Now I'm Annoyed

[hmrlvr]

So, I finally decided to hook up the lights on the rear of my Gobi rack. The one's that face backward. If nothing else, I will use them to see when I'm pulling the boat out at night. Anyway, I didn't buy the lights made for up there, piaa I think, just some cheap Pep Boys lights. 1st I hook them up to the reverse lights so they come on when backing. Numerous blown fuses later, I decide OK, I'll put in a switch. Get the switch, wire the entire thing up, blown fuse . This is where I get annoyed. I don't have the wiring schematic anymore for the lights but cumon, black to black and white to white. White being the neutral/ground, black being the load. Noooo, it's fricken backwards, the white is hot. WTF is this right? It works now, so I guess it's right, but it seems wrong. Thats all, shoulda spent the money on the piaas and would of saved some time. Or, I guess i coulda read the directions, whatever I'm a guy.

[Desert Dan]

hmrlvr
How are you running the hot wire down from the roof rack?
Behind the plastic pillars and in behind the tail lights??

[hmrlvr]

Originally Posted by Desert Dan

hmrlvr
How are you running the hot wire down from the roof rack?
Behind the plastic pillars and in behind the tail lights??

when I hooked it to the reverse light, yes. But now that they are switched, the wires run down the rack mount, through a small hole I drilled in the plastic, and down the front pillar to the engine compartment. I looked at my neighbors H2 and thats how his was done, I just matched it.

[aetherH3]

Originally Posted by hmrlvr

White being the neutral/ground, black being the load. Noooo, it's fricken backwards, the white is hot. WTF is this right? It works now, so I guess it's right, but it seems wrong.

I've always known black wiring to be ground/neg. at least you got it figured out.

[hmrlvr]

Originally Posted by aetherH3

I've always known black wiring to be ground/neg. at least you got it figured out.

I'm just thinking of wiring in a house I guess

[Khoolhandz]

Invest on a cheap voltmeter from Radioshack and you would not have had this problem.

[f5fstop]

Did you use a relay?

[Big Z]

Originally Posted by hmrlvr

So, I finally decided to hook up the lights on the rear of my Gobi rack. The one's that face backward. If nothing else, I will use them to see when I'm pulling the boat out at night. Anyway, I didn't buy the lights made for up there, piaa I think, just some cheap Pep Boys lights. 1st I hook them up to the reverse lights so they come on when backing. Numerous blown fuses later, I decide OK, I'll put in a switch. Get the switch, wire the entire thing up, blown fuse . This is where I get annoyed. I don't have the wiring schematic anymore for the lights but cumon, black to black and white to white. White being the neutral/ground, black being the load. Noooo, it's fricken backwards, the white is hot. WTF is this right? It works now, so I guess it's right, but it seems wrong. Thats all, shoulda spent the money on the piaas and would of saved some time. Or, I guess i coulda read the directions, whatever I'm a guy.

Know.it.all.CheapA$$ Back Yard Mechanics!

[wpage]

That is a common error. Cheap or expensive. Prefer Red =12v Black=ground

[H3HUMMER]

Originally Posted by Big Z

Know.it.all.CheapA$$ Back Yard Mechanics!

[H3PAC]

You may want to try less complex DIY mods on your vehicle. And even then, proceed with extreme caution.