LED Help Please!

[Harrison.zp]

I am currently working on my brother's 2001 4Runner and am in the process of mounting some LED Bars to his rack. I was presented with the challenge by his father, of the bars ONLY being able to be powered while the Vehicle is running. I'm not sure what I would need to do to make that happen. Does anyone have the solution?
Thanks`

 

[michaeljtomey]

I can't think of any specific location off the top of my head but what you would need to do is use a voltmeter to find a wire that is hot only when the car is on. For example, ignition wire, possibly headlights, cigarette lighter. If you can trace the lead wire on a cigarette lighter that only comes on with the car, you may be able to tap your light bar switch into that. Then the switch will be in parallel with your cigarette lighter at 12V. Test around with a multimeter. Good luck!

-before, question why he'd only want the bar on with the car.. I tend to use my bar without the car on all the time! Great work light [emoji1360]

 

[higgy]

Try the wiper circuit, power only when key is in the on position

 

[I_bRAD]

There's an intermittent power wire for the stereo, which you would use to energize a relay and turn on the lights.

Edit- just saw the power has to be when the car is running, not just "on"

Does a 4runner alternator have the "W" terminal?

 

[Mgyver1]

Try finding a wire that powers the DRLs as that system only works when the car is running.

 

[JeepKiller]

He probably only wants them on when the car is on because he doesn't want his son to turn on his lights and kill his battery.

 

[kevinpt]

i have mine wired so they only work if the markers/ headlights are on. just tap the switch power off any dash light around where you are mounting

 

[wcjeep]

Use a fuse tap to power a relay. On other vehicles I've used the seatbelt buzzer. It only receives power while the key is on. This draws an extremely low amount of power. It only powers the relay. The lights would actually receive power through the other side of the relay. You could put a switch in line with the seatbelt buzzer add on power. When the vehicle is turned off the lights would auto turn off regardless of switch position. This also eliminates high amperage from running through the switch.

They also make remote switch boxes that eliminate the need to run wires through the dash.


Autozone link

 

[KelOfTheRockies]

i have mine wired so they only work if the markers/ headlights are on. just tap the switch power off any dash light around where you are mounting

I would second this suggestion. I wouldn't want them on all the time the car is on. Just when I want to switch them on and doing that in tandem with the running lights makes sense to me.

JMTCW

- k -

 

[KelOfTheRockies]

Use a fuse tap to power a relay. On other vehicles I've used the seatbelt buzzer. It only receives power while the key is on. This draws an extremely low amount of power. It only powers the relay. The lights would actually receive power through the other side of the relay. You could put a switch in line with the seatbelt buzzer add on power. When the vehicle is turned off the lights would auto turn off regardless of switch position. This also eliminates high amperage from running through the switch.

They also make remote switch boxes that eliminate the need to run wires through the dash.


Autozone link

This is also an excellent idea, if you don't mind getting a bit deeper into the custom-wiring world.

- k -

 

[kevinpt]

I would second this suggestion. I wouldn't want them on all the time the car is on. Just when I want to switch them on and doing that in tandem with the running lights makes sense to me.

JMTCW

- k -

the great thing about doing it that way is when you lock the truck you can turn the lights off with the remote