Independent offroad lights

LonghornTaco · 10-17-2008, 09:02 PM

Ok, I'm trying to wire up my lights and I want to operate them independently of the headlights. I also want to be able to turn them on without the truck being on. Do I still have to run a wire to the headlights? I can't seem to get them to work...

I bought Hella 500FF lights.

tacomaman06 · 10-17-2008, 09:11 PM

nope...dont have to wire them to the head lights. 2 wires from the switch....one to hot on lights, one to positive on abttery, with a fusible link, then the ground on the lights, bring them to the ground on the battery. this is with no relay either. wired lights like this alot...never had any problems....just dnt forget to turn them off.

LonghornTaco · 10-17-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacomaman06

nope...dont have to wire them to the head lights. 2 wires from the switch....one to hot on lights, one to positive on abttery, with a fusible link, then the ground on the lights, bring them to the ground on the battery. this is with no relay either. wired lights like this alot...never had any problems....just dnt forget to turn them off.

Check out this link: http://www.hella.com/produktion/Hell.../FAQs/FAQs.jsp

Check out the Basic Wiring Diagram. This is what I have. I have run the wires like this (except the green one) and none of it is working...

tigerfan00 · 10-17-2008, 09:23 PM

you should have a hot wire off the battery to the switch (with a fuse somewhere)...then a ground from the switch and a hot wire from the switch to the lights...and both lights should be grounded

tigerfan00 · 10-17-2008, 09:25 PM

ive got 2 sets of aux lights wired up essentially the way i just described...no relays...the only difference is i tapped power from my fuse block with an add-a-fuse thingy for each one...i dunno if theres any open fuse slots on yours but thats how i did mine

tacomaman06 · 10-17-2008, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason_Wilkerson

Check out this link: http://www.hella.com/produktion/Hell.../FAQs/FAQs.jsp

Check out the Basic Wiring Diagram. This is what I have. I have run the wires like this (except the green one) and none of it is working...

why do HAVE to run the wires like that?? wire them like i said,without the relay, and they will work fine. you need to use a 15 amp fuse inline at the battery on the hot wire.

tigerfan00 · 10-17-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacomaman06

why do HAVE to run the wires like that?? wire them like i said,without the relay, and they will work fine. you need to use a 15 amp fuse inline at the battery on the hot wire.

i agree...delete the relay and run a basic wire setup like we just described and make sure you have good grounds...a bad ground could cause it to not work

LonghornTaco · 10-17-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacomaman06

why do HAVE to run the wires like that?? wire them like i said,without the relay, and they will work fine. you need to use a 15 amp fuse inline at the battery on the hot wire.

I wired it like that because they came with the relays. The line from the battery has a 15A fuse inline...

I'll see if I can wire it up like yours.

tacomaman06 · 10-17-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerfan00

i agree...delete the relay and run a basic wire setup like we just described and make sure you have good grounds...a bad ground could cause it to not work

yep........i dont ever deal with relays, and i have never had a problem.

tigerfan00 · 10-17-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason_Wilkerson

I wired it like that because they came with the relays. The line from the battery has a 15A fuse inline...

I'll see if I can wire it up like yours.

screw the relay...keep the fuse and you should be fine

tacomaman06 · 10-17-2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason_Wilkerson

I wired it like that because they came with the relays. The line from the battery has a 15A fuse inline...

I'll see if I can wire it up like yours.

its alot easier to skip the relay and do it as i described...thats for sure.

