How To Install Puck Lights | Interior Van Lighting Made Easy! (FULL TUTORIAL)
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- čas přidán 21. 05. 2022
- This video shows how to install 12V puck lights with switch for interior Van Lighting with a diagram, tabletop demo, and installation.
Parts shown in this video:
➤Puck Lights (We used 10 of them): amzn.to/3NpW1sE
➤(or some silver ones if you like): amzn.to/3lw2sOT
➤EXPLORIST.life Puck Light Wiring Kit: shop.explorist.life/shop/all-...
If you'd rather buy the parts from the kit from Amazon:
➤Red & Black Wire (we used 16 AWG): amzn.to/3lvFesn
➤2 Conductor Lever Nuts: amzn.to/3wBZY8f
➤3 Conductor Lever Nuts: amzn.to/39Li91W
➤Here is the switch we used: rockerswitchpros.com/product/...
➤Here is the switch face we used: rockerswitchpros.com/product/...
Not sure what wire size to use? Check out our 12V Branch Circuit Guidebook: shop.explorist.life/shop/all-...
➤Shop the EXPLORIST.life Store: shop.explorist.life
➤Shop Battle Born Batteries: battlebornbatteries.com?afmc=explorist_bb67
➤Binge the Transit Van Build: • The Ultimate Camper Va...
Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful with planning and installing your DIY Camper:
➤DIY Sprinter Camper Van Electrical Install - Full Tutorial: • DIY Sprinter Camper Va...
➤DIY Camper Solar Wiring Diagrams: www.explorist.life/solarwirin...
➤How to Perform a Power Audit: • How Much Solar Power D...
➤Basic Parts & Components of an Electrical System: • Basic Solar Parts Need...
➤How to Cut Wire: www.explorist.life/how-to-cut...
➤How to Strip Wire: • How to Strip Wire from...
➤How to Crimp Wire: • How To Crimp Wire Lugs...
➤How to Make MC4 Connectors: • How To Make MC4 Connec...
➤How to Wire Solar Panels in Series-Parallel: • How to Wire Solar Pane...
➤How to Crimp Wire Ferrules: • How to Crimp Ferrules ...
➤How to Wire an AC/DC Breaker/Fuse Box: www.explorist.life/how-to-wir... - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I love how you take something that isn't clear to many of us and make it seem so simple that we can tackle it with confidence.
I rarely comment on youtube videos but your tutorials are just incredible. So helpful. Thank you for taking the time to educate and guide us all towards our dreams!
Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
Seriously, your videos are outstanding! Thank you for posting them and for offering kits and written materials. I can hardly wait to find the right van and start a build. You are both excellent on camera. Many thanks!
Hey Nate & Steph, I'm getting ready to add lights, switches, dimmers, etc to my build, so perfect timing. Thank for another great tutorial with clear explanations and instructions. I set up a little bench test area to follow along with your tabletop demo. Figured it would be a practice run for the real thing. I'm feeling more confident about installing my lighting set up and plan to start this week. Cheers!
Thanks for your great tutorials that I am watching from the UK whilst I build my van. Gives me great confidence to follow your step by step, easy to follow guides. I wouldn't comment normally but I am really hugely impressed.
Your videos are so freaking professional. Your voice, your rhythm, etc. are so easy to follow in a complex topic.
Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so so much for this calm and detailed tutorial! I didn't think I could feel confident wiring puck lights in my bus conversion and it turned out to be one of my favourite steps now that I understand what I'm doing, thanks to you! 🧡These lever nuts are such a game-changer too 😃
Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
Love these CZcams tutorials. So kind of you to record them and put this out for others to learn. Really appreciated 🙏🏻
Hey @MrBatchy123, Thanks so much! Cheers!
Picked up some of those Wagos for myself and nephew. Those things are awesome! Got the pro tip from your previous video. Thank you!
Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
Thanks so much for this. After your videos, I always feel like I can do the work. Very informative. Greatly appreciate your thoroughness in each video.
Glad it was helpful. Cheers!
Clear. Thank you. Loved the drawing and really all of your explanations. I am quite keen to see the “looming” process and how this interacts with your walls and ceiling as they go in. Will the wire nuts in the loom obstruct the running additional wires in the future? Again, thank you for this extremely educational video.
