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Smoking aux lights (NOT tinting!)

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Caduceus, Oct 16, 2010.

  1. Oct 16, 2010 at 11:04 PM
    #1
    Caduceus

    Caduceus [OP] Well-Known Member

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    After reading how a bunch of folks have added aux. lighting to the rear of the truck, i went to wally world and picked up their $19 4x3" lighting. Finally got it all installed and...

    After a minute, a wisp of smoke was coming off of them!!

    Anyone else with this problem?

    The wiring itself is cool, the lights are crazy hot. Didn't burst into flames, thank goodness, but as soon as I saw it I grabbed my extinguisher and watched a few more minutes. Of note, the truck was not moving at the time? The wiring is set through a 30A relay (battery to relay, the switch is the rear driver's side tail light red wire).

    I wiped the lights down, got off all the tape gunk I could find, but I'm seriously contemplating taking them right back in. I can't imagine that in real used I'd be in reverse more than 20 seconds, and this only happened after a minute or so. But still, I'm a bit worried when anything starts to smoke on the truck, y'know?
     
  2. Oct 17, 2010 at 2:15 AM
    #2
    WhatThePho?

    WhatThePho? Greg Graffin 2016

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    The things required to pull bitches
    did the smoke came off the light lens?
     
  3. Oct 17, 2010 at 8:45 AM
    #3
    Caduceus

    Caduceus [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Uh..... maybe.... ?

    they were on. It was 1AM. I was half blinded by them. But, it certainly looked like the top of the housing (then again, smoke rises, so who knows).
     
  4. Oct 17, 2010 at 11:01 AM
    #4
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Was the power fused? I know you said you used a 30A fuse but that may be too high for the lights. If something is wrong with the lights the fuse should go before the lights get that hot. I run PIAAs on my truck, they get really hot but never to the point where they're smoking. Double check your wiring, just in case, start with the easy stuff. End of the day, you could just have a bad set of lights...
     
  5. Oct 17, 2010 at 2:29 PM
    #5
    Caduceus

    Caduceus [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Actually, yeah it's fused. I initially pulled a 12 gauge wire off my battery for PIAA and Hella lights up front. That had an in-line fuse. When I tapped that line, my new cable also has an in-line fuse (10A both, I think). And like I said, the relay is a 30A/12VDC. I never had any issues with my PIAA or Hella, but I was usually driving.

    I'm thinking that maybe it's cuz I wasn't moving. Just lack of airflow that would normally help keep the temperature down, perhaps?
     
  6. Oct 17, 2010 at 2:43 PM
    #6
    WhatThePho?

    WhatThePho? Greg Graffin 2016

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    I have a set of lights mounted in the back as well, I've notice they get really hot and steam during a cold night. I've also cracked a pair of them because of how hot they get and splashing into a puddle.
     
  7. Oct 17, 2010 at 4:36 PM
    #7
    Caduceus

    Caduceus [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Cool - that's reassuring. It was probably high 50s by that time, so that may have been the problem. I guess I'll let them be - hopefully with short bursts it won't be an issue. Thanks!
     

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