Switched power for led light bar

I just installed a light bar and I'd like to run the red power wire to a switched source under the hood. Anyone have suggestions? I dont want to run it off the battery.

 

It's highly suggested that you use a relay and run it from the battery. Unless it's a little light bar that draws hardly any power. I would still either way. Reason being you don't want to put increased stress on the circuit you're tapping into. Not only that, the circuit might not be able to handle the extra current. Possibly blowing a fuse, or experiencing flicker, or worse. You really should run a relay, and use the activation pin to tap into whatever you want it switched from under the hood such as the high beam circuit. If you do decide to tap into a factory circuit, make sure you include an inline fuse, preferably an "add a circuit". But even that might not work, as that would disable the factory circuits fuse first I think. I may be wrong on that one though.

 

Don't know. I'd have to first do a 'Search' under Lighting to find the answer.

 

Thanks, I did run a relay. I'm just wondering if there is a free dedicated circuit in the fuse box or some other place.

 

I'm still confused. You said you wanted to run the power wire to the fuse box? Did you mean the activation wire? I don't think there's a dedicated "blank" power source to be used in any vehicle for accessories. You want to run the power wire to the battery from the relay, then run the activation wire to whatever circuit you want such as the high beams. I wouldn't run the power to anything but the battery. Again even if there is a blank, it probly isn't rated to handle the requirements of the light. Not worth the risk. Unless you mean you don't want it to have power to the relay when the truck is off. And powered with the ignition on but not on till you hit the toggle switch if you're using one. Idk. But it sounds like you're looking for an extra circuit when there is none. You want an "add-a-circuit". It plugs into an existing circuit in the fuse box, has an extra fuse built in with another power wire coming out. Google that