Help Wiring Auxillary Light Relays For Beginner

[reelamin]

All, I have searched this for the last two weeks. I have found everything talking about and around what I need. I think I have it pretty well figured out overall on using a relay. It is not so easy to understand drawn out diagrams, and verbal instructions (multiple different terminology used for same thing) for us tactile learners.

I understand how to wire in the relay with a switch or other single low amperage electrical current activating the relay.

I am still confused and need some help in one area. I want to wire some aux. lights to operate only when and if my High Beam Headlight is on (set 1), and a different sex of aux lights when Low Beam Headlight is on (set 2). What I want is for the lights to be only allowed on with a toggle switch and when the appropriate headlights are on.

Can I run a wire from the headlight source (High/Low Beam) to the relay, and a second wire from the switch to the relay? That way both sources (Headlight/Switch) must be providing current to the relay for it to turn the auxiliary lights on. If I can what kind of relay do I need, and a specific model would be appreciated. (Sealed is needed) Also what post would the headlight and switch power source be ran to?

OR??????

Do I have to run the headlight source wire to the switch first, and then from the switch back to the relay to trigger the relay to activate? This way of wiring it requires me to run two wires a much further distance and is messier. I know what kind/model of relay I need for this set up.

 

[CSix]

May want to look at performing that at the switch level. The switches from aironboard.com are aux light switches. They have a wire, in addition to the power wire, that supposed to come from a tap to (example the high beams) so the switch will only operate when the highs are on. I guess you could so them from a tap to the low beams too. Or, in the case of a compressor, any 12v source.

Other switches may work the same way too. Some wiring harnesses also have a tap to the high beams (like some IPFs i've used) so they only come on with the highs... or, not come on with the low beams.

 

[reelamin]

May want to look at performing that at the switch level. The switches from aironboard.com are aux light switches. They have a wire, in addition to the power wire, that supposed to come from a tap to (example the high beams) so the switch will only operate when the highs are on. I guess you could so them from a tap to the low beams too. Or, in the case of a compressor, any 12v source.

Other switches may work the same way too. Some wiring harnesses also have a tap to the high beams (like some IPFs i've used) so they only come on with the highs... or, not come on with the low beams.

I understand this method but I am wanting to know if I can run two different "signal" power sources to the relay.

 

[iBison]

I think what you want to do is hook up a relay for your off road lights. Then use the power lead to the headlight or high beam to feed that relay, but with a switch inline. So you can turn the off road lights on if and only if the headlight or high beams are on.

 

[reelamin]

I think what you want to do is hook up a relay for your off road lights. Then use the power lead to the headlight or high beam to feed that relay, but with a switch inline. So you can turn the off road lights on if and only if the headlight or high beams are on.

Thanks for the help....this is the first scenario I tried my best to explain. You are correct in what I want...but I want to require two relay "trips" instead of one One from the light and one from the switch.

Yours is actually one of the better diagrams and easy to understand for a single "signal" power source to the relay. A great diagram for anyone if I can easily understand it. This set up uses 4 of the available 5 prongs on a "Bosch" style relay.

I am trying to find out if it is possible run the "green" wire directly to the relay, and a second "green" wire from the switch. I intend to have all the switches "green wires" fed off from the same fuse block power source.

The whole purpose of my quest is to reduce the number of wires going through the firewall. With the shown diagram I will have two wires running through the firewall instead of one. Now if I could find a low and high beam power source under the dash..this entire question is moot and I will use a wire set up like you showed.

 

[iBison]

I think this is about as simple as you can get with this. You can pick up a trigger from the headlights or high beams under the dash, you're headlight switch is inside after all. I don't know what wire you would need, but you'd run that to the switch and run one wire from the switch to the relay in the engine compartment.

Think of it like the image I shopped below. The brown wire indicates the firewall and you would only run the "yellow" wire through it. Of course if you are wiring two sets of lights like this one on headlights and one on high beams you would have to run two.

 

[reelamin]

I think this is about as simple as you can get with this. You can pick up a trigger from the headlights or high beams under the dash, you're headlight switch is inside after all. I don't know what wire you would need, but you'd run that to the switch and run one wire from the switch to the relay in the engine compartment.

Think of it like the image I shopped below. The brown wire indicates the firewall and you would only run the "yellow" wire through it. Of course if you are wiring two sets of lights like this one on headlights and one on high beams you would have to run two.

I could not agree more thanks again.

I'm holding out for a solid "yes or no" on my want of two different "Trigger" sources for the relay. I hope to have the bumper ordered by next week, and I will have another 3-4 months to have it totally figured out.
I have the Blue Sea 12 fuse block already mounted and waiting. Installing the breaker and hard wiring power and ground to it tonight. Also drilling a hole in the firewall for the Daystar firewall boot tonight.

So many things to do and so little funds to do it with!!

 

[iBison]

I could not agree more thanks again.

I'm holding out for a solid "yes or no" on my want of two different "Trigger" sources for the relay. I hope to have the bumper ordered by next week, and I will have another 3-4 months to have it totally figured out.
I have the Blue Sea 12 fuse block already mounted and waiting. Installing the breaker and hard wiring power and ground to it tonight. Also drilling a hole in the firewall for the Daystar firewall boot tonight.

So many things to do and so little funds to do it with!!

Not sure I understand what you mean here. "my want of two different "Trigger" sources for the relay."

 

[iBison]

What program are you using to make your drawings?:jaw:

The first one is just one I got online, the second I photoshopped the first one.