Installing Lights in a Step Van

[jeremybv]

I recently bought a 97 Freightliner Step Van with Grumman Olson body. I'm renovating the interior with carpeting, lights, etc. I have an issue though....

There are currently 4 ceiling lights in the van (photo 1). These lights are controlled by an on/off switch on the dash. I bought LEDs to replace the ceiling lights. The LEDs are 6 watt.

Bare with me, I am bad with electrical... The connection running to the old lights only has ONE wire (photo 2) , and the LEDs I bought have TWO wires (photo 3). How do I connect the new lights to the single wire? Seems simple I know, but I am VERY unknowledgeable of these things, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SoulRaven]

If there was only one wire on the original, you need to determine whether it was positive or negative with a voltmeter.

If the wire is negative (ground) then the whole body is hot (positive). As silly as it sounds, I have seen some of these. You would hook up the negative to the wire, and run a hot wire to the body.

If the wire is hot (positive) you would connect it to the positive lead on your lights, and then connect the other wire to the body.

It is sometimes possible to just wrap the one wire around one of the lights mounting screws if they are going into bare metal and not a plastic nut.

 

[highdesertranger]

I noticed on the back of that light. it says "ac 85-265v". that light will not work off 12v. what is that box next to the light a type of invertor/convertor so the lights can run off 12v? highdesertranger

 

[jeremybv]

I noticed on the back of that light. it says "ac 85-265v". that light will not work off 12v. what is that box next to the light a type of invertor/convertor so the lights can run off 12v? highdesertranger

It's a driver for the LED light.... Either way, I can't run these lights? How do I know if LEDs I purchase can run off 12v?

 

[MrNoodly]

The converter is to run it off AC current. LEDs can run directly off 12V, so you don't really need that type of converter setup. If you were running off a house battery, you'd be going from 12V DC to 110V AC and back to 12V DC. Kind of pointless. The far easier and cheaper solution is LED bulbs that replace the incandescent bulbs in the original dome lights. Google LED light suppliers and look for LEDs with the same attachment method as the incandescent bulbs. Or cheaper and easier still are LED touch lights that attach with a magnet and run off AA batteries.

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Oh, and LEDs absolutely require proper polarity. You can get away with reversed polarity on incandescent lights, but not LEDs.

 

[jeremybv]

Thank you, you all have been so helpful!

 

[SoulRaven]

I might add that I have a couple of portable solar/hand crank LED lanterns that I love. I simply sit them in the sun every few days to recharge them, and they work great both indoors & outdoors.

The advice to simply replace your bulbs in your original dome lights with LED bulbs is good advice as well.

 

[Patrick46]

btw...a '97 stepvan will undoubtedly have a negative gound system


they got rid of the positive grounds back in the 60's for most all rigs. (altho, I did see a Greyhound bus with a positive ground.)


Hiya Jeremy, and Welcome to the forum!! Lotsa stepvan junkees in these parts.....like ME!!!

Please go to the newbies page and do an intro for us!!

Patrick from Oregon

 

[highdesertranger]

jeremybv the advice about changing the bulbs to leds is by far the easiest. are your factory lights run off a dimmer? if they are led lights will not work. led lights need a special type of dimmer. if they are run off a dimmer you could find the wire and run a dedicated switch. if they are not run off a dimmer just replace the bulbs. btw welcome to the forum. highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

if they are run off a dimmer you could find the wire and run a dedicated switch.

Wouldn't it work to just leave the dimmer turned all the way up?

 

[highdesertranger]

it depends, I have found most dimmers don't put out full battery voltage and as they age it gets worse. so it is possible, but I myself would just put a dedicated switch in. highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

True. Besides, a dedicated switch could be placed in the most handy location.