Help With LED Reverse Lights

I just wired up 2 Blitzpro 6LZ lights for extra light while reversing. They are replacing 2 55w lights. The lights are wired to a switch and relay, as well as getting power from the stock reverse lights. The stock reverse lights and switch are wired to the trigger on the relay. I am getting a constant 12 V to the hot plug on the relay. I am only getting 10.5 V at the power out of the relay. And at the lights, I am only getting 8.5 V. The lights do not seem as bright as they should be.

I guess my main question is why am I losing 3.5 V between the relay and lights. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

These aren't very bright.... hoping with a new relay they will be brighter. If not I think I am going to take out the switch circuit and just have them come on with the reverse lights

 

Did you test their output by quickly connecting them to your battery? Not sure if your relay could be faulty as well.

 

Yes and they were brighter. Wasn't completely dark when I did it but I could tell they were brighter than what I just posted. Im going to try a new relay tomorrow and see if I get a full 12 V at the lights.

 

Verify your relay connections. It is a common mistake to wire the trigger to pin 30 or 89.

Trigger and ground go to 86 and 87. Battery goes to 30, lights wire to 89. Insulate 89A, since it is hot when the relay is open.

 

I did check that, as the lights did not come on when I first hooked them up. Replugged the relay and got the lights to come on, but not with full voltage. Is it possible to have a crappy relay or are they either work or dont work ? And will heat shrinking that blade on the relay work for insulation?

 

Normally they either work or not. I might suspect a bad ground, but if you are checking voltage with a meter to a secondary ground point, then a bad ground would actually read a higher voltage.

If the relay is older, I suppose the contacts may be burned and the carbon would add some resistance.

Heat shrink is fine for insulating the 5th blade.

 

The relay is about a year and a half old (losing 1.5 volts between pin 30 & 89) and I will try and run a new ground to the spot where the lights are grounded in the morning. Thanks for the advice!

 

What voltage to you have on 89a when the coil is de-energized?

 

Honestly dont know. I will check in the AM. Relay is behind driver tail light, too much work this late
Should be 12 yes?

 

Should be.

If not, then the problem is on the battery side of the relay, or internal on pin 30. 89a runs on a contact on the opposite side of the finger so it should be "fresh".

 

Makes sense. I have a relay used for my front KCs. I will try to swap it in tomorrow and see if that changes anything. Thanks again for the trouble shooting!

 

Had the relay hooked up wrong

Good to go now!

 

Two things:
How do you hook it up correctly? In case others will search and find this thread

Post some updated pics!!!!