Automotive Lighting

Automotive LED lighting from Lighthouse LEDs is made of parts you install and connect yourself: 12V LED strips, 12V pre-wired LEDs, and 12V LEDs with…

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Automotive LED lighting from Lighthouse LEDs is made of parts you install and connect yourself: 12V LED strips, 12V pre-wired LEDs, and 12V LEDs with a built-in resistor. All of them run on a vehicle’s 12V DC system, so you can add accent lighting, indicator lights, and custom panel lighting to cars, trucks, and RVs without a separate power supply. We do not carry drop-in socket bulbs (T10/194 wedge, BA9S, festoon, and similar), so this category has no direct replacements for factory bulbs.

The 12V LED strips listed in this category are the main products for vehicle accent lighting: footwells, under-seat and under-dash glow, door sills, trunks and cargo areas, truck beds, and RV interiors. The 3528 strips come on 5 m reels (60 LEDs per meter, about 24W per reel). The single-color 5050 strips are sold by the 5cm section (3 LEDs and about 60mA per section), so you buy only the length you need, and the RGB 5050 strips come on 5 m reels for use with an RGB controller. Every strip runs on 12V DC, has an adhesive backing, and can be cut every 3 LEDs (every 5cm).

For spots that see splashes or moisture, choose the water-resistant versions: the 3528 reels and the RGB 5050 reel each come in a water-resistant version, and the single-color 5050 sections in a waterproof version. They are made for splashes, humidity, and light rain, not for submersion. Keep the power connections dry, and seal any cut end that will be exposed to water.

12V pre-wired LEDs are the easy choice for single lights: dash and switch indicators, custom panel lighting, map and glove box lights, and accent points. Each LED comes with a built-in resistor and 15cm (about 6 inch) leads, red to positive (+) and black to negative (−), so it connects straight to the vehicle’s 12V system. The 12V solid-on pre-wired LEDs are rated 10–15V. For gauge cluster backlighting, the PLCC2 / 3528 pre-wired SMD LEDs (rated 9–18V) are small enough to sit behind the gauge face. Pre-wired LEDs are not waterproof as is, so for exterior use mount them in a protected location or inside a sealed enclosure.

12V LEDs with a built-in resistor are bare 3mm and 5mm LEDs with the resistor built in, for panel indicators and projects where you solder the leads yourself. The round tops are rated 5–15V and the frosted cubes 7–15V, so both run on a 12V vehicle system without an added resistor. Like the pre-wired LEDs, they are not waterproof as is: mount them in a protected location or inside a sealed enclosure.

Safety-critical lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals are regulated by federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS 108) and state laws. Our automotive LEDs are meant for interior, accent, and indicator lighting; check your local regulations before you add any exterior lighting.

The strips in this category are listed below; for more strip sizes, connectors, and supplies, see all 12V LED strips. For single lights, browse the 12V pre-wired LEDs and the 12V LEDs with a built-in resistor. All of them connect directly to a vehicle’s 12V battery system, with no converter or additional power supply needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. We do not carry drop-in socket bulbs (T10/194 wedge, BA9S, festoon, and similar), so we have no direct replacements for factory bulbs. Our automotive products are 12V LED strips, 12V pre-wired LEDs, and 12V LEDs with a built-in resistor, which you connect to the vehicle’s 12V system.
Yes. The strips run on 12V DC, the 12V solid-on pre-wired LEDs are rated 10–15V, and the 12V built-in resistor LEDs are rated 5–15V (round tops) or 7–15V (frosted cubes), so they connect to a 12V vehicle system without an added resistor. Classic cars and trucks with a 12V system work the same way.
Check the polarity first. LEDs only light when current flows in one direction: on our pre-wired LEDs, the red lead goes to positive (+) and the black lead to negative (−) or ground. If the polarity is right, check the fuse, the connections, and that the circuit you connected to is switched on.
Very little. Each 12V pre-wired LED draws about 20mA. A 3528 strip draws about 0.4A per meter (about 2A for a full 5 m reel), and a single-color 5050 strip about 60mA per 5cm section, or 1.2A per meter.
We do not recommend it. Turn signals, brake lights, tail lights, and headlights are safety-critical, and changes to them may not comply with federal (FMVSS 108) or state regulations for on-road use. Our automotive LEDs are meant for interior, accent, and indicator lighting.
Use the water-resistant 3528 and RGB 5050 reels or the waterproof 5050 sections where the light will see splashes or moisture; they are not made for submersion. The pre-wired LEDs and the built-in resistor LEDs are not waterproof as is, so mount them in a protected location or inside a sealed enclosure. Check your local regulations before you add exterior lighting.