[fastrider543]

i bought some auxilary lights and mounted them in my lower grill. the instructions say to connect them to a switched 12v power source such as a headlight so i spliced the wire on one of my fog lights and attached the wires they told me to but the new lights didnnt work... where is a 12v source i can hook em up to?
-greg

 

[Rob06ZX3]

ahhh noooooo

not into the fog light circuit! thats going to Fry the wires no matter how low wattage the lights are.

you have to set up a SEPRATE system for them... aka...

Power wire from Batt to switch (your own switch)
Switch to Fuse (in an easy to get to spot)
Fuse to light's
Ground lights

then they will work.

if you bought a kit, from like walmart or autozone.. they should have switches and wires in there already... i dont know if it will be long enough, but cut and splice with a thicker gauge wire if you have to add on.

 

[fastrider543]

ok i got them from pep boys and the lights connect to a fuse then they heve a ground wire and 2 other wires to connect to a power source, but nothing else... so il have to get a switch. should power wire come from the negative or positive terminal?

 

[Geezer]

Its not advisable to run 12 volts of full battery power through a switch. Use an inexpensive relay instead of doing this. Many lights come with them stock or they're available for about five bucks or less from most auto parts store. It will require one extra wire.

 

[fastrider543]

ok thanks for the info i got them working and they look great il post a pic tommaro

 

[Sn4ckM4st3r]

YOu dont need a relay.

Run it from the cig lighter for the easiest 12 volt setup. I did with no realy for over a year and TONS!! of lights. No issues i know my lights mang.

 

[Geezer]

See the attached as to why a relay should be used. Having participated in pro-rally for a number of years and using five 100 watt plus forward facing lights and one rear light I learned how critical it is that lighting be wired correctly. Not using a relay is a half ass solution. Not to do so is a potential safety hazard and puts delicate electronics at risk.

http://www.rallylights.com/hella/Relays.asp

The guys who wrote the above info are "real" lighting pros.

 

[Rob06ZX3]

Geezer,

Yes, if you were to be running that amount of lights.. in the wattage, you would want to use a relayed system instead of using the switch and fuse only.

But, with what he has... Probably the same as mine because of the location where he wants to put them.. there and im only guessing.. 55W output and a lower ampers draw.

if you want to be more... "professional" and if the lights cost an ample amount, then yes go right forth with a Relayed system. but if its the 30$ lights like mine are... i wouldn't worry about it, been running mine setup on my loader backhoe for 5 years.

Good info though on that website for people that don't totally understand how replays help and work.

 

[Sn4ckM4st3r]

I know how replays work geezer. Though i don't think anyone here is running one or more 100watt rally fogs. If they are they should get off the road.

I was saying for what he has he will be fine.

 

[Geezer]

If a relay is not going to be used, at least wire the lights as a separate circuit. Do not directly wire them from an existing circuit (switched or unswitched) or you'll GREATLY increase the chance of overloading that circuit. Two 55 watt lights will draw over 9 amps (at 12 volts) all by themselves. That means you need a minimum of a 10 amps protection just for the lights let alone anything else if you put it on a shared circuit. You can, however, wire the trigger source/side of a relay to anything as it requires only milliamps to operate it.