with how the lights perform. Ideally, this step is critical to ensuring that the adhesive backing that may be used on LED strips or mounting clips remains strong in the long run.
Step 3: Connect the LED Lights to a Power Source
The power source of LED light in most of the semi trucks is the 12V electricity system. To connect the LED lights, you have to look for a good source to connect the LED, like a fuse box, etc. With the help of a fuse tap, connect the positive wire of the LED lights to the fuse box. Make sure that the circuit you connect is fused to avoid any electrical problems.
The second of the basic instructions is to join the terminal for the minus pole to the ground terminal of the truck. This could be any grounding bolt or a metallic part of the truck frame. Next is to employ the use of a voltage tester that will confirm when there is connection and when the lights will be supplied with the correct voltage.
Step 4: Mount the LED Lights
Now that the wiring has been done, it is now the right time to properly install the LED lights in the semi truck interior. If you are using LED strips, you need to remove the outer covering of the LED strip, which has some adhesive behind it, and stick the strip on the cleaned surface. In case of the LED pods, attach them with the help of the mounting clips given along or zip ties to fix them properly.
Make sure that the lights are correctly placed so that the adhesive can be applied, and it might be hard to move the lights after this. Also, ensure that the wires are neatly packed as to cause any hindrances to driving or performing other tasks in the truck.
Step 5: Test the Lights
When the LED lights are fixed, it is important that their functionality be checked. Switch on the power of the lights to confirm their proper working or otherwise. And if the lights do not turn on, then inspect your connections once more using a voltage tester to see that everything is connected properly. Secondly, check that the fuse is well seated in the box of fuses.
Step 6: Final Adjustments and Securing Wires
Once the lights have been switched on to check the performances, fine-tune the orientations of the lights. Finally, if there are still remaining wires that can move around when driving, use extra zip ties to fix them with. This step may be done for safety measures as well as for a better appearance of the interior part of the semi truck.
Last but not least, clean the place where all installation and electrical works are done and check that nothing can be tripped over or damaged. It is now possible for you to enjoy the new LED lights, which not only give your semi truck an aesthetic touch but at the same time help in lighting the inside of the cab.
Final thoughts
It is very easy to fit LED lights in the interior section of your semi truck, and the outcome is quite impressive in terms of appearance as well as utility. Here you have the step-by-step process that may be helpful when you want to create your own preferred and required lighting. So LED installation may be summarized by two basic rules: planning and attention to detail. By getting the right equipment, materials, and patience, your semi truck lights will be glowing on your next trip.