Hey there Nate + Steph I’m new to the channel and planning to actually do a van build myself on a Ford transit. I have to say all you’re step by step videos has been building my confidence to tackle this new adventure/world of van life.
My question is…what type of wires are being actually used for all the electrical system throughout the van and how does it differ from normal house or vehicle wiring?
And do you offer or have recommendations on a “MUST HAVES electrical parts list” for the basics 6 batteries set up ?
Never knew about lever nuts until I started watching your videos. Game changers! Thanks for everything bro!!
Happy to help! Thanks for watching!
Can’t thank you enough for this video
So helpful that you broke it down into the basics
Glad it was helpful. Cheers!
True master! Your video is inspiring and very well explained. Thanks for sharing!
Just re-wathced this so I can go install a set of these. Thanks for the help!
This was incredibly helpful. Thank you!
*Check out the full electrical installation tutorial for this build:* czcams.com/video/E5q7_4FH4LQ/video.html
Want to see the lights completely installed in the ceiling? We did that in this video: czcams.com/video/cf2BjQxMKDI/video.html
*Parts shown in this video:*
➤Puck Lights (We used 10 of them): amzn.to/3NpW1sE
➤(or some silver ones if you like): amzn.to/3lw2sOT
➤EXPLORIST.life Puck Light Wiring Kit: shop.explorist.life/shop/all-products/camper-wiring-kits/branch-circuit-wiring-kits/12v-puck-light-branch-circuit-wiring-kit/
*If you'd rather buy the parts from the kit from Amazon:*
➤Red & Black Wire (we used 16 AWG): amzn.to/3lvFesn
➤2 Conductor Lever Nuts: amzn.to/3wBZY8f
➤3 Conductor Lever Nuts: amzn.to/39Li91W
➤Here is the switch we used: rockerswitchpros.com/product/v1d1-s00b/
➤Here is the switch face we used: rockerswitchpros.com/product/contura-v-blank/
Not sure what wire size to use? Check out our 12V Branch Circuit Guidebook: shop.explorist.life/shop/all-products/solar-wiring-diagrams/12v-branch-circuits/
another really helpful video. thanks guys!
Hey Stephen Pilling, No problem! Glad it helped! :)
Love the battery switch and the video. Thanks
Thanks for watching!👍
U guys are awesome! No one does this better than u guys do.
Hey Tom Freer, Thanks so much! Cheers!
your video are the best on CZcams thanks for being so good with the splaing
Glad it was helpful. Cheers!
Thank you guys, right behind you with my 2022 Transit...
Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
I can't tell you how much this video has helped me ACTUALLY understand what im doing. thank you. I do have a question though. Our battery is at the back of our van, but we want the switch at the front near the sliding door. So do we just run the cable over to the front first, through the switch and then up to the celing to the lights. :) Thanks again.
Thank you for this. I found it really helpful and used it to instal my puck lights 👍👏
Hey @paulcourtney1793, No problem! Glad it helped! :)
Another Stellar tutorial Nate & Steph. I’m wondering about voltage drop (seen in Lumen output) in longer strings. Have read about feeding Both + ends of the string with a 12V supply wire to mitigate line losses. Thoughts ?
Also, I’m a bit obsessive about consistent light ‘temp’ (Kelvin) for ambient lighting. I’ve had trouble sourcing a nice Warm / Natural white for Rope lights, that DIDN’T have ‘hotspots’. What have you found to be a Good Rope light …. ?
As Always, 🙏😊
Thank you! What an amazing video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love this new series! Thank you. Where do you put the switches? Are they all on one panel or near the space affected?
Thank you!! Clean and clear.
Glad it was helpful. Cheers!
Very helpful! Thanks❤
good instruction, now 5 year old children and all can do light own treehouse easy simple.
great video, complicated subject made clear
Glad it was helpful. Cheers!
Another great video Nate, thanks! Question- I noticed in the in-van demonstration, you used non marine grade wiring (from what I can tell). Is standard stranded automotive wire okay for puck lights due to the low amp draw/risk, or do we need marine grade wire still per your diagram? Just asking because that marine wire is pretty expensive, would prefer to use my roll where more necessary.
