Hey heys I'm gonna be wiring up some spotlights soon and was wondering the best to way to do it. I'm thinking
- 2x 12v 30amp relays
-12v from battery to relay
-12v power from headlight highbeam wiring (tap into it)
-Switched Earth (run earth to a on/off switch in car and then to earth)
Is this a sensible way of doing it?
Wiring up spotlights
Started by
_Aidan_
, Jul 18 2006 11:18 PM
12 replies to this topic
#2
dattoman
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Posted 18 July 2006 - 11:28 PM
I know nothing of electrics
But..... we do sell a driving light wiring kit at work that has all the bits in it you'd need
$35 or $40 depending on brand.
But..... we do sell a driving light wiring kit at work that has all the bits in it you'd need
$35 or $40 depending on brand.
#4
dattoman
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Posted 19 July 2006 - 12:34 AM
1490 Albany Hwy Cannington
Look for the big Auto 1 sign
Look for the big Auto 1 sign
#5
_devilsadvocate_
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Posted 19 July 2006 - 10:15 AM
Aidan, what you suggest will be fine, its on a UC, one relay for both will be fine, unless you are running 200W+ on each lamp. Good idea to have it connected with triggered by the high beam and earth switched in car.
#6
makka
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Posted 19 July 2006 - 12:56 PM
I would also run some 30A fuses between the battery and relay, just to be safe
#7
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Posted 19 July 2006 - 01:33 PM
Nothing wrong with fuses, but I wouldnt bother here......just my personal pref and wouldnt criticise anyone who did put them in.
My rationale: Your run shouldnt go through any body panels and if the worst happens, short across light globe(rare), then there is only a short length of wire from batt to lights to burn here, and shouldnt be in contact with other flammables! Fuses under the bonnet will eventually give you trouble recorrosion of contacts(even if in "sealed" containers and if wanting to protect a circuit Id recommend a fusible wire link or thermatic fuse.
My rationale: Your run shouldnt go through any body panels and if the worst happens, short across light globe(rare), then there is only a short length of wire from batt to lights to burn here, and shouldnt be in contact with other flammables! Fuses under the bonnet will eventually give you trouble recorrosion of contacts(even if in "sealed" containers and if wanting to protect a circuit Id recommend a fusible wire link or thermatic fuse.
#8
enderwigginau
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Posted 19 July 2006 - 02:42 PM
Good idea to grab a relay block that you can mount in the engine bay and plug all your relays into.
Then everything runs to relays in the same area and you aren't bending into strange shapes reaching for stuff if relays go kaput.
Simple little job, if you are putting in a relay anyway, then as you add stuff you can plumb all the relay wiring to this block and plug in an extra relay, and slowly transfer any existing relays to here too.
Grant..
Then everything runs to relays in the same area and you aren't bending into strange shapes reaching for stuff if relays go kaput.
Simple little job, if you are putting in a relay anyway, then as you add stuff you can plumb all the relay wiring to this block and plug in an extra relay, and slowly transfer any existing relays to here too.
Grant..
#9
_LC2250_
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Posted 19 July 2006 - 05:50 PM
Thats exactly how I did mine ... if it's the same as the LC, instead of tapping into the wire as such to save the chance of a dodgey soldering job or what ever ... just pull the plug from the back of the sealed headlight (either one is fine) and just poke the wire through the hole for the 12V in the plug from the back of the headlight ...
Just an idea ... possibly a stupid one
-Al
Just an idea ... possibly a stupid one
-Al
#10
_Hotrodder_
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Posted 20 July 2006 - 01:31 AM
This will always be a personal thing with fuses in the engine bay and I agree with your rationale, however have you ever used the VN-> crummydoor type in retro-fits? They are designed to be mounted in the extremes of engine bays, are very cheap and you could even use the entire fuse/relay block if you wanted to. I fitted one to an EH with hold-on V8 a few years back and its still working fine after everyday use.Nothing wrong with fuses, but I wouldnt bother here......just my personal pref and wouldnt criticise anyone who did put them in.
All relays and fuses are simple plug-in and commonly avail anywhere.
#12
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Posted 22 July 2006 - 11:18 AM
Aidan, have no idea about what you are using your spotlights for.....but do you really need them?
The previous owner of my uc had longe range hella pencil beams on there and yes, they were nice to turn on to light things up, but they werent really necessary unless one was doing in excess of 120kmh on dirt roads with no markings/posts etc. I took em off and sold em. The standard uc h4 reflector works well, especially if you put some higher power globes in there(using relays), I found 100/55w work well and have lasted(10 years now).......but I think the newer globes are even better now.
The previous owner of my uc had longe range hella pencil beams on there and yes, they were nice to turn on to light things up, but they werent really necessary unless one was doing in excess of 120kmh on dirt roads with no markings/posts etc. I took em off and sold em. The standard uc h4 reflector works well, especially if you put some higher power globes in there(using relays), I found 100/55w work well and have lasted(10 years now).......but I think the newer globes are even better now.
#13
_Aidan_
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Posted 22 July 2006 - 04:13 PM
heya forgot to mention they are for my triton ute.
I got 90 / something in my UC and they work a treat
I got 90 / something in my UC and they work a treat
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