Troubleshooting LED Emergency Vehicle Lights
Installing the LED emergency vehicle lights we offer here at LED Equipped is a relatively simple task, as each comes with detailed, step-by-step instructions. The vast majority of our customers have no difficulty getting their onboard lighting up and running, but there’s always a chance you could experience an issue.
If your new LED light doesn’t seem to be working properly, you can return it for an exchange or refund. Before you go that route, however, we recommend trying the troubleshooting tips below. A simple misstep in the wiring may be to blame, and if that’s the case, you might be able to solve the problem.
Make Sure the LED Emergency Light is Functional
You may have already taken this step, but establishing that the LED light isn’t defective is important. To do so, connect it directly to your vehicle’s battery, with the red wire going to the positive terminal and the black wire going to the negative terminal. Then, turn on the light. If nothing happens, contact the LED Equipped team for advice and details on initiating a return.
If your new LED emergency vehicle light works just fine when connected directly to the battery, the issue likely lies in the wiring. Try to install the light again as the product manual instructs, and if you continue to experience a problem, take the following steps.
Double Check Every Wiring Connection
When troubleshooting your LED emergency vehicle light, you need to give every wiring connection a close second look. Even highly skilled electricians make mistakes sometimes, so don’t discount the possibility that the wiring isn’t quite right.
As you check everything over, verify that there are no crossed or touching wires. And, don’t forget to confirm that you have the polarity correct – getting it backwards is a common mistake.
Be Certain the Wires are Making Contact
If you’re confident you have completed the wiring correctly, yet your LED light still isn’t working or is missing one of the colors, the problem could be due to the actual connections.
It may seem as if you have the wiring secured properly, but if the wires are pushed too far into a connector, they can’t make contact. The same is true for wires that aren’t stripped back far enough. Check to see if either of these issues could be to blame for your emergency vehicle light malfunction, because even wires that appear connected may not be.
Use Parallel – Not Serial — Wiring Connections
Running multiple LED emergency vehicle lights in a series might seem like a good idea, but taking that approach can result in voltage drop. As LEDs require a certain current to function properly, the longer you daisy-chain them, the greater the likelihood of a problem.
If your LED vehicle lights are flickering, shifting colors or not putting out as much illumination as they should, try using more parallel circuits. By limiting the serial connections, you can ensure that each LED gets ample power.
LED Emergency Vehicle Light Wiring Do’s and Don’ts
In some cases, the cause of an LED vehicle light malfunction is related to choices made during the wiring and installation process. For anyone who’s not an electrician, knowing the correct way to approach the project isn’t going to be intuitive. So, take a look at the following list of do’s and don’ts to see if you may have made a simple mistake.
DO Use Stranded Wire
Stranded wire, which is made of several thin wires twisted together, flattens out to allow for a greater contact area. By using it for your LED light installation, you’ll have a reduced chance of voltage drop and connection problems.
DON’T Use Solid Wire
With solid wire, the contact area can be quite small. As such, when used to connect LED emergency vehicle lights, it can cause issues with flickering, a lack of brightness or color shifts during operation.
DO Keep the Wire Leads Straight
Clean, straight leads create the best possible connections. To ensure your LED light wires get adequate contact and, therefore, the power they need to function properly, consider soldering the ends.
DON’T Use Any Frayed Wires
If the ends of your wire leads are frayed, you can expect voltage loss as you continue to use your LED vehicle lights. Furthermore, you could easily experience an electrical short, putting your installation at risk for a potential fire.
DO Use Proper Wire Connectors
When you need to connect two wires together, use butt connectors and give them a good crimp or solder them together and apply heat shrink. Either can ensure your wires remain securely fastened, which is essential for operation.
DON’T Leave Splices Exposed
If you need to splice any wires during your LED emergency vehicle light installation, make sure you don’t leave the areas exposed. Bare wires create an increased risk of electrical shorts, which thereby increases the chance of a fire.
Contact the LED Equipped Team
If you’ve read through our LED emergency vehicle light troubleshooting guide and can’t get your lighting to work – or if you’d rather just speak with someone about the problem – our friendly and knowledgeable team is happy to help. Simply give us a call, and we’ll offer advice and, if necessary, assist you in initiating an exchange or refund.
In the event you need to return your LED lights, the process is fast and easy. Just package the product securely in its original box, making sure to include all of the parts and instructions, and send it to us within 30 days of your purchase. Be sure to let us know whether you’d like a refund or exchange, too – you can opt for either, no questions asked.
And, if you end up needing to make a warranty or service claim for a malfunctioning emergency vehicle light, the LED Equipped team can help with that as well. Contact us, and we’ll walk you through the process so that you’ll be able to quickly and effectively resolve the problem.
Let Our Lighting Specialists Meet Your Needs
Should you have any questions about LED emergency vehicle lights, we’re ready to provide answers. Whether you want to know how to choose the right lighting solution for your vehicle, where to find the laws on onboard lighting for your area of the country or what beam patterns are available – or if you want some other sort of information about LED lights – we’re your best source.
People turn to LED Equipped because we take great care to provide exceptional customer service, and that approach has led us to become a Shopper Approved company – and we’re proud to say that we have 4.6 out of 5 stars, with nearly 800 reviews. We also have accreditation and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, which is a claim many other emergency vehicle lighting distributors cannot make.
Plus, LED Equipped is a preferred lighting supplier for fire departments, law enforcement agencies, ambulance fleets, first responders, towing services and construction companies across the United States. We know how to meet your emergency vehicle light needs – and our high-quality products all come with fair, competitive prices and a 3-year warranty.
For more information on LED emergency vehicle lights, stop by our website or contact the LED Equipped team today.