LonghornTaco · 10-17-2008, 09:28 PM

k - let me try it out. I had trouble with this LAST time I wired the lights on my Chevy...

tigerfan00 · 10-17-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacomaman06

yep........i dont ever deal with relays, and i have never had a problem.

ive never used a relay on any of my lights...in fact im still using the original wiring i put in when i put my first set of lights on the truck 3 years ago sans relay and have never had a problem...im on my 3rd set of lights (personal choice not because they went bad) plus ive run a set of aux reverse lights like that and my floorboard lights are run like that

LonghornTaco · 10-17-2008, 09:30 PM

Ok, so my switch has three prongs on the back. Does it matter which prong gets which wire?? I assume it does...

tacomaman06 · 10-17-2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason_Wilkerson

k - let me try it out. I had trouble with this LAST time I wired the lights on my Chevy...

nah...you'll get it this time. just take your time. be sure to ground the lights to the battery though.....dont go the easier route and ground them to the frame or a bolt or something.......that aint too great of an idea.

10-17-2008, 09:02 PM	#1
LonghornTaco Senior Member Joined: Oct 2008, #9763 Location: Minnesota Age: 32 Gender: Male Posts: 1,735 Black 09 4x4 TRD Off Road Doublecab 2009 Double Cab Automatic V6 3" ToyTec coilover lift on Bilstein 5100s, Total Chaos UCAs, ToyTec diff drop, Westin brush guard, 4 Hella 500FF lights mounted on brush guard, Scangauge II, 4D MagLite mounted on the drivers seat, Painted engine cover, Painted calipers (red), Painted skid plate (red) Valentine 1 radar detector hard wired, Damplifier Pro on the floor, back wall and doors, Luxury Liner Pro on the floor and doors, Kenwood DNX8120, A.R.E. LSII fiberglass tonneau cover, All Pro sliders, Wet Okole seat covers, Sockmonkey Mountain badges	Independent offroad lights Ok, I'm trying to wire up my lights and I want to operate them independently of the headlights. I also want to be able to turn them on without the truck being on. Do I still have to run a wire to the headlights? I can't seem to get them to work... I bought Hella 500FF lights. __________________ I'm just a Texan that got lost on the way to the grocery store and ended up in Minnesota... My Build Some Wheelin Pics

10-17-2008, 09:11 PM	#2
tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Redneck Division Joined: May 2007, #1475 Location: rock hill, sc Age: 29 Gender: Male Posts: 12,617 04 trd tacoma 4x4 v6 double cab 2004 Double Cab Automatic 3.4 v6 vent visors,deck plate mod, gray wire mod, black steelies and emblems, mag-lite mod, wheelers/ome suspension, stainless brake lines,blacked out bumpers(bedliner),dynomax super turbo muffler,cabelas mossy oak seat covers ans camo steering wheel cover....still to come.... afe pro dry s filter..........plus many,many more!!	nope...dont have to wire them to the head lights. 2 wires from the switch....one to hot on lights, one to positive on abttery, with a fusible link, then the ground on the lights, bring them to the ground on the battery. this is with no relay either. wired lights like this alot...never had any problems....just dnt forget to turn them off. __________________ i am WILL--my ride=04 tacoma trd 4x4 double cab, v6, auto,deck plate mod, grey wire mod, billy 5100's all the way around,black low-pro uws toolbox, black steelies,blacked out emblems, mag light mod,wheelers/alcan springs, ome 881 coils, braided stainless brake lines, polyurethane bushings,dynomax super turbo/slash cut tip-blacked out,chrome deleted bumpers via herculiner bed liner,color matched bedlinered tailgate, camo seat covers,sockmonkey decals,husky floor liners and still to come....15 inch wheelers steelies and gy wrangler mtr's!!! http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa269/tacomaman06/ signature by piercedtiger www.myspace.com/goodolboy1979

10-17-2008, 09:23 PM	#4
tigerfan00 „ƃoɟ ɹnoןǝʌ ǝɥʇ„ :ɐʞɐ Joined: Apr 2008, #5966 Location: South Carolina Age: 26 Gender: Guy Posts: 3,194 02 Skankyota 4x4 slightly modified 2002 Xtra Cab Automatic 3.4 V6 ARB front bumper, CBI rear bumper, SAW 2.0 coilovers, 3leaf AAL, Budbuilt Skids, Unbreakable Fab sliders, huge whip cb antenna, Trail Duty Inclinometer, Dog hair seat covers, deckplate mod, gray wire mod, rattle canned emblems, exhaust dumped at axle, 7T shackles on all corners, Hella 1000ff front fog lights, custom scratch and dent package, Carolina pinstriping package, G27 alarm system,	you should have a hot wire off the battery to the switch (with a fuse somewhere)...then a ground from the switch and a hot wire from the switch to the lights...and both lights should be grounded __________________ UNBREAKABLE FABRICATION http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/bui...00s-build.html http://www.myspace.com/shadanchek Dec 08 TOTM

