How to Tap the Power Source on Your Car
The primary power source on a car is the 12-volt battery. It supplies power to all of the other accessories that are found on the vehicle. Additional accessories can be added by tapping into the existing electrical system. This connects the new accessories back to the battery. The amount of time required for this process depends on what type of accessory you are placing and where it is being placed in the vehicle. More work is needed to wire an accessory going in the trunk than one going in the engine bay.
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Things You'll Need
- Wiring diagram for accessory
- Electrical wire
- Wire cutters
- Wire strippers
Instructions
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1
Disconnect the black negative battery cable from the battery. This helps to avoid unnecessary sparks.
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2
Decide where the accessory needs to go, and mount it into position using the mounting screws provided. Most car accessories have a positive red wire and a negative black wire for power. Verify this by checking the wiring diagram.
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3
Extend the red wire from the accessory back to the engine bay. The wire can be routed under the seat or along the vehicle molding to keep it out of the way. If you have to penetrate the engine bay firewall, use a grommet. The grommet package will instruct you on what size hole to drill for the grommet. The black wire can be connected to the closest metal part of the car frame.
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4
Push the wire through the hole and route it over to the positive terminal of the battery. Connect the wire to that terminal and reconnect the black negative battery cable to the negative battery terminal.
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5
Test the accessory for proper operation.
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References
- Photo Credit fan image by Antons Matvejevs from Fotolia.com
