Driving light installation
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,288
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From: redding U.S.A.
Driving light installation
I purchased a set of 100 watt (each) halogen driving lamps that are up on top the cab on a light bar (along with my 4 foghorns)
I used the wires that came with the lights, which was a big mistake. They melted. Thats bad. So i'm currently running a 16guage wire to each light, instead of the wire that came with it, a single 18 guage for both lights.
Is a 16 guage wire thick enough for each light? (one 16 guage wire to each light)
where should i get the power from if i want to hook it up to the ignition switch? I don't want to have to worry about leaving them on and draining my battery in 10 minutes.
Is it ok to take power from the fuse panel?
Thanks in advance!
I used the wires that came with the lights, which was a big mistake. They melted. Thats bad. So i'm currently running a 16guage wire to each light, instead of the wire that came with it, a single 18 guage for both lights.
Is a 16 guage wire thick enough for each light? (one 16 guage wire to each light)
where should i get the power from if i want to hook it up to the ignition switch? I don't want to have to worry about leaving them on and draining my battery in 10 minutes.
Is it ok to take power from the fuse panel?
Thanks in advance!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 3
From: Comox Valley, Canada
Driving light installation
16awg should be fine for each light, also use it for the ground. You can always tap into the accessory spot on the fuse panel, that way there is only power when the key is in "run" or "acc" position.
But IMHO it is better to run right off the battery, but then there is the chance you forget to turn them off.
Of course you should notice you left them on if it is night-time
Sparky
But IMHO it is better to run right off the battery, but then there is the chance you forget to turn them off.
Of course you should notice you left them on if it is night-time
Sparky
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Driving light installation
W = V x A
200W / 12V = ~17A
Don't add them to an existing circuit or you'll blow the fuse or melt a wire that's harder to replace (deep in the wiring harness inside your dash
). If you don't know how to put in a relay, look at the back of the fuse block and tie into the heavy Bk/LG wire that feeds the switched circuits. If you use a relay, you can trigger it off the parking lights circuit (Br wire anywhere) or any other switched circuit and then thru the new switch.
My new favorite way to splice into wires without cutting is shown on this site:
http://www.bulldogsecurity.com/site.html
200W / 12V = ~17A
Don't add them to an existing circuit or you'll blow the fuse or melt a wire that's harder to replace (deep in the wiring harness inside your dash
). If you don't know how to put in a relay, look at the back of the fuse block and tie into the heavy Bk/LG wire that feeds the switched circuits. If you use a relay, you can trigger it off the parking lights circuit (Br wire anywhere) or any other switched circuit and then thru the new switch.My new favorite way to splice into wires without cutting is shown on this site:
http://www.bulldogsecurity.com/site.html
