Light wiring questions
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 89
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From: OR
Light wiring questions
I will be upgrading the lighting on my truck (1997 F350 CC) and have a few questions.
<O
</O
1. Where is the best place to tap into the positive side?
a. Starter solenoid
b. Battery
c. Alternator
<O</O
2. Is the frame rail adequate for a ground or should I bring it back to the Battery or Alternator body?
<O</O
3. Who makes a good heavy gage wiring harness with relay that replaces the stock headlight harness?
<O</O
4. Do they make one with an extra relay and switch for auxiliary lights?
<O</O
5. I want my driving lights to come on with the high beams. What is the high beam color code and where should I tap the driving lights relay into it?
6. How many watts can I run and not over load the system?
I hope that's not to many questions for one post
I'm trying to get this all sorted out before leaving on a road trip the day after Christmas.
<O
</O1. Where is the best place to tap into the positive side?
a. Starter solenoid
b. Battery
c. Alternator
<O
</O2. Is the frame rail adequate for a ground or should I bring it back to the Battery or Alternator body?
<O
</O3. Who makes a good heavy gage wiring harness with relay that replaces the stock headlight harness?
<O
</O4. Do they make one with an extra relay and switch for auxiliary lights?
<O
</O5. I want my driving lights to come on with the high beams. What is the high beam color code and where should I tap the driving lights relay into it?
6. How many watts can I run and not over load the system?
I hope that's not to many questions for one post
I'm trying to get this all sorted out before leaving on a road trip the day after Christmas.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,081
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From: Gladwin,Mi
1.A
2.Frame rail or any clean(metal on metal bolt)....most lights are self grounding.
3.4. Don't know...for the driving lights buy that companies harness
5.Tjbeggs has all wiring diagrams in his gallery....I am on my phone so do not have the links with me.I have mine wired in with my parking lights and also on a switch.
6.All the lights will be 12v...the higher end HID have their own ballast. You should be fine with whatever you get
2.Frame rail or any clean(metal on metal bolt)....most lights are self grounding.
3.4. Don't know...for the driving lights buy that companies harness
5.Tjbeggs has all wiring diagrams in his gallery....I am on my phone so do not have the links with me.I have mine wired in with my parking lights and also on a switch.
6.All the lights will be 12v...the higher end HID have their own ballast. You should be fine with whatever you get
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,669
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From: Billerica, MA
Here is the link to TJ's gallery Wiring Diagrams pictures from friends & fun photos on webshots
Ron- so he could run 50 auxilary lights and still not overload the system? (that numbers a little rediculus but thats what poped into my head first haha)
Ron- so he could run 50 auxilary lights and still not overload the system? (that numbers a little rediculus but thats what poped into my head first haha)
FOREIGN GURU
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Celaya, Gto. MX
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
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From: Johnson City, TN.
Here is the link to TJ's gallery Wiring Diagrams pictures from friends & fun photos on webshots
Ron- so he could run 50 auxilary lights and still not overload the system? (that numbers a little rediculus but thats what poped into my head first haha)
Ron- so he could run 50 auxilary lights and still not overload the system? (that numbers a little rediculus but thats what poped into my head first haha)
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,081
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From: Gladwin,Mi
Crackberry huh....I am going to have to remember that.The past few days have felt like that since the puter is down.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: OR
Thanks for all the info and links. I'm confident that I can do a fairly professional install now.
I found a cool Waytek catalog with lots of good automotive wiring supplies including Contura rocker switches, Delphi sealed connectors and and a good selection of auxillary fuse blocks.
Welcome to Waytek Wire
I found a cool Waytek catalog with lots of good automotive wiring supplies including Contura rocker switches, Delphi sealed connectors and and a good selection of auxillary fuse blocks.
Welcome to Waytek Wire
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Gladwin,Mi
I just noticed I said to go to the starter solenoid for power....that is very WRONG...LOL
Go to the + on the battery....sorry about that
I have it wired from the parking lights to the relay to turn on the lights...then my rocker switch after the relay if I don't want them on
Go to the + on the battery....sorry about that
I have it wired from the parking lights to the relay to turn on the lights...then my rocker switch after the relay if I don't want them on
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 89
Likes: 1
From: OR
I just noticed I said to go to the starter solenoid for power....that is very WRONG...LOL
Go to the + on the battery....sorry about that
I have it wired from the parking lights to the relay to turn on the lights...then my rocker switch after the relay if I don't want them on
Go to the + on the battery....sorry about that
I have it wired from the parking lights to the relay to turn on the lights...then my rocker switch after the relay if I don't want them on
The more I think about it it’s probably not terribly critical where we tap our lights in at. The battery post gets us closer to the power source but I think it could be argued that if we’re trying to get closer to the power source we should tap in at the alternator.
<O
</OI like your idea of tapping the relay power into the parking lights because it affords the option of running the auxiliary lights with just the parking lights on.
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From: Gladwin,Mi
The nice things with our trucks is that we can go to either side of the troc to mount the relays close to the batt.
I have 3 batteries in my Toyota...1 is dedicated for the winch and aux lighting(8 lights under the truck),the stock located one is for the truck and a back up in case the alternater goes in the middle of nowhere(will be hooked to the rear winch when figure out how/where to mount it)
I have 3 batteries in my Toyota...1 is dedicated for the winch and aux lighting(8 lights under the truck),the stock located one is for the truck and a back up in case the alternater goes in the middle of nowhere(will be hooked to the rear winch when figure out how/where to mount it)
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