Any reason not to tie light bar in with high beam switch (with an override to turn it off)?

I can't imagine a situation in which I would ever use my light bar without my high beams, so I have decided to use a relay and wire the switch in such a way that when it's off, the light bar is off, and when it's on, the light bar is controlled by my high/low beam switch. Can anyone think of a reason I would not want to do this? I really like the idea of having one control, the high/low beam stalk, to switch when I want to go from bright to not bright.

 

Yeah, like, if you are on-road and need your high beams and don't want to break the law or blind the living fuck out of oncoming traffic and cause them to crash.

Just a thought, consult your state laws. YMMV.

 

*Province. Sorry, eh.

 

I think he meant he wired it so he flips a switch, then the bar is activated by the high/low beams. If the switch is in the off position he can still activate high beams with no light bar.

 

why would you have high beams on if there is oncoming traffic?

i knew you were a dick, but smh dick, that's a dick move.

 

Have you never needed to flash oncoming traffic to warn them of cops / something on the road / problem with their vehicle?

How much harder is it to press a single switch to turn the bar on/off when you want it?

 

That is how I have my light bar wired. Switch off, light bar won't turn on. Switch on, light bar is turned on and off with the high beams.

 

i'm not saying i'd wire it to my highbeams, i'd do a seperate switch, but no i don't flash for cops because that is a ticketable offense.
if theres something on the road i normally pull over or put my hazards on.

 

If youll never use your bar without highs, and rarely use your highs, im assuming the extra switch will mostly be left in the on position. Otherwise, ud still have to flip one switch before flipping the stalk, still two switches. In the case of the bar switch being always on, what happens if you want to flash your highs to signal whatever youre trying to signal? Youll just momentarily throw a shit load of light on public roads a few times?

If you dont use ur highs ever on public roads then go for it, if you do then it just sounds like more trouble than its worth.

EDIT: forget all of the above if you have one of those 30 dollar lightbars

 

You may run into circumstances involving dust or rain/snow/fog where having maximum flexibility in the light you are using is beneficial based on the aiming, pattern and/or color temperature of the lights. Independent control is better.

 

OP should ask the OPP if its kosher

 

I thought I was clear about that in the initial post!

OK let me explain again.

• Light bar switch in off position, light bar is off, period.
• Light bar switch in on position, low beams on, light bar is off.
  
• Light bar switch in on position, high beams on, light bar is on.

I will use these predominantly in off road situations, and occasionally on road situations where it's very unlikely I will encounter an oncoming car. Wiring it this way, if I need to turn my light bar off quickly, I simply dim my lights and the light bar is off.

Yes, I know running the lights on public roads is illegal. So is speeding, and I do that, and so do most of you. So is crossing the street anywhere but a cross walk, and I do that daily, and I will bet most of you do. In some jurisdictions, including Ontario, it's illegal to replace most OEM parts with after market parts, so something as innocuous as putting on a performance exhaust or a lift is illegal. I am not a saint, but I am not an asshole either... I will use judgement when using these lights. The legality of using these lights on road is not what this post is about. Hell, to be completely legal, I should cover them when not off road, but I probably won't. This post was about whether or not anyone thinks there could be a reason why I would want to turn on just my light bar, and EDDO made the best pitch for that re flexibility due to weather/dust conditions... that's a good point... so I will likely wire in a 2 position switch... off, on, linked to high beams.

 

Don't worry OP, some people just get excited that its almost Friday and skim over what is written. What bar location are you using?
If you are talking overhead light bar:
Wiring in a 3 position (on-off-on) switch does allow for the flexibility to have the light bar on without headlights. However, I can't think of too many situations where having the light bar on and headlights off is the best combination. So, a aftermarket switch in a blank spot works best in my mind.
If you are talking in bumper bar:
Again, the 3 position switch will add flexibility. I'm not sure which combination will be best for dust/rain/snow/fog. This would be a good option if you have an amber bar or amber covers.

 

When I had my '09 there were many times I wished I had wired it to the high beams. I definitely had both on at the same time way more often than just one or the other.

So this time I think I'm wiring it to the high beams with an on/off override. Dust be damned.

 

Flashing your headlights constitutes free speech and you can't get ticketed for it. If you are ticketed, law enforcement will be breaking settled law.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...owed-to-warn-other-motorists-speed-traps.html

 

jht, i gotta point out, he is in Canada. Soooooooo.......

 

My bad, his member thing said Oregon, so I assumed that he lived there.

 

I meant the original poster, not the comment. my bad

 

JKCASHIN:

It's amazing how peoples emotions can take over a thread.

I'm in the same boat. Iv'e got a Cali bar headed my way and have been thinking about how to wire it–and it'll be done just like what you're talking about. I've already got a Mictuning switch installed left of the wheel. I've tapped into the green wire going into the cargo light switch to illuminate it when the lights are on. An add-a-circuit is on order to stick in the high-beam fuse (it's not hot until the high-beams are activated).

To answer your question; no, I can't see any reason to wire it in any other fashion.

As far as blinding oncoming drivers, I live in the middle of Idaho and there's very little vehicle traffic on the local highways day or night. However, I face tons of critter traffic at night. Mostly elk and deer with an occasional moose. The added LED is for my safety and theirs. Hitting a deer is one thing but a moose or elk could easily turn into a lethal event.

If there's an oncoming glow from around a hill or ridge, the high beams and the LED will be off. Simple as that. If I need to flash an oncoming driver for safety reasons like rocks or crossing game, it'll be my emergency lights.

SB

 

You'd have to cut into your factory wiring harness, that's the biggest reason not to do it really. Other then that it's not much different then just having the lightbar on a isolated switch, just don't be a dick and blind other people while driving.