What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Nice. I've seen some led's under the bed rails on other trucks and it looks sweet so I thought I'd throw it out there. Might throw them above the floorboards and wire them to the dome light

 

Bed rails would be good. I put in a led Dome light..enough for me inside haha

 

Ha yeah I have all led's too but I gotta do something with these last two!

 

Bring them to Colorado when you come get your tires.

Then you can teach me about wiring stuff up.

 

Has anyone had any experience with LC Engineering turbo kits or supercharger kits?
The turbo kit for the 2.7 would be cool but smog in CA kills it

 

How much do I owe you

 

Went to drive home after work and got the P0031 code (bank 1 sensor, O2 sensor)

 

link your checking account to paypal and you just transfer the funds over.

 

Blackdawg! Here's your chance for Lesson #3: The Basics to Wiring

We're listening Mr. Frankenstein

 

i can teach you what ever ya want but alas..the lights..are in Powell..and im not going there till i stop and see you first..haha

That Dr. Frankenstein to you hahahaha

Well..whats the question?

 

Well, Frankenst-- DR. FRANKENSTEIN!

When it comes to relays, (my LightForce 240s/Rigid D2s) what exactly is that doing/what's the basic function, and why do they need them/how do they work? Why would my amplifier not have one?

 

relays are a switch basically. But like a safety switch.

So..let me try and explain this..probably have to draw a picture though..

what you have is 2 circuits in a relay. Lets call them A and B.

Circuit A: Is the one you run power too one post AND ground to the other. This is the side you put your rocker switch on to turn on the relay basically.

Circut B: is JUST power. This is the power from the battery and too whatever it is your powering(Lights, winch, whatever). It is always an Open Circuit(No power is running through it)

How the relay works is Circuit B is always off UNLESS Circuit A has electricity flowing through it. Why? Because inside the relay is an electromagnet coil. When you flip your switch on Circuit A, the Circuit is completed and electrons Flow from the ground through the relay and the switch to the power post of your battery. When the electricity goes through the realy..it charges the small electromagnet.

This electromagnet in turn flips small metal "fins" inside the relay which then allows electricity to flow through Circuit B.

So in a nut shell. When power is allowed through Circuit A via your switch in the cab, the electromagnet in the relay flips another switch inside it to allow power through the other side of it to your lights.

This is nice because it only takes like an amp or less to flip the electromagnet. Thus nothing super high powered is running through your switch in your cab to start a fire. (Circuit A)

All the big power(up to 5-25amps depending) runs through the other side of the relay(Circuit B) keeping it in the engine bay out of the cab. Thus safer.


I personally go a set further with safty and switch only ground on relays so no power is in my switches. But i don't want to confuse you.


Does that make sense?? Or do i have to draw something?

 

That makes sense. Ive had issues with a wiring set up without a relay. wire grounded itself and just about caught my truck on fire... time to add a relay to that light.

 

That made sense to me! I have not the slightest clue how to do wiring

 

THAT is why you should ALWAYS use a relay with lights. Because if your just running 10 amps(which btw..is a LOT..enough for BAD shit to happen..)through some cheap switch that is just on the power wire going to your lights..only takes a small rub through the insulation of that wire and boom...you have got an issue..yes you'll fuse it..good for you..that doesn't always work. It can be very dangerous. As you found out it sounds like haha

i have been there. That is also why i switch ground only now. Cause if my wires get ate through..the relay just turns on..that is..no arcing..no nothing..its just ground. Which is the whole truck. So its safer.

Glad it wasn't totally not understandable.

Sadly..a lot of people dont. You see a lot of bad wiring jobs..id say its one of the most common "bad" things people do in general to any vehicle.

But..never to late to learn

 

I definitely wanna how to do wiring and what not. That way I can do my own lights and maybe a winch one day

 

Yep made sense to me, a relay is essentially like a dam. Once the electromagnet is flipped then the power can then flow to your given item (lights/winch/etc.).

Anyone else have a question?
I could go all night but don't wanna completely show how noobish my wiring knowledge is

 

It has a fuse but it shorted before the fuse so it was useless. what do you mean by switch ground only?

 

Just do some reading.

and LEARN TO SOLDER!

Don't do the crap crimp stuff..soldering is much nicer, it'll hold better and work better and it looks nicer/more professional. It does take practice though.

Come in handy though for lights and such. And really a bunch of other cool projects you could DIY.

But yea. Get on it

thats a good metaphor! Yes its like a Dam..or a secondary gate. You have the basic concept though which is all that matter

just make sure you wire the right post to the right part and you'll be good.

Ill be here..well..like..all the time..so ask any time haha

 

i have no clue what you said, it's late and I'm tired...or just dumb Everything I've run so far I've used relays, but i had pictures

I'm about to wire my camper light up should i use one for that?