How would one go about wiring up a single switch to control 5 roof mounted lights?

 

This is where I put the switch for my reverse lights this may work for you. It is easy to access the A pillar from that location also

 

find out how many AMPs all five lights draw... buy proper switch for that amperage. Then you can go out and find a "junction box" and tie the 5 lights into the junction box, then tie the junction box into the switch.

 

Dang. what I would like may not be possible then. I was hoping to be able to run the stock KC or similar switch since each pair of lights would have it's own relay. Would it not work if I spliced the "load" wired to one switch? Just thinking out loud without the wiring diagram in front of me.

 

Yeah that would work. i wasn't sure if you already had the switch or any relays. As long as each light is wired through a relay, you'll be good to go.

I noticed in your sig it says "Hi-Lift Jack mounted". Wondering where you mounted it and how ? Trying to come up with my own idea. Waiting til I get the tool box... was thinking just boltin up the clamps to the box itself.

 

I used the "4xrack" and mounted it to the back of the toolbox. "minimal" squeaking.

 

sweet, thats what i was planning on doin but just wasn't sure. That looks real nice. Thanks.

So where are these lights your running going to be mounted ? ?

 

Just ordered a Black Carr rota bar ( Carr Deluxe Rota Bar )for the set of 5. Just wired up the two on the brush guard tonight. I think 7 150W KC's aught to do me.

 

Don't get all 150w I got 1 set of 150's and to be honest the 130w I have use a different bulb type is a better and brighter light. 7 KC's will be major overkill on light and your electrical system. I'd get floods for the roof and long range for the guard like you have now. I love my setup but I had to offset the angles of my 150's. With all the lights going forward it was too much and was washing out my vision, basically a white out.

Far as wiring your roof lights you need to go to www.mcmaster.com and order a few high amp relays. You'll need at least 2- 70 Amp relays

#9672k36 and get the socket #8228K43

you'll want to wire the lights up using 14 gauge wire going to the bulbs and splicing them together into a 10 gauge blade connector. Look up #7243K17 and on that page are the males and females in various sizes.

Be sure to get some wire mesh sleeving and heatshrink from that site too. Then get any switch to trigger the relay. I use a heavy duty foot switch and I love it. if you need to know those numbers send me a PM I still have my order receipts with everything listed.

 

yeah, you will have to upgrade you electrical system by putting in a High Amp alternator and possiably looking into a dual battery set-up

 

There's no need for high-amp relays for 150-watt sealed-beams... You can easily run a pair of them with a 30A relay. Each pair will draw 25 watts, so the simple and readily-available 30A generic automotive relays they sell at any auto parts store work just fine.

I would also not run them off one single relay because the wiring size needed to carry 70A is way larger than I want to try and fish up to the roof. Plus, should a relay fail, or one fuse blow, you're in the dark. If you run them in pairs (or even independently), if one fails, they don't all fail.

I've only got one pair of daylighters on mine. For the 99% on-road use it sees, that's more than enough light for me. I still plan to install another pair eventually though.. I'm all wired for it, and have the lights, just no place to mount them at the moment.

-Joe

 

Oh, but to answer the original post, use the switch to trigger all the relays together. The standard 30A relays the lights come with only draw around 0.3A to trigger them, so you can easily run all of them off the smallest of switches. Mine are connected to a set of sub-mini toggles from Radio Shack.

-Joe

 

Sure you can run a pair on a 30 amp relay. Thing is, he's running multiple sets of light and I wouldn't want 6 pairs of wires running up the back of my window for 5 lights. I just soldered the lighter gauge wires to the heavier 10 gauge and then went to the relay. Using relay sockets I can change out relays in seconds and I always have spares. Front lights are independent from top lights so if one goes out no problems.

The higher amp relays are of better quality too made by Hella. I've had the cheaper relays fail several times.

 

I only ran three wires... the chassis ground works fine for me.

 

That's cause you only have 2 lights. JD, Jolly, and me are pushing over 8 lights and over 1000w of power.