Need some input!

[El Jefe]

I need to pull 12 volts from inside the truck to run my aftermarket fog/driving lights; Preferraby a powersource that shuts down with the rest of the power when I shut down or lock the truck. Any suggestions??

Andy

 

[BLK_LBL]

depends on how you wire it.. if you're looking to supply the lights with power by tapping off another source, you're going to have issues blowing the fuse because the circut will be overloaded.

Relays will be your friend. the relay allows a lower power source to run a higher power source (to put it in laymans)

I would let someone that knows what they are doing wire the lights for you.. if you DIY and mess up, you could even end up setting your own rig on fire.

 

[BLK_LBL]

....oh, and to answer your question, I would use an ign wire, that way its hot when the key is turned on, and off when the key is off. it depends on where you are wiring, but there is a ign wire on the back of your stereo for example

 

[El Jefe]

depends on how you wire it.. if you're looking to supply the lights with power by tapping off another source, you're going to have issues blowing the fuse because the circut will be overloaded.

Relays will be your friend. the relay allows a lower power source to run a higher power source (to put it in laymans)

I would let someone that knows what they are doing wire the lights for you.. if you DIY and mess up, you could even end up setting your own rig on fire.

Thanks for that, I am an an electronics technician going on 27 years now. I noted that some here have access to wiring diagrams and could likely tell me. I do not. Thus the question. You make a good point so rather than do it blindly I thought I would ask.

I noted that there are "spare" plugs under the center console. Noth sure what those are for. Any Ideas? My initial thought was that they were for the seat heaters (which I do not have but the circuit is live) can someone confirm what the 3 blanks in the center console are for? seat heaters and?????

Andy

 

[G.I.G.]

You could possibly use the cigarette lighter/auxilary power from inside, but it might be easier to splice into your headlights or foglights from the engine bay fuse box. That way you wouldn't have to run any wires to/from your center console if you don't have to.

Just curious, but where are you planning on mounting the switch for the auxiliary lights? That might also determine the best place to pull power from.

I am an an electronics technician going on 27 years now.

I didn't think Chiefs in the Navy actually worked, I thought they just stupidvised. Just kidding. I'm a former Avionics Technician 2nd Class (Coast Guard) so I had to get that in there. : Thanks for your service, Senior!

 

[G.I.G.]

Also, below is the link to the writeup I used to wire my PIAA off-road lights. Since I only use the lights occasionally, I pulled power from the battery straight to the PIAA relay so I can use them when the ignition is off. I used the OEM Tacoma fog light switch as well which gives it a very clean, stock look which also works well if you want to be able to switch your auxiliary lights on and off independently.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=185126#post185126

Best of luck. :cheers:

 

[manhunter]

Most after market fog lights come with wiring harnesses, relays, etc...., all that you need to wire it up. I had never done anything like that in my life, and I was able to figure it out. Mine is run from the battery to a relay, from the relay to the lights, and from the relay to the off/on switch, which I mounted inside on the left side of the steering wheel near the CDL button. All the parts needed came with the kit.

 

[El Jefe]

You could possibly use the cigarette lighter/auxilary power from inside, but it might be easier to splice into your headlights or foglights from the engine bay fuse box. That way you wouldn't have to run any wires to/from your center console if you don't have to.

Just curious, but where are you planning on mounting the switch for the auxiliary lights? That might also determine the best place to pull power from.



I didn't think Chiefs in the Navy actually worked, I thought they just stupidvised. Just kidding. I'm a former Avionics Technician 2nd Class (Coast Guard) so I had to get that in there. : Thanks for your service, Senior!

Hmmmm Well as An Avionics Electronics Tech Myself we have had much of the same training. As my youngest son and my Son in law are both Coasties I will let that last one slide puddle pirate.... :frisky:

I ran the switch into my center console but I do not like the small guage wire it is attached to. It looks to be the seat heater connection which is a 30 amp connection, But there is a place for a 3rd switch so I want to know what else would possible go in there (as it may not have the same current draw). At the moment it shuts down with everything else I would just be more comfortable with a larger awg wire, and knowing for sure what it is hooked into. Andy

 

[El Jefe]

Well I decided to go and buy the relay (since it did not come with one) ( Thanks Manhunter)and do the lighting right. My criteria...... I want to be able to turn the driving lights on regardless of high beam or low beam etc. I want them to shut down automatically with the rest of the power so should I forget to turn them off (like I did this morning) I will not drain the battery. I already had the Tacoma foglight switch and I installed it in the center console. I decided that since the wires IN the center console were not to my liking that I needed to pick off the 12 volts from the fuse panel (there were 2 open 30 amp circuits available) so I picked the 12 volts off there ran it through a 20 amp inline fuse all the way to the switch. I ran the switched 12 volts to one side of the relay (pin 30) and then I ran the load (fog/driving lights) to pin 87 (once the relay is activated it would pass the 12 volts on to the fog/driving lamps) I ran the ground to pin 86 and then I picked off 12 volts from my parking lamps and ran that to pin 85 on the relay.
This way the relay is activated the minute I turn on my parking lights and shuts down the circuit when the lights are switched off.
I can turn the lights on and off with the Tacoma switch as well while driving. I think I am going to add a red LED that will indicate when the lights are activated/deactivated (2 dollars at radio Shack http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062548 make the install look clean and neat. (I will pick these up tomorrow)

While I may not always use these particular lights I will always want a pair there SO may as well have the wiring in place.

Andy

 

[crawlerjunkie]

Find yourself a C.M. give a fifth of beam and git-er-done!

 

[manhunter]

Good job. Sounds like you are the one that should be giving advice though.