One last wiring question

[JCasper]

I am getting ready to wire these up, but it looks like I need to pick up a few more wire connectors to get it hooked up properly.



I was going to mount the relay under the hood, is this o. k. or should it be in the cab?



On the relay there is a ground, power in, power out, and the line from the switch. That much I think I understand.



Now on the switch there is a ground, one wire that goes to the relay and one more I assume is power in. Where does that power need to come from? Is that where I would tie into a power wire so that the lights only work if they are getting power from that source? I thought about wiring them with my parking lights so that I don't have to worry about leaving them on. If that is correct is there a good place to tie into a wire that has power with the running lights under the dash so I don't have to run a long wire.



Thank you, everyone has been so helpful. I like to keep everything as clean and neat as possible so I hopefully don't have any problems later on.



Thanks, Joe

 

[SRadke]

Heck, your confusing me!!!



A relay is essentially two circuts. First is the high amperage circut. This wire will run from your power source to your relay, then from your relay to the lights, then to ground.



Second is the activation power. This power will run from your low amperage source (if you're using a switch you'll probbaly use the same source) to your switch, then from the switch to a ground.



If your switch has 3 prongs and it's only a two position switch that's because it's a lighted switch. You only need to ground the third prong if you want the light in the switch to work, otherwise, don't worry about it.



As for the relay, under the hood wil be fine.



-Scott

 

[gitchesum]

Mounting the relay under the hood is fine. I've run them there for years with no problems.



Tapping a wire for the parking lights would work.



Power from parking lights wire, through the new switch, then on to the relay.

 

[JCasper]

Thank you for the responses.



Sorry if my questions were a little confusing. We have a newborn at home, we are not getting a whole lot of sleep lately.



Thanks, Joe

 

[ramtifosi]

Joe,



If you are using a Bosch relay (they are labeled at connections 30 85 86 87 87a) here some wiring diagrams you should find useful.



http://www.partsexpress.com/pdf/500-001.pdf



85 and 86 are the trigger set (parking light + source and ground)

30 probably you want to use the + side of the battery

87 for the new lights



Hope this helps

 

[CarlJensen]

What I did on mine was go to Radio Shack and get what is called a "job box", they come in various sizes. These are sealed plastic boxes with screw down lids that electronics builders use. I bought a set of relays and mounted them in job box so I have a coupls of spares allready wired for future use. Then I mounted a covered fuse panel on top of the box. Nice neat install and if I need a relay that is fused I have it right there.

 

[R-N-R]

I picked up a box from Napa for exterior use due to the weather seal and the built in connection bar, however it was considerable more expensive than the typical project box.

 

[JCasper]

Thanks for everyones help I will try and get some time to work on these today or tomorrow.



Do I need a fuse with a relay or does that take care of it?



Thank you



Joe

 

[R-N-R]

I would use an inline fuse on your power lead, the fuse is cheaper to replace than the relay.

 

[SRadke]

Fuse it right at the power source.

 

[JCasper]

Thanks Everyone

Thank you all for your help. I got my lights all wired up and they work great. The only thing I have left to do is to change my power source that goes to the switch. I am planning on just finding a fuse in the box that only has power with the running lights on so I don't have to worry about leaving them on.



Thanks again everything worked great. Gotta love the TDR



Joe

 

[SRadke]

There is a fuse in the box that does that. There is also a plug behind the passenger side A-pillar where the factory plugs in the cab clearance lights. If you don't have clearance lights you could get thet power there.



-Scott

 

[JCasper]

Thanks, That would be a good spot. Maybe I will just wait until I add gauges and then tap into it.



Thanks, Joe

 

[SRadke]

That would work too but if you use that wire for the gauge lighting they will not dim with the dash cluster.

 

[JCasper]

I was not planning on using it to light the gauges, I just don't feel like taking that apart until I get ready to do my gauges. Probably sometime this summer.