Wiring lights and switches

[CodyB]

I have a set of lights in the headache rack on my 09 Tacoma all ready to be wired. The wires for the lights have already been ran into engine compartment so now I am at the point of wiring the lights up to a power source and switch in the cab. I have never wired auxillary lights before in a truck so this is new to me. Does anyone have some tips to offer? I tried to search around on the forum for write-ups others have done on wiring but I was unsuccessful.

Also, I have been debating on what switch to use in the cab. I had been thinking about using another of factory fog light switch but I seem to recall the switches being a bit expensive and more complex. Maybe a simple toggle switch will be easier. Any thoughts?

 

[nwoods]

This site is about Jeeps, but electricity is the same whether it's Japanese or American wire. Lot's of good basic info for these types of projects:
http://www.stu-offroad.com/electrical.asp

 

[RusM]

Auxiliary lights wiring school, one of these days I am going to wire up some lights too.

 

[abeaudin1971]

I used a toyota aux light switch - Part number C0550-96517 - up here in Canada was 25 plus tax but it looks factory.

Pics here:http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36056

 

[Jrally]

Best tip and way I've always used, switch ground and always use relays for lights. When all you're passing through the firewall is a switched ground, the worse that can happen if the wire gets cut, is turn the lights on.

-Jon

 

[Carterbwh]

Here's what I used in my 05 Tacoma. It really simplified the rats nest I had growing under my hood, and I was able to use the existing switch blanks in the dash.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39772

 

[Rev]

I don't know if this helps but here is my howto: http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=17744