Running light wiring

[Randomrunner12]

Hey yall,

Any one out there have good experience with Electrical installs?

I am wondering if i can take a 30amp relay and use it to wire in some running lights to the truck in a way that they come on with my lights on auto but I could also wire them to a relay strobe harness that I have for when i am towing in bad weather/ stopped on the side of the road?

Any one have any suggestions.

 

[mwilson]

I can figure it out for you, but will be tonight before I can ponder it. No switches needed correct???

But yes you can do it with just the relay....

Are the lights incandescent or LED??

 

[Randomrunner12]

They'll be led, no switch really need as the strobe harness has a key fob to turn it on/off/strobe1/strobe2.

Trying to figure best way to wire it all in.

And thank you!!!!! In advance. I'm in no major rush as it's always either cold or rainy here in DFW and not giving me much time to work.

 

[Wiredawg]

I've had good luck with mine... used LEDs and tapped into rear running LEDs. if using incandescents you probably need the relay.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Randomrunner12]

What LEDs did you use on the freeway not valance and the sides?

I have Amber diodes that are just the light and 2 wires and have to drill all my holes and mount then in place.

 

[mwilson]

He is going to have them either come on with the truck running lights or have them come on when he activates his strobe circuit so he will need a relay controlling the add-on lighting....if I understand his question correctly...

 

[Randomrunner12]

That is correct and that is the desire.

Powered on with headlight circuit but also controllable by strobe light harness and fob. This way I don't have to turn on the running lights all the time lol.

 

[Wiredawg]

Add the relay if you want, but the LEDs don't draw enough current to warrant a separate circuit. I have five 6LED fixtures on the front valance, five 6LED fixtures each side above the cab side steps, and four 6LED lift fixtures added to single tap running lights.

Ron

 

[Randomrunner12]

That's what I plan on doing. Without a relay I can't add them to the system and have them controlled in different ways.

Just wanted Input on if someone had a suggestion on how to do it.

Where did you get your LEDs fixtures from.

 

[Wiredawg]

Found them on Ebay. Amazon is a good source too. I ran wiring through frame supports and protected with small split plastic sheath.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Randomrunner12]

Ok thanks. I'll check it out.

 

[Wiredawg]

Another suggestion: If mounting lights on the bottom seam at the side of the cab, recommend attaching light fixtures with 3M double sided tape. Clean the metal and backs of the light mounts well with rubbing alcohol. Has held great on this truck in the heat and cold for over a year. I had drilled previous trucks but decided no to on this one. I ran ground and power wiring to rear rail light wires and soldered them there and at each fixture then used heat shrink. No grounds are thru the frame. I did screw to the front valance though.

Feel free to ask

 

[Ozymandias]

Instead of a relay circuit you could also go with two Diodes, one in each feed line to the running lights.
For just Leds they are strong enough.

 

[Randomrunner12]

Thanks wiredawg and ozymandias for the tips and suggestions.

I'm still gonna play around with it a bit. I'm still open to ideas and more suggestions from anyone .

 

[mwilson]

No time last night for any deep thought...how do you plan to power the additional lights??

I have a couple different ideas...

 

[Randomrunner12]

Well I was hoping to run Power from the headlights circuit to the relay 30/51, then Feed the running lights from relay 87, ground relay at 85, then use 86 for a separate switch for the lights. And then try to use 87a for the strobe light harness part.

 

[Randomrunner12]

If that can't be done I'll just wire all my cab lights, running lights to the strobe harness and put the switch in the cab and just turn them on off when I want and use the fob to active the strobe function.