How to Wire in a Sequence 12-Volt Fluorescent Fixture

Loosen the positive battery terminal clamps and remove the clamp from the terminal to disconnect power to your vehicle. Strip off 1/2 inch from the tip of a 12-volt wire (red) with a wire stripper. Crimp an eye terminal onto the tip of the wire using pliers. Loosen and remove the nut from the bolt that holds the positive battery cable eye terminal to the battery clamp using a wrench. Slip the eye terminal of the newly crimped wire onto the bolt, then replace the nut.

Cut the wire about 3 inches below the eye terminal and strip off 1/2 inch from the tip of each cut wire. Slip a 1-inch-long shrink-wrap sleeve onto each wire. Solder each stripped end of the wire to each stripped end of the two wires on a 12-volt in-line fuse holder. Slide the shrink-wrap to cover the bare wire and heat the shrink-wrap with a lighter. Open the in-line fuse holder cover and plug in a 12-volt fuse with an appropriate ampere rating.

Run the 12-volt wire from the battery terminal to the 12-volt switch, but avoid placing the wire over the engine, exhaust manifold and other areas where there are high temperatures to avoid melting the wire insulation. Use cable ties to secure the wire along the route.

Cut the wire once it reaches the switch, then strip off 1/2 inch from the tip of the wire running from the battery. Crimp a spade connector to the end of the wire using pliers and plug the connector to a prong behind the switch. Strip off 1/2 inch from the tip of a new segment of 12-volt wire (red) and crimp a spade connector onto the tip of the wire. Plug the connector onto the other prong at the rear of the switch.

Run the wire from the switch to the first light fixture, then strip off 1/2 inch from the tip of the wire. Cut another segment of wire (red) that will run from the first fixture to the second fixture and strip off the insulation from both ends. Hold the positive wire coming from the first light fixture, hold the wire running from the switch and hold the wire running to the second light fixture.

Splice the tip of all three wires together by soldering them with a soldering gun. Wrap several rounds of electrical tape securely to cover any exposed copper wire and prevent a short circuit.

Cut another segment of wire (red) that will run from the second fixture to the third fixture and strip off the insulation from both ends. Hold the positive wire coming from the second light fixture, hold the wire running from the first light fixture and hold the wire running to the third light fixture.

Splice the tip of all three wires together by soldering them and insulating the splice with electrical tape. Hold the wire running from the second fixture to the third fixture and solder the tip of the wire to the positive wire from the fixture. Wrap the splice securely with electrical tape.

Strip off 1/2 inch from the tip of a black wire and wrap the bare wire clockwise around a grounding screw closest to the light fixture. Run the black wire to the first light fixture and connect all negative wires of the three fixtures to the black wire running from the grounding screw following the same splicing method mentioned in Steps 5 to 8.

Plug the positive cable clamp back to the positive terminal of the 12-volt battery. Turn on the switch to test the connections.