Using a relay to reduce load?

I replaced the blinker/side marker lights in the ARB bumper for two led pods. Together all 4 lights pull 88 watts and are wired into the factory fog light harness. I would like to wire the lower led bar into the same switch so I only have to flip one, and I can save that space for another switch. This would obviously exceed the typical 110 watts the factory harness is rated to carry. I have read you can exceed this because the fuse is a 15 amp fuse, but I would rather just be safe than try and push the limits of wiring. My question is, can I run the lower led bar on a relay that is powered through my aux fuse panel, and is triggered by the positive lead on the pods?

In my mind this would take the load off the fog light harness wires and run it through its own 14g wire, from a fused source. I am no electrical expert so I would like to hear what some of y'all wiser folks have to say.

Thanks!

 

Sure you can run a relay. Truthfully could run them all off a relay and you would be mimicking the "Ultimate Fog Light Upgrade" found here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-foglight-upgrade-h11-not-led-or-hid.435419/ Depending on how much you really wanted to run off of one relay you probably wouldn't need the beefy 12g wired harness.

 

88 watts in a 12v system only equates to 8 amps rounded up. Which isn't too bad. I always run relays to keep the hot wires out of my cab and it's extra insurance.

 

Personally, I'd use the existing fog light wiring to trigger a relay to turn all those lights on.

 

True, that would reduce the whole load. I will probably do that instead. Thanks!

Totally agree.

 

Only use factory wiring to trigger relays. Burning up factory wiring is not a cheap endeavor.

Can I ask why running the light bar in that location aside from it being able to hit the fog at a lower height?

I have a bullbar and that area has just about smashed into everything I've ever climbed on. I don't see that lasting very long.

 

Yeah it’s tucked back in and on top of the bottom frame brace in there. I tested it in a sandy area and I can slide without hitting it, but if the rock was irregular in the right place, you are right it will smash the light. The light was on top of my bullbar but after I put the control pack on, it could no longer be mounted there. I plan to do 9” rounds on either side of the control pack and was just going to get rid of the bar. Before I gave it away though I thought I would try this and see if it works.

I also plan to build new front skids and was thinking maybe I would do a cut out in the skid with a mesh overlay so the light could shine through but be a bit more protected.

 

I have a Smitty and of course ARB's bracket is built exclusively for Warn solenoids. Not impressed. I mounted mine behind the bumper on part of the radiator support. You can reach up through the skid plate to switch it on and it's protected.

That freed up the space so I could mount some spots in front of the grille. It would be pretty tight like you said with that solenoid there.

 

You can use the factory ground for the fog lights btw.

 

@DG92071 when I use a 5 pin relay as you have drawn, I swap 87&30. That way 87a is not live when the relay is shut off.

 

87a is in the middle, unless a connector falls off nothing can touch it, a connector isn't going to fall off btw. You might need to see one that has wires on it to see what I mean. Alternatively you can always put a connector on any unused terminal (without a wire in the connector) to shield the terminal. But do as you please and have fun doing it. At least you're using your head.

 

Just got done wiring a relay box for my accessories. According to the diagrams I found, i put ground to 85. Same either way though, right?

 

I realize where 87a is located on the relay. Having had to repair more than one of my friends attempts to play electrician. Shit gets stuffed behind the dash board. It's amazing... uninsulated crimps... Shitty tape wraps... It's just easier to swap the terminals.

 

Correct, it's just a coil of wire, either end of the wire/coil can be + or - .

 

Actually, 90% of the time, it doesn’t matter. For the other 10%, your way is correct, and the other way is wrong.

Some Bosch style relays have a snubbing diode to prevent voltage spikes from damaging sensitive electronics. If you plug a relay with a diode, into a plug that is wired with 12v to the 85 terminal, you will let the magic smoke out.