Splicing in a 12-volt light

[maddawg308]

Virginia state law states that in order for a vehicle to be street legal, it must have a light on the rear to illumate the rear license plate during nighttime operation. Problem is, all the places around here only have 12-volt lights, and we're getting down to crunch time for Aberdeen, so no time to order a 24-volt light. Is there any way that I can splice in a 12-volt light into the existing electrical system in order to have a working license plate light that will be functional?

 

[emmado22]

steal a bulb out of the blackout lights....................

 

[pinzpirate]

Try a marine supply, older and larger boats use 24 & 32 volts.
Lights that use the same socket as some 12 volt bulbs can often be found.
There might even be 12 volt lights that you can put 24 volt bulbs in.

 

[mangus580]

use a 12v plate lamp, but buy a 24v bulb for it.

 

[acetomatoco]

Just use a Packard one to two wye.. and plug into the wire from the left composite tail light and use a bulb from the black out marker in the composite lite in a cheapie NAPA License Plate lamp... should take you about 15 minutes... You could drill a hole in the side of a composite light and put a clear lens in the hole to provide white light to the side, too... ACE

 

[MikeON]

This light is from Walmart. It was chrome plated - hope the paint sticks. The rest of the bracket is homemade. I got a GE 1251 bulb from the local NAPA store and it fit right in.

Mike

 

[NEIOWA]

Just install 2x 12V units in series.

 

[MikeON]

Just install 2x 12V units in series.

That would work fine except that the bulb socket is grounded in the Walmart lights. You would have to insulate one of the lights to hook two in series, or find lights that don't have a built-in ground.

 

[firefighterccfd711]

napa should have 24 volt bulbs that would fit in the assembly. atleast in the north central washington area as we have many farms and people on mountains that just use batteries for power.

 

[motorolanut]

Nice Job...

 

[BEASTMASTER]

here's a quick fix ., in one of you're original lights pick a spot and heat a nail the same size as yor wire and make a hole run your wire into the hole and splice it inside to the tail light wire silicone the hole afterwards . need a plate light with a #57 bulb that you can take out and replace with your 24 volt bulb