Lighting Help Please

[HI_LIFE808]

PIAA Lighting Help Please

I am going to install some PIAA 40's on my runner and I want to be able to turn them on without the headlamps being on. Where do I hook the switch power cable to?

Here is the link to the instructions:
http://www.rddesign.net/FJ/PIAAInstall.pdf

 

[criera]

Your link is dead but here is a great writeup. On mine i have a couple relays behind the driver kick panel which i think cut down on wiring. for the switch trigger you can tap an accessory circuit like your cig lighter or whatever is close so they are on when you want them. An "add a fuse" right up to the fuse box would be pretty clean.

Edit: and the link. http://m.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=75274

 

[HI_LIFE808]

Here is a pic. Im talking about the switch power wire (#2).

<a href="http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee515/HI_LIFE1/?action=view&current=IMAG0249.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee515/HI_LIFE1/IMAG0249.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[criera]

Im not famliar with piaa lighting but im assuming ( you should independently verify) but im assuming that like in the writeup i referenced, The #2 wire is basically the power that arms the switch, it doesnt power the lights. So if you tapped into a circuit like your cigarette lighter, the switch would be operable when and only when your ignition is on. Instead of tapping into a wire with that connector they gave you, you cKould preserve the factory wiring by adding an "add a fuse" into a circuit on your fuse box that only comes on with ignition, like radio or turn sgnals or something. If you are going to be doing any kind of wiring going forward i suggest buying a multi-meter so you can test your circuits. In the case of the recomendations you provided they are probably suggesting you tap into your headlight circuit so that the light switch would only be operable when the headlight circuit is energized. You would test this on a multi meter by grounding the black probe and using the red probe on wire in question. When you turned headlights on you would see the reading jump from 0 volts +/- to 12 volts +/-.

That make sense?

 

[criera]

Here is the add a fuse i was talking about. You just unplug a fuse, plug that fuse into this, add another fuse to this (i would think a 1 or 2 amp fuse would be plenty (for the switch power)) slip in your switch power wire, crimp it and youre good to go. CAUTION, this does not replace the need for a fuse between your batery and your relay. Make sure your battery is disconnected when youre doing all this. Ive seen the add a fuse things at local auto parts stores. Ymmv.

Bussmann BP/HHH ATM Add-A-Fuse:Amazon:Automotive

 

[Elton H]

just get a fuse tap and hook it up to the fuse box inside

 

[HI_LIFE808]

Thanks for the help fellas. The diagram doesn't show it but it has a fuse in-line. I don't want to mess anything up so I'm a little sketched out on hooking up that power cord.

 

[darkie3495]

Thanks for the help fellas. The diagram doesn't show it but it has a fuse in-line. I don't want to mess anything up so I'm a little sketched out on hooking up that power cord.

The fuse tap they are referring to is separate than the in-line fuse for the power cable included with the kit. The link that criera provided is sometimes called a piggy-back fuse holder. it allows you to tap into a fuse in your in cabin fuse block under your dash to supply power to an external source (i.e. switch) when you turn your key to ACC.