We used Ancor marine grade wire in the van. This is what is included in both the EXPLORIST.life wiring kit as well as in the parts list in the video description and pinned comment.
Finally found the holy grail of van howto, thank you. Evidently diesel heaters notoriously come with wiring harnesses that induce voltage drops, and there is much advice to replace the power wire with 10 agw since startup draw can spike. Can I simply run a hot wire, about 10', from my fuse box and splice it to harness clipped close to the heater? 6-12" from heater? Same for the negative? Most diagrams show it heater run directly from battery with an in-line fuse. Any problem running from fuse box instead? Thx again!
omg thank you from France!! No one in France explains this :)
Glad it was helpful. Cheers!
All your videos are always very helpful, Nate. Jus one question, all those lights will turn on with the same switch? Do I need another circuit coming from the 12V panel to use a separated switch? Thank you!
Perfect timing for this video for my build. I have heard a lot of people rave about Wago/lever connectors. Its great to see you recommend them. Would a dimmer switch be worth it with puck lights of this size?
Yeah, I'd say so. We will be showing dimmers in next weeks video.
Questions: In your 12V Branch Circuit Guidebook, there's a diagram on powering lights from a single location switch panels. There are two wire size charts...is one of the charts for sizing wire from the main fuse block to the sub-block and the other chart for sizing wire for the switches, dimmer, pucks from the sub-block out around the van? If so, which chart is which? Cheers, guys!
Great series guys. Are you going to cover 3 way switches too?
Yep! Sure are!
Great content 👍🏽
Appreciate it!
First of all Thank you SOOOOOOOO much for your easy to follow videos. My question is..I purchased 3-12V Lithium Lion Energy Safari UT 1300 batteries that are giving me an issue. The company is replacing but I want to understand what is happening. First off only 2 would charge. The 3rd said there wasn't a connection to the charger. Next, after 2 of them charged, I was testing a 12v puck light with the master on/off switch and fuse box and it worked for a few seconds (the light stayed on for both the on and off setting though.) I took off to see if everything was wired right and it appeared to be. I took off the fuse box and the master on/off switch to test directly to the battery and now neither of the charged batteries will work. The light and a 12v fan work when I test on my car battery but not on the lithium batteries. Both batteries have been reset and register being fully charged but no matter what I touch to the terminals, nothing happens. Even the charger and voltmeter say there is no connection happening. The company is saying I should try hooking one up to my inverter but are giving me no reason as to why that should work. Are these batteries bad or should I try hooking to my inverter and if that is the case why would that work? Thanks.
Fantastic! 👌🏼
Thank you 🙌
Very good! I'll be interested in seeing how you mount the switches and devices. Will you make your own panels or buy pre-configured mounting plates.
Stay tuned! 🙂👍
Can't wait for the next video. Wondering though, can you explain the pros and cons of Copper wire to Copper Clad Aluminum wire? and can the two be mixed together in a run? Thanks
The short of it is (you can go down the google rabbit hole for 60 years of copper vs aluminum wire data on your own if you like) aluminum wire can carry less current per size of wire than copper. Aluminum really isn't used anymore; and it shouldn't be mixed into the system. All of the wire used in this build is either copper or tinned copper.
Thanks so much for your videos. And the wiring diagram. It has been invaluable!
I am wanting to have 4 seperate series of lights that want to have separate switches for. Cabin, above bed, below bed, and cabinet lights.
Is there any issue with combing some if not all to one fuse. Splitting it right off the fuse block then going to each circuit as long as I don't exceed the fuse amperage? Or should the have there own designated run from the fuse block. Thanks again for all you do
As long as the fuse can be rated high enough to allow all loads to function, but low enough to protect all wires, it will work.
cheers bro just done mine work perfect first time
Thank you I will be doing this soon to my CT camper build and this answers many questions I had. One question I do have is how do you ground your fuse block? Is it grounded when you mount it permanently to chassis or will you be using a dedicated ground wire to chassis? Thanks!
Dedicated positive and negative to the Lynx Distributor and then the negative busbar of the Lynx Distributor would connect to chassis ground. Stay tuned for that, though. We will be covering that as the build progresses.
thank you this was very helpful
Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
very well done guys
Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks for watching!
