Light Wiring Question
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I picked up this bull bar for cheap, and it came with a few light pods.
I already have a set of KC round halogen lights that I was going to transfer from my old cheap “bumper” to this one. I was wondering if there was a way to wire both sets of lights in to one switch. Kit comes with a harness and everything you need to wire it up separately. But I wanted to try to have only one switch inside.
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I'm not a huge electronics guru, but keep in mind that you'd likely need to change the fuse if you're adding different lights into the same switch....no idea what size fuse that would be, but you'd be changing the current going through that system compared to what it would be with just those LED lights.
Yes, there should be a way to wire them in. They'd all have to be worried in parallel.
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@i86hotdogs not a huge wiring expert but I would run 2 relays and split the switch side to each one and split the power side to each one. Then run the load circuits on each separate relay. You may also find one relay with two separate load circuits
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@classicdatsundebate each wiring set (one for the KCs the other for the LED) comes with their own relays. I was going to keep them in the circuit. I was thinking of splicing the wires to their respective switches together. The grounds and power wires all stay the same.
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@classicdatsundebate said in Light Wiring Question:
@i86hotdogs not a huge wiring expert but I would run 2 relays and split the switch side to each one and split the power side to each one. Then run the load circuits on each separate relay. You may also find one relay with two separate load circuits
Not necessary to run 2 relays, just one big enough for the total amp rating of the lights combined. Power from the battery to the relay then relay to lights on the power side, switch in the signal circuit (pull either 12v constant or switched, your preference on operation) and ground to a reliable chassis contact.
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@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold So what you’re saying is I can splice the wires from the relay to the lights? As long as the relay can handle all four?
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@i86hotdogs You just need one switch. One switch can activate both relays.
@Zaphod-s-Heart-of-Gold got his reply in just before me. Depending on the total current draw of the halogens and the LEDs and the current rating of the relays, you can use one switch to activate the one relay which controls both sets of lights.
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@i86hotdogs Yes, both sets of lights can be hooked up to the same circuit on the one relay. Assuming the one relay can handle the combined current of both sets of lights (all four).
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@vincentmalamute gotcha. That’s what I wasn’t sure about. That’d be a lot easier than running more wiring through the vehicle. It’s been ages since I’ve messed with electrical. But that would put both sets of lights in a series circuit, thus providing less power to each light?
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@i86hotdogs No, you wouldn't put them in a series circuit. You'd hook them up in a parallel circuit.
This would still cut down on the wires. One small gauge wire from switch to control the relay. Larger gauge wire from relay to the halogen lights. Smaller gauge wire from the halogen to the LED lights. But that last wiring hookup from the halogen to LED makes it a parallel circuit, not series.
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I would put these on the positive side of the relay that goes to the lights. It makes it an bit easier to double up on lighting both sets.
DZS Elec 30pcs A.W.G 12-10 16-14 22-16 Crimp Connector Kit PVC Semi-Insulated Piggy Back Spade Quick Splice Male/Female Wire Terminals https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776PY5JK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_S2zYFbJ1ZBPWF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I used this when I installed my radio in my car, and added a dual usb outlet with voltmeter. I wanted it to turn dash cam off/on with key.
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@vincentmalamute do most LED lights take a direct 12vdc input? Or do they have a weird relay/transformer combo?
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@classicdatsundebate Yes, if you get ones made to work on vehicles. The ones I've seen (a handful) have the minimal built in circuitry to operate directly on 12VDC. No relays or transformers. Buck/boost circuits as needed for their LED layout.
Just like the LED bulbs for home use have appropriate circuitry so they work on 120 VAC.
