Offroad lights

[BurbanAZ]

I got some cheap basic offroad lights the other day and put them on my bumper. I bought the wiring kit and it was crap, and not near enough wiring so i said screw it and just went from the battery to the switch to the positive on the lights then grounded them and that is way easier. Do i need to go through the relay and connect through my highbeams like it said or can i just leave it wired straight like i did?

 

[HenryJ]

It is best to fuse the power supply near the source. A relay is a better method of supplying the load as the wire can be shorter and the contacts are designed for these larger loads. Using a relay you can activate it using the ground wire. That way only one negative wire needs to pass through the firewall. That is safer too.

 

[alexfm]

From my limited electrical knowledge, your current setup will work, but is gonna start frying stuff with any real usage. The switch was not meant to handle to current, and will be something that will fail pretty quick. I'd just throw in a relay and definitely fuse the connection somewhere (Not sure if you did already, wasn't mentioned).

 

[xpndbl3]

I wouldn't run all the current through the switch, just run it through the relay and use the switch to supply 12V switched or the ground for this setup to the relay. Most switches aren't rated to have that much current go through them. You don't need to trigger the relay off the high beams unless you don't want the lights on any other way.

 

[BurbanAZ]

yea ill probably just add a relay to keep from burning up the switch, im not going to link it in with my headlights though.

 

[McZippie]

What's the watts of the lights, the amp rating of the switch, amp rating of fuse holder and wire guage used?
Need the above to know if wiring 'straight' without a relay is OK.

 

[BurbanAZ]

need to replace the wire because it didnt come with enough but ill probably use 12ga, the switch is rated a 15amp, havent bought a fuse holder so that can be anything (in the picture the one i was using had a 2 amp fuse in it just to make sure the lights worked) Also the lights are 100watt halogen lights.

 

[McZippie]

Purchase a fuse holder rated at 20 amps or more and use a 15 amp fuse in it.
Check switch to see if it gets hot, but it should be OK. If it gets hot purchase a higher amp rated switch.
Fuse holder should be first thing wired to postive post of battery.

 

[sisu]

How cheap as cheap?
Brand?
I ask cause a friend spent some big bucks on pin points as well as fog & some wide spread lights (6 lights besides his OME head lights) after spending big money he was equipping another rig with lightning & bought some red off road HIDs from O'Reilys that he really likes (135 or so on price)

BTW I was told to always run a relay

 

[BurbanAZ]

im gonna wire it properly today, the relay from the kit is fine so im going to use the relay and use an inline fuse and bypass anything having to do with connecting through the headlights. Also going to use slightly thicker wire. The brand is blazer from O'Reily's just the 100watt halogen lights. They were about 30 per light but they put out good light. Ill probaly upgrade them at some point depending on how the hold up and how well the put out light. Im going on a camping/ wheeling trip next week for a few days so that will be a good test for them.

 

[HenryJ]

Here is some help to determine wire sizes: Wire Gauge table

 

[BurbanAZ]

i rewired it today and use 14 guage wire, i put a 15 amp fuse near the battery inline. I didnt use a relay but it should be fine with the 15 amp fuse, the switch is rated at 15 amp also, and 14 guage wire

 

[rxinhed]

One reason to use a switch activated relay is to keep the power loss to a minimum. The other reason to use a relay is safety. At present, you have full battery amperage in the switch. A spike could cause a fire. When I've had my Cibié Super Oscars wired up, I didn't use less than No. 10 wire to the lamps, 12 from the switch to relay and 8 from battery to relay. When I had my Super Oscars, Oscars and Airports all wired in series pairs, I used a Ford style relay with No. 4 wire between the battery and relay, 8 from relay to lamps.

 

[BurbanAZ]

One reason to use a switch activated relay is to keep the power loss to a minimum. The other reason to use a relay is safety. At present, you have full battery amperage in the switch. A spike could cause a fire. When I've had my Cibié Super Oscars wired up, I didn't use less than No. 10 wire to the lamps, 12 from the switch to relay and 8 from battery to relay. When I had my Super Oscars, Oscars and Airports all wired in series pairs, I used a Ford style relay with No. 4 wire between the battery and relay, 8 from relay to lamps.

If there a spike wouldn't the inline fuse trip and prevent a fire? Also since the switch is rated at 15amps and 15volts dc should i put a 10 amp fuse instead of 15 then so that it will trip before more amps can get to the switch than its rated for? I appreciate everyone's input though if it really is a fire risk then it would definitely be worth the 10 min putting a relay in to keep everything safe

 

[rxinhed]

You can also use a switch that has a circuit breaker. My point with the spiking and fire is simply your safety. We all like the thought of continued posts from our online acquaintances and happy wheeling experiences. On my first light installation, I used a pair of ******** Cepek 150W lamps on my wife's Montero. I pulled power from the battery, routed through a 75-amp switch and went to the lights. The guts of the switch melted and dropped liquid brass contact metal on the floor board, directly between my wife's feet! I didn't hear the end of that for some time.