Wiring 12volt Lights to Leisure Battery

[Wolves3]

Hiya,

I have brought two 12 volt, 8 watt strip lights to fit in the van and run off the leisure battery. I asked in the shop how easy they were to fit and was told you just need 2 ring connectors and connect them straight to the battery. I can't help thinking they should be fused though. If i were to fit an in-line fuse what amp rating would it need to be? and can you as the guy said literally attach them straight to the battery?

Many Thanks
Allan

[kevtherev]

A single lamp will draw less than 0.5 amps

[VWCamperfan]

If you are running them or possibly going to run them together then you need a 2 amp fuse. If they have switches then yes you can just connect them straight to the battery. You may need to extend the cable though! If they don't have built in switches then you will have to fit one in-line on the positive lead.

[Red Westie]

Watts divided by volts equals amps (16 divided by 12 equals 1.33amps) when deciding what fuse to use bare in mind that it blows at the stated rating so I would be looking at a 5amp fuse close to the positive connection on the battery using covered/insulated terminals on the fuse holder as long as the lamps have switches.
Martin

[kevtherev]

if there are two lamps on the same circuit I would agree but that was not stated

[Red Westie]

I have brought two 12 volt, 8 watt strip lights to fit in the van and run off the leisure battery. I asked in the shop how easy they were to fit and was told you just need 2 ring connectors and connect them straight to the battery

Two positive lamp wires into one spade connection going to a blade fuse holder then an eyelet and positive battery terminal.