What am I doing wrong? Help please.

[Dominate.]

Sorry if this sounds noob but I can't really figure out the problem here. I used a TIP42 PNP transistor (like others) to sync up my interior lights with the dome light / when the door opens. The first time after I hooked it all up it kind of fizzed and I was worried but everything worked fine. Then one day, all the lights just died so I figured the transistor had gotten damaged when it fizzed that one day. So, I went and got another transistor but this time after I wired it all up and turned on the power, it just exploded

Here are the specs.

TIP42 PNP silicon transistor specs (power amplifier / high speed switching):

Power dissipation: 65W
Collector-emitter voltage: 40V
Collector-base voltage: 40V
Emitter-base voltage: 5V
Collector current: 10A

This is how I originally had it wired up the first time (when it fizzed) and the lights worked for about a month and a half.



Then after that didn't work I tried this suggestion from Migi:

" this is the correct wiring

Base, Collector, and Emitter.
Base goes to the Blue dome light wire.( GROUND)
Collector goes to +12v.
Emitter goes to the Cathodes."

I tried that set up and then it exploded.

I'd like to give credit to Migi for that diagram that he drew for me when he was helping me out. (I changed it a little to show MY 1st setup.)

[toyomoho]

Base has the load? Should this be the collector? And ground base to turn on?

But not sure what you are trying to do. The Dome light does not have a switch position to allow turning on with the door switch?

[Dominate.]

The ground from the dome light goes to the base of the transistor to turn it on. I'm trying to get my lights to turn on with the dome light when the doors open.