Aux Lighting Wiring
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2011
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Aux Lighting Wiring
Hi,
Just gearing up to start getting some auxillary lights mounted to the front and just wondering what is the best way to do this. From what I understand Ford would "block" the negative wire if you turned a light off. Is this why we run the one wire to ground on the fog lights so they will stay on if we use our high beams?
I am just unsure if wiring up a relay would be different. I would like to use a three way OTTRAW switch so in auto position they would turn on automatically if I turned high beams on, center would be off and on would allow me to turn lights on independently.
Thanks,
Rob
Just gearing up to start getting some auxillary lights mounted to the front and just wondering what is the best way to do this. From what I understand Ford would "block" the negative wire if you turned a light off. Is this why we run the one wire to ground on the fog lights so they will stay on if we use our high beams?
I am just unsure if wiring up a relay would be different. I would like to use a three way OTTRAW switch so in auto position they would turn on automatically if I turned high beams on, center would be off and on would allow me to turn lights on independently.
Thanks,
Rob
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 879
Likes: 40
From: Greensburg, IN
For the most part, lighting is controlled by relay, with a low current signal wire tripping the relay that carries higher current to the lights. I'm not sure how ford specifically does the wiring, but there's a lot of reasons not to interrupt the path on the ground side of the lights when wiring in your switch gear. Most of them are fire and battery drain related.
If you're already using the more popular mictuning switch gear for off-roading, this will somewhat match:
I think this how-to will meet your needs. The diode is used to prevent backfeed of the circuit. I also can't stress enough not to use the vampire tap that he uses on the high beam wire. Those things will lead to corrosion and failure, or simply cut through the wire over time from vibration (or initially when you first try to tap it). Also, when you buy a 3-position rocker or toggle switch, make sure it is an "ON/OFF/ON" switch, and not an "OFF/ON/ON" switch. The first kind will give you what you want, the second kind is for turning one thing on at a time, or two things on at a time.
If you're already using the more popular mictuning switch gear for off-roading, this will somewhat match:
I think this how-to will meet your needs. The diode is used to prevent backfeed of the circuit. I also can't stress enough not to use the vampire tap that he uses on the high beam wire. Those things will lead to corrosion and failure, or simply cut through the wire over time from vibration (or initially when you first try to tap it). Also, when you buy a 3-position rocker or toggle switch, make sure it is an "ON/OFF/ON" switch, and not an "OFF/ON/ON" switch. The first kind will give you what you want, the second kind is for turning one thing on at a time, or two things on at a time.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 837
Likes: 213
Thanks, I will wire it the standard way of relays and good connectors. I only use the vampire style as a LAST resort end even then it may be in the cab only. I already have some of the LED OTTRAW switches ordered.
Rob
Rob
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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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