10-17-2008, 09:25 PM	#5
tigerfan00 „ƃoɟ ɹnoןǝʌ ǝɥʇ„ :ɐʞɐ Joined: Apr 2008, #5966 Location: South Carolina Age: 26 Gender: Guy Posts: 3,194 02 Skankyota 4x4 slightly modified 2002 Xtra Cab Automatic 3.4 V6 ARB front bumper, CBI rear bumper, SAW 2.0 coilovers, 3leaf AAL, Budbuilt Skids, Unbreakable Fab sliders, huge whip cb antenna, Trail Duty Inclinometer, Dog hair seat covers, deckplate mod, gray wire mod, rattle canned emblems, exhaust dumped at axle, 7T shackles on all corners, Hella 1000ff front fog lights, custom scratch and dent package, Carolina pinstriping package, G27 alarm system,	ive got 2 sets of aux lights wired up essentially the way i just described...no relays...the only difference is i tapped power from my fuse block with an add-a-fuse thingy for each one...i dunno if theres any open fuse slots on yours but thats how i did mine __________________ UNBREAKABLE FABRICATION http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/bui...00s-build.html http://www.myspace.com/shadanchek Dec 08 TOTM

10-17-2008, 09:28 PM	#12
LonghornTaco Senior Member Joined: Oct 2008, #9763 Location: Minnesota Age: 32 Gender: Male Posts: 1,735 Black 09 4x4 TRD Off Road Doublecab 2009 Double Cab Automatic V6 3" ToyTec coilover lift on Bilstein 5100s, Total Chaos UCAs, ToyTec diff drop, Westin brush guard, 4 Hella 500FF lights mounted on brush guard, Scangauge II, 4D MagLite mounted on the drivers seat, Painted engine cover, Painted calipers (red), Painted skid plate (red) Valentine 1 radar detector hard wired, Damplifier Pro on the floor, back wall and doors, Luxury Liner Pro on the floor and doors, Kenwood DNX8120, A.R.E. LSII fiberglass tonneau cover, All Pro sliders, Wet Okole seat covers, Sockmonkey Mountain badges	k - let me try it out. I had trouble with this LAST time I wired the lights on my Chevy... __________________ I'm just a Texan that got lost on the way to the grocery store and ended up in Minnesota... My Build Some Wheelin Pics

10-17-2008, 09:30 PM	#14
LonghornTaco Senior Member Joined: Oct 2008, #9763 Location: Minnesota Age: 32 Gender: Male Posts: 1,735 Black 09 4x4 TRD Off Road Doublecab 2009 Double Cab Automatic V6 3" ToyTec coilover lift on Bilstein 5100s, Total Chaos UCAs, ToyTec diff drop, Westin brush guard, 4 Hella 500FF lights mounted on brush guard, Scangauge II, 4D MagLite mounted on the drivers seat, Painted engine cover, Painted calipers (red), Painted skid plate (red) Valentine 1 radar detector hard wired, Damplifier Pro on the floor, back wall and doors, Luxury Liner Pro on the floor and doors, Kenwood DNX8120, A.R.E. LSII fiberglass tonneau cover, All Pro sliders, Wet Okole seat covers, Sockmonkey Mountain badges	Ok, so my switch has three prongs on the back. Does it matter which prong gets which wire?? I assume it does... __________________ I'm just a Texan that got lost on the way to the grocery store and ended up in Minnesota... My Build Some Wheelin Pics