Curious if anyone has successfully added additional LED lights directly to the puddle lamp circuit? Such as LED's under running boards, etc? I know one could use the puddle light circuit as a trigger for a relay and separate circuit, but then the additional lights would be OFF or 100% ON and not match up with puddle lights as the puddle lights have a "soft" ramp up and ramp down.
Hi matoolie,
I've never done this to my own truck but having researched your idea, I do think that this
"12V Soft Starting (Ramping)" relay will work per your application... I hope I'm right! If I'm understanding you correctly, you want to install a light strip to your running boards, which can be triggered by the (soft ramp-up/down)
'Puddle lamps' when they come on (...I think that's a fantastic idea!). Now those puddle lamps don't 'soft start' because they have some magical circuit board or processor built-in to the lights themselves, but because they receive a variable amount of current from within the main body ECU, and has a predetermined set of parameters e.g., minimum, maximum vdc, 0 to peak duration...etc.
So I think what you'll need to do would be to run a (
'fused') 'trigger circuit' directly from the Puddle lamps (White
HOT) wire to the
'soft start' relay coil circuit. Then... you'll need to connect the coil's ground-side wire to the puddle lamp's (White w/Blk trace) ground path wire. Now the trigger circuit is complete which leaves just the load circuit. Because I don't have a 'ramping relay' to use as a subject, you will need to examine the relay to locate the coil (trigger) circuit and the load baring (Ramping or output) circuits. Once you've located the load terminals on the relay, connect one terminal to a power source; perhaps connecting an
add-a-circuit fuse device to the D/S fusebox... and be sure to use an appropriately sized fuse to protect the wiring! These relays are designed to handle up to an
10A load but there are more 12v Soft Start relays out there, so be vigilant!
Soft starting relays 'at Amazon'
PS: Just a precaution: I would perform a
'test run' with this relay and lighting strip using just the battery for your trigger
BEFORE' connecting the circuit directly to your main body ECU (or puddle lamp circuit) just in case there are some bugs that need to be worked out... the MB-ECU costs close to $480 bucks, so be very careful; I happen to have a new one 'still-in-box' which I'd be willing to let go of for less should anybody need one, just shoot me a PM and let me know!
I hope that this post will be helpful regarding this new project you've conceptualized... sure sounds like a great idea so please be sure to let us know how you make out! I this relay does not work I'll search again to find just the right device to get it done,
'Best to you'!
rig, Cheers
