i just got done puttin new lights on my truck, i added 4, i now have 8 forward facing lights without counting the headlights, i have a light in my toolbox also, and i have a light on my mirror for looking for bear tracks, this means i have 6 added switches, i think im ok as far as not starting a fire, everything has a fuse and one set has a relay, i got pics comin soon
my ? is that if i have those fuses it shouldnt start a fire should it

 

I hope those are all on relays so you don't have a lot of amperage going through the switches. Also, by using relays it will greatly increase switch life as well as keeping fire danger to a minimum and let you run small diameter wires into the cab which are easier to hide.

Put an ammeter on you battery cable with everything on, I bet you don't have a big enough alternator either.

This is just experience when we used to off road race......

 

Colorado Osprey, why the hell aren't you on rmftc.com yet?
Seriously, all your lights should be relayed! Even if the switch can handle that much power (which I doubt) it shouldn't have to, the risk of electrical problems leading to bigger problems are real when you start running that much voltage with just the switch alone.
FYI, I've got 9 forward facing lights, 2 rear facing lights, and everything is on switches with seperate relays, its really the only way to get it done right.


http://mattstruck.com/f150lights.html for more details.

 

yea, i know they should all be relayed, it wont take much to do it, i have a junkyard behind my house so i can take some relays out of old cars and add a few wires and ill be done
i also just found out that i will need a new alternator too, if i have just the 4 lights i just added the battery guage goes down when idling, it stays up fine when running down the road
what if i just run a power shut off switch that will kill all battery power to everything when turned off

 

hey does anyone know what these relays look like in cars from the 1980's???

 

Hey all - Been reading this thread and have a question. How do you wire a relay with a switch and how does a relay save switch life? Is there a common relay you buy for this from radio shack? This is probably a stupid question, but your help is appreciated.

 

a relay is something that only lets a small voltage to your switch, your lights or whatnot r still gettin the full 12 v from the battery but if u r not awar these cheep switches burn up pretty easy when they have 12 v throw them all the time and that creates a fire hazard
i ahve them on my fog lights (they r a kit) if i get time ill run out and copy the wiring

 

Great info, thanks. A wiring diagram and relay type would be great.

 

Most of my relays for my lights are either Radio Shack 30-amp relay's or Pilot Brand 30-amp relays. I like the pilots because they have two posts for the lights,s o I don't have to "merge" the wires prior to coming into the relay, just hook them up seperately. Typically from a relay you have four posts (or five, in the case of hte pilots), one is ground (everything electrical needs grounding, any metal surface on the interior, along the frame, or engine compartment should work - if its painted, scratch away the paint htere though), one will be to the switch (this wire activates the relay), one will be power (power goes through wire from the banttery to the relay) and finally the post to the lights itself. Picture a relay as a door that determines if electricity can pass through or not. It only needs a few watts coming from the switch to tell it to open the door, so you save your switches, and you guarantee the full power to your lights.

 

MATTADAMS

Is that a manik brushguard ,if so where did you get it and how much $ if not manik what kind?

Thanks

Maxxis

 

The brushguard in the picture is a Fabtech prerunner, here it is installed:


I've since replaced it with a Warn Trans4mer however.

 

Thanks for your help. I've added come accessory lights and never even knew about relays until now. Very helpful. Nice truck also.