12volt lights on 24 volt

[goatijoe]

OK i have a idea i don't know if it will work or not. If you take two 12 volt lights wire them in a series and use the last light in the ground with the first one as power. i know ill have to get lights that don't ground out at the base it has to have the two wires on it. Wouldn't it pull a current of 24v but still light the lights up at 12 volt in the way that they would be wired? I'm just figuring this from 2 12v battery wired this way you get 24v would it be the same thing if it was pulling power wired this way.

 

[armytruck63]

In theory this would work, but it would be like the old-time Christmas light strings. When one bulb burns out, all of the lights would go out.

 

[goatijoe]

Yea i thought if that too i was just going to hid them in the back so i can see at night to back up. WE all know it lacks light back there for night time movement backwards. Never understood why no lights where on the back for backing up even if it was on a locked switch on the dash to turn it on.

 

[steelandcanvas]

When designed, they assumed you would have a ground guide, especially at night. There are lots of 24 volt lights that will do what you want to do.

 

[goatijoe]

Yea, i saw the price on those but, i have 2 brand new off road lights sitting around and they are free. I was just trying to figure out if i could do this with out blowing the bulbs out or worse from trial and error.

 

[6x6TRex]

It will work, I did the same thing on our deuce for back up lights but MAKE SURE you isolate one light from ground!

I'll try to find some pictures of how I had mounted and wired them.

 

[goatijoe]

Yea i would hate to see how bright 12v light would be before 24v burns it out.

 

[papakb]

the simple answer

12 volt bulbs are extremely short lived on 24 volts! You might get out of the driveway!

The easiest and simplest way to accomplish what your trying to do is to install LEDs that operate on 10-30 volts. They're readily available now whereas they weren't even a few years ago. Bite the bullet, spend a little extra, and end up with a lighting system that no one will ever know you modified (unless you tell them) and be done with it.


Another advantage of installing LEDs in your trailer taillights is that now if you ever tow it with your civvy vehicle you don't have to worry about changing bulbs. If it'll connect to your vehicle it's good to go............

Kurt
KG6KMJ