The Lair

What meet up you talking about?

What flavor?!

 

Any of you guys pretty good with electricity as far as ditch lights/light bars?

 

Eating a bacon cheeseburger pizza as we speak...lol

 

Charlotte area meet up tomorrow at the Carolina Ale House. No wheeling involved.

 

Half cheese half pepperoni, baby likes the cheese lol

The dank!!!

 

Yep, I am!

Still a lot of fun to meet up and grab a beer!

Mmmm, that still sounds awesome.

 

Got some ditch light headed my way. They are 18W each so they should only pull about 3amps total. Would I be alright with just an inline fuse and no relay since it's only pulling that little bit of power or should I use a relay? The relay seems like it complicates the whole process of wiring but I could probably figure it out if needed. Plan to use about a 14AWG wire for everything.

 

Depends on what switch you use. I had a rocker style switch that was a simple on/off for my old ditch lights, and I didn't run a relay. If you're using an OE style push switch, then I'd probably run a relay out of safety. All depends what the switch is rated for.

EDIT: Aside from that, a basic relay isn't too hard to figure out. Once the concept of how it worked clicked in my head, it was so obviously simple to me. Just took me awhile to grasp it.

 

$24 CH4X4 Push Switch for Toyota Tacoma 12V 3Amp - Ditch Lights Symbol - White LED

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y4DVFBS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got these. I like the push button style to stay as close to OEM as possible. Probably should've saved some money and got a regular rocker switch without the labels but oh well.

 

It looks like that's only rated for 3A which is right what you're at. I would wire in a relay then because you may go over 3A at times, and you'd be pushing the limit. If you like, I can help walk you through how to wire it in. I promise that it really is simple.

 

I might just get a 20A rocker switch and send those back so I can just run an inline fuse and be done with it. Will definitely put a relay on my light bar circuit when I get that so I will get with you and get a step by step.

 

Actually on second thought I would like to know. I will just stick with what I bought. Always down to learn something.

 

A relay is essentially a switch that is operated electrically rather than mechanically (think like a light switch). The power wants to flow directly from the battery to the ditch lights, but needs a small trigger to do so. That small trigger is what your switch will provide. Make sense?

 

If you're still a little lost, this is a decent video. Ignore the second half about the double throw relay. The first one is what you'll use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmuUIGTz74k

 

I think I get it. So I just connect two wires coming out of the 87 to each ditch light? I will also need a ground for each light, correct?

 

Blah! I am two hours in to my shift a d then on call until 8 am tomorrow.

 

Yeah! There are many ways to skin a cat on that one. I just run a single wire from the relay to the first ditch light, and then piggy back a second one in a connector, exactly like in this picture. You can ground the lights wherever.

 

Damn, that's rough!

 

Might take that idea. That looks clean as shit and doesn't look too hard.