There have probably been many incidents where it would have been very necessary to have some sort of light illuminating the ground to see what you’re walking on at night. On certain cars, there are external lights placed under the side mirrors and doors for this purpose, but unfortunately not all of them come with this luxury. And sometimes even these lights are not enough! Puddle LED lights are a perfect solution to problems like this and the like. This article goes over common questions most people have about puddle lights.

1.) What exactly are puddle lights?

Puddle lights are what the name implies: lights to illuminate the ground to avoid stepping on puddles or any other undesirable surface. This type of light was made popular by the aftermarket tuning company, Brabus, which specializes in Mercedes-Benz vehicles. On a large variety of Brabus tuned Mercedes-Benz cars, an option was offered for LED courtesy lights which are fitted in series under the side skirt along the side of the car. Since the introduction of these LEDs, puddles have also been retrofitted on other vehicles, such as Lexus, BMW, and more.

2.) How are they installed in the car?

LED puddle lights are installed on the vehicle with screws and double-sided tape. The double sided tape is to secure these LED lights in position and the screws are what permanently secure them in place. Due to the environment these lights pass through, double-sided tape would not be a secure bond for long-term use.

3.) How do the lights connect to my car?

There are several ways to connect these LED puddle lights to your car; some examples include touching the side door lights or the map/dome light. Other examples include connecting it to your vehicle’s radio or even an accessory cable to keep the lights on when the car is on. There are several ways to power the LED, but the main idea to follow is to connect the lights to the power source you want them to be powered by. For example, if you want the LED to be on when you open the door, simply connect the lights power to your vehicle’s interior lights.

4.) What are the things I should be aware of?

Since these LED puddle lights are installed under the car, where there may be a lot of debris and other dangerous objects, some precautionary measures should be taken. These measures include (but are not limited to):

1. Use of vacuum hoses to insulate and wrap exposed wires to and from LED lamps. Vacuum hoses are quite durable compared to the wires they surround to lessen the chance of an object cutting the wires.
2. Silicone adhesive should be used on any exposed electrical parts of the puddle light. This is to prevent any kind of moisture from causing problems.
3. Secure wiring as close to the vehicle floor as possible. Loose or dangling cables can get caught on something and break. Zip/cable ties are durable and efficient for securing various things.

Puddle lights are not only easy on the eyes, they also add class and convenience for getting out of the car at night; imagine arriving at valet parking in a luxury car with LED lights shining down to the ground.