We r doing our bus now and due to not having the money we don't have our solar but we r going to try to do what we can with what we have and the money we have so if there is any way to do things other ways please do videos that would help in those types of situations to please. I appreciate everything u post and the way u explain them. If u ever want to donate to the cause me let me know. Very big fan of u both, keep up the great work
We show the best and most user friendly ways to do things, but they aren't always the ABSOLUTE cheapest ways; but the ways we teach are the ways we recommend so that you do it right the first time so you don't have to do it again. And we are actually 'donating' to your cause every week by teaching you how to do this stuff yourself without asking you to pay for it! Cool, right? 🤣😂
The test bench demonstrates serial connections only, but the installation includes parallel. Please confirm. Are some junctions used just for wire management or are all essential? E.g. describe purpose of lever nuts at 16:06. Please point to video on 3-way light swi... FOUND IT thanks! These are produced 5000% more usefully than ANY how-to on the interwebbernets.
I'm installing additional OEM Cargo Bay Lamps in a Ford Transit.
The Lamp Modules are DC, but not Polarized, however I did Wire them the same way, calling the connector closest to a Screw "Negative."
Thank you for your videos which are very helpful. We’ve just finished hooking up Acegoo puck lights with your wiring kit. It went very well for novices like us, thanks to your detailed videos! We noticed that the puck lights get quite hot and are wondering if when installed against the thinsulate roof insulation it could cause a fire?
What is 'quite hot'? An infrared thermometer may help you decide 'how hot is too hot'. If you can touch the light indefinitely (even if it 'feels' hot), it's likely below 120 degrees F, which won't start a fire.
@@EXPLORISTlife Thank you so much for your answer!
Great video, I pretty much copied this exactly except I used 14 awg wire. Im having a problem with all 6 puck lights being very dim. Any idea why that may be? Im guessing voltage drop for being a long run of wire but im no sparky. Any suggestions?
Love this! Do you have links to the busbar and the battery shutoff switch connected to the battery that you're using here? Thanks for sharing.
The busbar is a "Lynx Adapter" from our store (shop.explorist.life) but you shouldn't install the switch like that in a permanent setup. That is more just for tabletop demos as a temporary setup.
Wow! TY
Well done.
Thank you, I thought on DC the 2nd wire is ground wire not negative?
THANK YOU!!!
Glad it was helpful. Cheers!
Great Video, thanks. Do you have a link to the fuse board you use in the video as would like to get hold of one of those, thanks.
Sure! Here you go: shop.explorist.life/shop/all-products/distribution-panels/12v-dc-fuse-panel/
Hey guys I have brought some rocker switches for my van they have 3 prongs but videos of how to install them are saying that two are for positive wire and 1 is for a negative wire how would I wire two switches for the same lights in different areas of the van?
I’m trying to convert a trailer into a camper trailer and I want someone to review my wiring before I put the walls up, but all electricians I’ve contacted said they don’t do that, do you have an idea who I could hire to review my electrical system?
HI, what size of wire should I used for lighting up 12 pocket light? on my rig? Thank you so much in advance.
Your vids are great, but - did you demonstrate at the table how to hook up pairs then hook pairs up differently in the van?
If you understand what happened on the tabletop demo, you'll be able to wire the lights in all kinds of different orientations. There are 1,000 different combos on how you can wire the puck lights together.
Can you link the wire gauge cable you used off the battery and link the fuse block you used?
How do I get your manuals?? Just starting my build
Hey Nate, I noticed in your Puck light video you used single red and single black wiring. I purchased your 12 volt guide book and the puck light examples you have diagramed shows duplex and triplex wire? I'm confused or does it make a difference?
It doesn't really matter (for DC). Duplex wire is just 2 wires in a sheath and I wanted to use this build to see if it was easier to use independent wires for all runs and not deal with the outer sheath and so far so good. For 120V AC wiring, we still need to use triplex wire, though (which I'll be using in the upcoming 120VAC wiring video.
