Technical kick panel lights

Hello, I have 2 running/turn signal lights with clear lenses ,I would like to use them for kick panel lights in my 35 dodge coupe but to be bright enough I need to wire them to turn signal wire I am wondering if they would generate to much heat and if the bulbs would last being that hot, Thanks ahead,mike

 

Meaning they would come on with signals? That would be strange,and a distraction.Can you use small led's.

 

I put mine above the kick panels and under the front seat with blue bulbs wired to the dome light - in my '50 shoebox - no problems at all. Looked real cool at light when I open the doors.

 

No they would not come on with turn signals LOL. They will work fine do it all the time.

 

Good idea. When I was a young punk, I put purple lights under the dash because they made the girls legs look great.

 

I fully understand Texas Webb's confusion...because I cannot figure out what Coolieman is talking about either!

Quote....
"Hello, I have 2 running/turn signal lights with clear lenses ,I would like to use them for kick panel lights in my 35 dodge coupe but to be bright enough I need to wire them to turn signal wire I am wondering if they would generate to much heat and if the bulbs would last being that hot, Thanks ahead,mike"

What is "Turn signal wire" other than the wire that comes from the flasher and makes the turn signal blink?
Why would it "Generate too much heat" depending on which particular wire its hooked up too?
What would make a bulb "That hot"?
Bulbs are designed to run on a 12v system...often at 14+v due to the charging, but still. No wire should make anything hotter etc.

Very confusing.

 

confused

 

I think he's saying he needs to use the brighter element of a 1157 bulb. Yes it would create some heat if left on for long periods but if you have a glass lens and are using it like a dome light (not on for long periods) it probably wouldn't be a issue.

 

If you want them to operate only when the doors are opened, wire into the dome light circuit. If you want them to run at night while driving wire them into a driving light or headlight circuit.

Could always put them on a dedicated switch with or without a relay, then you could turn them on while parked and not have the other lights on.. At that point decide if you want keyed power or not

I'm guessing you're using the turn signal lights cause they have a nice housing, consider wiring a new light into the housing.

 

If you are concerned about heat , use LED bulbs.

 

But still if they are wired to the turnsignal switch they will only come on when the turnsignal lights are activated. I don't see why he would want them wired that way

 

I understood him. He is using turn signal lenses. He needs to use the brighter side of a 1157 bulb (ie. turn signal wire). He isn't hooking them up to the turn signals. Merely using that circuit of the bulb. Which indeed gets hot.

Carry on


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Reading the thread again, that is what he was saying, just not very clear in his thread

 

Here we go...fixed !
Hello, I have 2 running/turn signal lights with clear lenses ,I would like to use them for kick panel lights in my 35 dodge coupe but to be bright enough I need to wire them to the brighter side of the 1157 bulb. I am wondering if they would generate to much heat and if the bulbs would last being that hot, Thanks ahead,mike

 

The bulbs will overheat if left 'on' for extended periods; they're not designed for continuous operation. You'll probably have issues with the lens too if it's plastic; I've seen these melt. The main problem is the housing is small and will retain too much heat. Ventilate the housing/lens with some holes, or use the lower-wattage half of the lamp.

If you connect the 'bright half' of the lamp to your dome light switch, you'll probably shorten it's life. The 'taillight' half of the lamp draws .7 amps (roughly the same as a normal dome light), the 'brake/turn' half draws 2.25 amps, or over three times as much.