aux lighting power source
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: CT
aux lighting power source
got an 03 f-350 crew cab srw 6.0L with 6spd manual. i put a headache rack i built on this am. i want to add spot lights to the rack. where is the best place to grab power. i looked behind the fuse panel and saw some capped off wires in the bundle. i was hoping to grab something existing and put one of those splice in fuses to the switch. any ideas or where to find a good wiring diagram would be great
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
How much lighting are you thinking about? Every 13 watts is 1 amp, so a single 55watt lamp is going to pull ~4 amps, so 2 is 8amps and 4 are 16A. This is getting a little heavy to add into the OE wiring. My suggestion is to use an OE source to trip a relay through the use of a switch and use a decent sized wire from the battery to the relay and relay to the lights.
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Freshman User
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From: CT
only installing 2 lights 55w each. i am good with electrical just was hoping for suggestions . wanted to grab something already under the dash that was wired to the ignition switch that way i don't forget to turn them off. did this on my company truck an 08 f250 5.4L those factory upfitter switches really spoil the shadtree mechanic. thanks for the advice
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 561
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From: Indianapolis, IN
You don't say whether the truck has the upfitter switches, if so #3 and #4 are heavy enough for your proposed draw. You might consider LED floods or even HID floods for this application which draw much less for better light output.
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Freshman User
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From: CT
no upfitters. it's a bone stock 03 6.0L. pwr windows and door locks manual trans and esof 4x4. other than that a plain jane truck the way i like it. this may be the only mod i do so no reason to get fancy just lights for better vis at night backing up or hooking up trailers and the such.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 561
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From: Indianapolis, IN
OK. Best bet is to run a good sized wire (12 ga) from battery to a relay. Grab switched power using a piggy-back in the fuse block for the switch. Run that to however fancy a switch you like and the relay (Pilot makes a 30 amp and 40 amp that are available most parts places) and route the + line from the relay using the same 12 ga wire out of the rear cab grommet and up to your headache rack/lights.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
That's pretty much what I said, but some electronics places sell SPDT relays for under $5/ea. The last ones I bought were $2.50 each from Mouser electronics, much better price than the $9-15 from automotive sources.
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