Wiring Driving lights...

[SiggyManx#33]

I am getting ready to install two 35w driving lights on a new roof rack. The rack will on be on for select trips and I plan to have a quick wiring disconnect to un hook when taking the roof rack off.

Two questions:

Do I need to use a relay or can I wire directly off the battery with an inline fuse?

Is there a simple quick disconnect for a few wires that is weatherproof?

Thanks on advance,

[Dale M.]

Two 35 watt lamps equals about 6 amps draw at 12 volts.... No special wiring is really needed just a good quality switch ( maybe 10 amp rated).... Many types of connectors available... Something similar to 4 wire (flat ) trailer connector would work.. ( could even cut a 4 wire down to two wire) if you can not find two wire connector...



http://www.wholesalemarine.com/p/S-D-426880-1/Sea+...ocket.html

IF you use this type connector just be sure you wire it so the hot side (12 volt) in wired to female part of connector on battery/switch side so there is no bare pin exposed to short out if lights are unplugged and switch accidentally gets turned on...

Dale
_________________
Lives his life vicariously through his own self...
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.

All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[SiggyManx#33]

Great tip on the female! Thank you Dale.

So just run 12 guage from the battery? how big of fuse?

[Dale M.]

[SiggyManx#33]

Dale...I'm getting ready to wire these lights and I'd like to as a question or two.

I am wiring 4-35 watt lights on my rack with two switches.

Can I bring the power from the battery to the dash with #14 or #16 gauge wire and simple daisy chain power to both switches? What size fuse would I need inline?

Thanks

[Dale M.]

Suggest you use 14 gauge wire (always try go one gauge larger than calculated need - Less voltage drop), but 16 will probably do just fine... Calculated wattage/amperage ( for all 4 lamps) is 140w/11.6 amps... You can probably get away with a 15 amp fuse but leaves you will small safety margin but within parameters... And yes you can daisy chain them from fuse to switch to switch...

You may want to consider using two fusees one for each switch... If something "happens" to one set of lamps you don't lose all lamps if fuse blows...

Dale
_________________
Lives his life vicariously through his own self...
1970 "Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.

All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[BL3Manx]

Four separate 35 watt lights would be 11.6 amps total and 16ga. wire would be good up to 20 feet. However if by daisy chain you mean in series, you'll increase the resistance in the circuit which will reduce the amps flowing and brightness of your lights. In a series circuit, total resistance is equal to the sum of the separate resistors. In a parallel circuit, total resistance is equal to the value of a single resistor divided by the number of resistors.

I'm definitely not contradicting anything Dale says I'm just saying they need to be wired in parallel if you want full brightness.

[SiggyManx#33]

Thanks guys...appreciated.