Hi Nate, Question #1. Can I share ground wires with different 12 v circuits? Ex. Lighting circuit ground shared with water pump ground. Obviously I would have different positive wires with sized fuses but it would make easier if I can tie ground wires together. Thanks
I recommend not sharing ground wires, no.
This is probably an incredibly stupid question but I’m going to ask it anyway. I’ve seen videos that use the spade connectors as the three way wire connectors and they have their wires pre-ran. When I’m watching this video it seems like that’s not really necessary and that you just connect new wires from light to light in the table top demonstration. What am I missing? Can you explain how and why the pre-wiring comes into play?
waiting on that dimmer vid. Hopefully not long from now:)
Next week!
What brand of puck lights do you use. I am looking for 12 V where each one pushes on and off speparately. Im having hard time finding them. Thank you!!!
Hey Nate, with lithium batteries is there any concern with the charging voltage fluctuations (14.6v) affecting LED lighting?
Not generally.
How would you mount a switch on the dash to control all the lights in the back? Would you use an existing spare button that Ford installed, or would you install your own switch? Would you wire that into the van's electrical system or the system you're installing? Thanks
You could do it pretty much any of those ways depending on where you wanted to power to come from and what the 'lights in the back' were for.
@@EXPLORISTlife I meant to turn the puck lights on or off from the cab, if you forgot to turn them off before you started driving. I've done that a few times when I drove transports lol
Is there any reason you "switch" the positive wire rather than the ground? I work in automotive and some RV service and we have been switching the ground side. Maybe it is done because many "electronics" (different than "electrical") often use ground side switching.
Def would be good to cover a positive vs a negative grounded system and switches
Electrically, it doesn't matter much. A negative switched system just leaves the positive wire energized up to the point of the switch, which I'd rather not teach as I'd rather have power cut as close to the source as possible.
I am getting flickering on my run of LED puck lights. Suggestions?
Good stuff, but is voltage drop an issue with this method?
Of course! Any time you are working with electricity, voltage drop must be taken into consideration. We were able to overcome this by keeping wire runs as short as possible and using large enough wire.
Do you have a link for that fuse box? Looking to use the same pick lights in a small cabin install.
Yep! shop.explorist.life/shop/all-products/12v-dc-fuse-panel/
@@EXPLORISTlife thank you!
What about individual addressable leds?
That is a completely different topic, so it was not covered.
should we rate the wire size for the amp rating of just one light? or all of them?
for example we have 6 lights in total, each rated at 0.5 amps. so, should the wire rating be (0.5)x(6)= 3 amp wire rating?
All of them.
@@EXPLORISTlife thanks!
What gauge wire did you use?
I see some people using a single black wire and a single red wire to prewire 12V loads, and some people use a 12/2 wire. Is there any difference other than the 12/2 wire is held together with an extra layer of insulation?
That's pretty much the only difference. We've done both and found that the individual wires + wrapping in wire loom after all wiring is done is easier for wire management than duplex wire.
@@EXPLORISTlife Thanks! This really helps!
What size fuse did you put these on? Thank you
If you'll check the parts list in the wiring kit listed in the video description and pinned comment, it lists all of the parts we used in this video.
Are lever nuts suitable for marine applications?
Yep!
given the convention of red and black, why do the puck lights use white and black ?
No clue.
Aren't we supposed to put ferrules on the wires going into the wago lever nuts?? Also, they actually make inline lever nuts
Ferrules are a tool and not a requirement. If they are in the way more than they are helping, they aren't needed. In the case of lever nuts; ferrules aren't particularly useful.
The wire I found is both black and red in one unit
Brilliant tutorials! Any concerns about the lever nuts rattling and making noise while driving?
Glad they help! Everything will be zip-tied and 'loomed' up nice and tight and sandwiched between insulation and walls; so there will be no rattling.
How do I wire the input source on the fuse box? It doesn't have any screws and I'm kind of stuck on Step 0.
Doesn't have any screws? Are you using the same fuse block as in this video? Did you purchase this from us?
@@EXPLORISTlife I purchased it from you, its the intertek GND. The input source looks like they are threaded but the tops are smooth cylinder. I'm pretty sure I'm just looking at it wrong. Newbie here.
@@Mike-iq4kv If you'll submit a support ticket at shop.explorist.life/support I'll look into that a bit more specifically.
