Need help with wiring project
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 1
Need help with wiring project
Not a very good picture I know but its all I could do with paint.
Two lights with a switch.
As we know, the less connections the better.
Its a lighted switch but I dont need it lighted, and yes I know I could buy one without the light except they didnt have one.
I have the wire run from the left light, out about 2 feet from the end then it goes down (towards the pavement).
Then across the bottom of the truck to the other side, then back up to the other light.
The switch is gonna be approx 2 ft from the end of the light on the right.
Both lights have 2 wires each.
Whats the best way to finish the job without having a bunch of connections? Pictures would be nice if you can.
Thanks
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 1
So by your diagram your saying run 2 wires from the switch to light1 then from that light run a set to light 2? If so, I dont think I can do it that way.
or are you saying
------ light 1
|----------------Switch
------ light 2
also would it be any easier running a jumper off a existing fuse in the fuse box? instead of going all the way up to the battery. If so which one do you recommend.
or are you saying
------ light 1
|----------------Switch
------ light 2
also would it be any easier running a jumper off a existing fuse in the fuse box? instead of going all the way up to the battery. If so which one do you recommend.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 2
From: Fort Wayne, IN
So by your diagram your saying run 2 wires from the switch to light1 then from that light run a set to light 2? If so, I dont think I can do it that way.
or are you saying
------ light 1
|----------------Switch
------ light 2
also would it be any easier running a jumper off a existing fuse in the fuse box? instead of going all the way up to the battery. If so which one do you recommend.
or are you saying
------ light 1
|----------------Switch
------ light 2
also would it be any easier running a jumper off a existing fuse in the fuse box? instead of going all the way up to the battery. If so which one do you recommend.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 1
Ok cant go from light to light.
I either need to do it at the switch or somehow tie them into one another then go up to the switch with just 2 wires.
Going by my diagram then I will have 3 wires total for the positive, and 3 wires total for the negative that will hook up to the back of the switch?
Does the ground have to go to the battery or can I just attach somewhere else closer?
Sorry not much of a electrician
I either need to do it at the switch or somehow tie them into one another then go up to the switch with just 2 wires.
Going by my diagram then I will have 3 wires total for the positive, and 3 wires total for the negative that will hook up to the back of the switch?
Does the ground have to go to the battery or can I just attach somewhere else closer?
Sorry not much of a electrician
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 2
From: Fort Wayne, IN
Reserving this post for your wiring guide, I'll have it done in a second.
EDIT: ok then.
First of all I recommend these parts.
This will give you the input/output set you need.
RadioShack.com - Cables, Parts & Connectors: Connectors & connectivity: Terminal strips & barrier blocks: 8-Position Dual-Row Barrier Strips
This will connect the jumpers on that barrier so that by putting a batter cable to one terminal, they'll all be "hot", meaning they'll all be connected to that one wire by that metal strip.
RadioShack.com - Cables, Parts & Connectors: Connectors & connectivity: Terminal strips & barrier blocks: 8-Position Jumper
Here's an image of the way it'd connect up.
By heymrdj at 2008-09-28
This setup will allow you to have one hot in, and up to 8 outputs.
As pointed out, you can ground the lamps to the frame.
EDIT: ok then.
First of all I recommend these parts.
This will give you the input/output set you need.
RadioShack.com - Cables, Parts & Connectors: Connectors & connectivity: Terminal strips & barrier blocks: 8-Position Dual-Row Barrier Strips
This will connect the jumpers on that barrier so that by putting a batter cable to one terminal, they'll all be "hot", meaning they'll all be connected to that one wire by that metal strip.
RadioShack.com - Cables, Parts & Connectors: Connectors & connectivity: Terminal strips & barrier blocks: 8-Position Jumper
Here's an image of the way it'd connect up.
By heymrdj at 2008-09-28
This setup will allow you to have one hot in, and up to 8 outputs.
As pointed out, you can ground the lamps to the frame.
Trending Topics
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
use a relay. It has 4 prongs
1 Prong: is power supply from battery (fused)
2 Prongs: outlet power from relay to component needing power
1 Prong: is the switch that enables the relay to direct power out
You then use your switch to send a 12 volt source to the relay when you need the lights. It's not actually powering the lights, just sending the switching juice...so it's very low draw. I typically use my cigarette lighter power wire for this function since it's hot all the time.
This minimizes the # of wires needed and makes it a nice clean install.
1 Prong: is power supply from battery (fused)
2 Prongs: outlet power from relay to component needing power
1 Prong: is the switch that enables the relay to direct power out
You then use your switch to send a 12 volt source to the relay when you need the lights. It's not actually powering the lights, just sending the switching juice...so it's very low draw. I typically use my cigarette lighter power wire for this function since it's hot all the time.
This minimizes the # of wires needed and makes it a nice clean install.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Sudbury, Ontario
These ways are good but if you took power from the stock light switch to a aftermarket switch (so you can run your headlight without having the after market ones on) then to a relay. the relay gets power from the battery and then powers the lights. on the lights one is power and the other one is a ground (thats just goes to bare metal) dosent matter with lights which one has power but normaly white or red is power here's a pic to try and show how to wire it. hope this helps.
one advantage todo this is that you cant leave your new lights on without your headlights on and buzzer going off
Typical Relay wiring
one advantage todo this is that you cant leave your new lights on without your headlights on and buzzer going off
Typical Relay wiring
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 1
so is the relay waterproof? and can I use it with LED's
Highlight switch means I need to rip the dash apart? I dont know if I want to attempt that!
and I dont think im gonna need all those jumpers and blocks, just installing some lights in the bed with a switch in the back to turn on and off, when I need the light.
Highlight switch means I need to rip the dash apart? I dont know if I want to attempt that!
and I dont think im gonna need all those jumpers and blocks, just installing some lights in the bed with a switch in the back to turn on and off, when I need the light.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Sudbury, Ontario
Leds take little power to light up you just have to make sure you have the polarity right. pos. to pos. and neg. to neg.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Sudbury, Ontario
what kind of climate do you have SDTruckMan?
up here in northern ontario the distubution block would be great and handy but with our winters and the salt they use on the road the block would have green death (corriosion) by the first winter and would no longer make good contacts.
here you would be better off cutting the wires to proper lengh twisting them together, soldier and then shrink the heat shrink (goes on first) so there waterproof
up here in northern ontario the distubution block would be great and handy but with our winters and the salt they use on the road the block would have green death (corriosion) by the first winter and would no longer make good contacts.
here you would be better off cutting the wires to proper lengh twisting them together, soldier and then shrink the heat shrink (goes on first) so there waterproof