auxiliary lights

[scroller bill]

Hi all. I hooked up the auxiliary light on my bronco the other day. I wired them through a relay and used the low beam wire from my dimmer switch to activate the relay. What I want to do is have a seperate switch in the dash area so I can turn just the auxiliary lights on with out the headlights. On the relay, if I tap off the same terminal as the low beam triger wire is attached and run that wire through a on/off switch and to a power, will that power wire feed down to the dimmer switch and turn on my low beams when I turn the switch on? I hope I'm explaining it clearly. I'm thinking that I may be better off using a seperate relay for my auxiliary lights only switch.

Let my know what you think.

Bill

 

[Seabronc]

Basically that is is how mine are controlled. However if you use that lead, you will only be able to turn them on with the head light dash switch on. You can use any 12V for the trigger, I'd use the feed from the fuse panel to the head light dash switch.

The source for the aux lights should be direct from the battery via a fuse. The fuse size and feed wire size depend on the wattage of the lights; for ex. if they two 100 watt lights, (total of 200 watts), then the current required is just under 17 amps so use a minimum of 20 amp fuse and a max of 25, plus the wire size should be 12 gauge to keep voltage drop at a minimum and prevent over heating the wire.

Good luck,

>-

 

[scroller bill]

Hi Seabronc. Ok, Right now I have my aux lights coming on with my low beams. The low beam wire at my dimmer switch turns on the relay for the auxiliarys. The wire from the dimmer switch goes to a terminal on the relay. Now if I run a wire from that same relay terminal I just mentioned to a switch then to an all the time hot wire, when I flip the switch to on, will it send juice to the dimmer switch wire and turn on the low beams?

I want to be able to turn just the aux lights on with a switch on or under the dash. I know that this setup will send power down to the dimmer switch but will it in turn turn on my low beams when I flip this switch?

I have a feeling I'm not explaining it right, so I think I will just use a seperate relay for my just aux light switch.

Thanks for the info.

Bill

 

[firelt90bronco]

When I wired my aux. lights I ran a seperate switch. I like the seperate switch idea because its easier than always having them on when want them on or not.

 

[88pimpin]

I just used some Radio Shack diodes on mine. Diode off the highs and one off the lows, so I could keep my foglights on all the time without using the parking lights. $2.50 for both in a little package. I think I used some 12V Zener diodes.

 

[Seabronc]

Hi Seabronc. Ok, Right now I have my aux lights coming on with my low beams. The low beam wire at my dimmer switch turns on the relay for the auxiliarys. The wire from the dimmer switch goes to a terminal on the relay. Now if I run a wire from that same relay terminal I just mentioned to a switch then to an all the time hot wire, when I flip the switch to on, will it send juice to the dimmer switch wire and turn on the low beams?

Yes!!

Keep the dimmer switch out of the circuit unless you only want the fog light to be able to come on when the low beams are on. I don't think you will be satisfied with that arrangement. I have had times that I only wanted my fog lights on with no headlights. An occation I can think of is in heavy snow fall where white light reflects too much and prevents you from seeing where a yellow light doen't have the same effect. I really think it is better to have seperate control for the head lights and fog lights.

Move the wire you have on the dimmer switch to the dash switch and use another source for power like the "tan with white stripe" or "light green with yelow stripe", wire that goes to the head light dash switch.

Good luck,

>-

 

[avatar]

I wired two Hella Fogs into my parking light circuit and two 150W sealed beams into my high beam circuit. IIRC power comes off the batt. and I tapped the circuits under the hood by the lights through relays and to lighted switches in the cab. This was 15 yrs ago and they still work! Who woulda' thought. The nice thing about the set up is you can **** everything by pushin' in the switch, and you can't accidently turn on the 300W worth of "white death" on the road by accidently hittin' the switch (unless your Hbeams are on).

 

[1982 bronco lifter]

i would use a swich because i can use low beam seperate from auxiliary lights wich might save your battery a bit