Why did you choose to wire these in series rather than parallel?
(That's not meant to be a challenge to what you chose, just trying to understand.)
We did wire them in parallel. Wiring these lights in series would have meant wiring positives to negatives and would have caused the lights to not get enough voltage to function.
@@EXPLORISTlife You are absolutely right. My brain must have had an open circuit.
And thanks for the explanation as to why parallel is the way to go.
I like dimmable LED lights
For sure! That was the next video we published in this series.
Nate, can you confirm you are receiving my emails about the on-line order I placed?
Yep! And we responded yesterday at 8:32AM MST. Perhaps check your spam folder?
Great video... but I can't hear this pen noise oooowwwwwww 🤣
no inline fuse needed?
Fuse is in the fuse panel.
@EXPLORISTlife the wire going from the battery to the DC fuse block doesn't need to be protected before it reaches the fuse block? In this instance I'm referring to a One battery setup. Battery to 12v fuse block
@OutTheMudFilms the wire going to the 12 fuse block would be protected by a fuse in the Lynx Distributor. Perhaps you should check out playlists for our start-to-finish system installs
@@EXPLORISTlife got it. i watch all your videos. I have camper van and skoolie. i was just curious because there was no mention of a fuse in this video. Looks like it was simply a quick mock up and wire tutorial.
5:07 marker bro 😮🙉
Awesome 👍👍👍,but how could we contact with you,thank you.
Thanks! You've just contacted me. 🤣👍
@EXPLORIST life - DIY Campers Yes.So, are you interested in it?😅
Contacting me by youtube comments? Yes. Contacting me by phone/email? No.
@EXPLORIST life - DIY Campers I contact with you by Instagram😀
I reckon would be good to know what can go wrong and what's the consequences of it. in my case what I'm more scared of is to made a mistake and end up electrocuted like a dummy. In Australia (where I live) anyone is allowed to do their own 12v system and 120 has to be done by a professional, then this professional should inspect your 12v if you want to insure your van as a motorhome. I would to learn what really happens if you connect a negative and positive wire for some reason. or what happens if you choose the wrong size wire... a possible fail electric video kind of thing...
If it's protected by a fuse it is likely the fuse will blow if you short positive to negative (or ground) on that circuit. In most vehicles negative is connected to the car's metal work. It may also melt the wire and cause a flash. As for wire sizes you need to take into account the current carrying capacity of your wire. The more lights you add in parallel, the more the current increases in the circuit. If you have 6 lights then the wire to the first light may need to be heavier than the next one and so on. The easiest thing is to look at the current drawn by one light and multiply by 6 for 6 lights then use the same gauge wire for the whole run. Mosr lights will have a voltage and current or voltage and power rating on them. Make sure you use wire rated for 12V DC or greater rather than for mains AC wiring. Your fuse will also need to be big enough.
Why aren't you using automotive connectors?. AND what ignoramus would use wire nuts? Waco connectors are suitable for high vibration environments and are 250 V mains rated. But they are too big.
Uploading your own video is totally free if you think you've got a better way. 🙂👍
@@EXPLORISTlife Too trivial.
you can use the body of the car or truck or van so you don't need a negative buzz bar
No. I strongly suggest not doing that. Chassis in place of a dedicated negative wire is a cut corner that leads to issues due to poor connections.
Any chance you could stop calling something that has no Nut a lever Nut and call it a Wago Style connector? Wago connectors are cool and I get you are trying to convert wire nut people but its gramatically wrong and confusing. Otherwise a very good video, love your content!
How about this... If you contact WAGO and voice your concerns to them and get them to stop calling them Lever Nuts, so will I. But since that's just what they are called and you are literally the first person who has voiced this confusion, I'm going to continue calling them what they are called. 🙂👍
@@EXPLORISTlife Wago 221 splicing connectors are not referred to as lever nuts anywhere I can see on their page. It seems an American turn of phrase. Maybe it's marketed as a lever nut to try and get people to stop using wire nuts.
Whilst helpful, I’m not sure that someone that has to learn how a switch works ought to be wiring electrical circuits
Don't gatekeep, sweetheart. Everybody has to start somewhere. 👍🙂