interior lights cause dead battery?

[Chevybkm19]

so i installed the opt7 aura interior lighting kit and wired it correctly however, after a few weeks with it, my car battery is completely dead. I tried to get a jump from my buddy but even after 5 minutes with the cables on i got nothing. I used the add-a-circuit cable provided in the kit for the cigarette 12v source so when the car turns on, it powers the lights power box and then when the car is off power is cut off to the lights. I was going to put the add-a-circuit to the audio fuse but it would not fit in the slot with the other fuses in the way so i used the cigarette 12v source. Can anyone explain how my car battery is completely dead now? positive battery lead was not loose at all. Im sure i have to replace the battery but cant figure out how the battery died in the first place.

any suggestions?

2012 chevy sonic LT hatchback

 

[Natesriv]

so are you tapped into the fuse box in any way? or did you tap into the 12V source in the center console area?

 

[Chevybkm19]

the add-a-circuit fuse tap is in directly in the fuse box for the 12v cigarette fuse

 

[carsNskis]

That could be a cause. If you are using a constant hot the light kit might be drawing voltage even if it's switched off

If you ran to the constant so you can run the lights without the car turned on it would be a good idea to wire a relay in between and install a switch so you can disconnect completely when off

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Natesriv]

I have two of those running my gauges...

here's my question...there's spots for 2 fuses in the add a circuit.... I'm tapping my cigarette fuse too. It's dead with the key out. Was dead when I only had 1 fuse in the add a circuit... put the 2nd fuse in and it works now...

So do you use both positions, or just one (depending on the direction you in stall the add a circuit)?

 

[Natesriv]

well...thanks Google.


seems you put the fuse you took out in there, along with another fuse to power whatever you installed.

Original pulled fuse in the bottom one (bottom meaning the power wire of the add a circuit) and the one powering whatever you tapped into goes in the top..

I need to correct mine some then, I'm only running 1 fuse...so basically NO fuse on my gauges I'd say

 

[Chevybkm19]

i know how the add-a-circuit works, and the power for the 12v cigarette source turns off when the car is off, its not a constant source to where its always on. so im still confused on how my car battery died.

 

[Natesriv]

it was a 4 year old battery perhaps. Has the new one NOT given you any problems?

 

[Chevybkm19]

havent gotten on yet, getting a new one sunday but ill be getting the optima car battery since i also run a sub and amp in my car

 

[Chevybkm19]

alright so something else is causing my battery to die somehow, i removed the power to the lights to see if that was it, but it wasnt the cause. The battery continued to die, took it to the auto shop, said battery was fine, alternator was good but battery still died. So now i removed the power to my amp and sub but ive had that in previously for like 3 years and never had a problem with it before, ill see how long that lasts. If my battery dies again i have no idea what is causing my battery to die... any ideas anyone?

 

[spacedout]

Acdelco battery's used to be good, they are now junk. If you got 4 years use your on the high side of use, seen many fail in the 1-3 year range. Your battery can test good when its really bad, based on the fact you can find no source drawing current and the fact these batteries are junk, I'm gonna say replace the battery.

I bought my 2015 sonic used a few months ago, I'm already saving to replace the battery with a Sears DieHard AGM group 47. Had numerous random electrical issues with my 2012 cruze for the first year ownership which the dealer couldn't duplicate, did not happen ever again over the next 3 years after I swapped the battery.