Which wire to tap? (driving lights).

[justanie]

Hi guys, I have a 96 limited, I am in the process of installing driving lights.

Does anyone know which wire to tap into for them to work with the high beams and where its located. I have daytime running lights, i think that makes a difference.

I've tried searching for the answer to no avail.

Cheers.

 

[004Gunner]

Hi guys, I have a 96 limited, I am in the process of installing driving lights.

Does anyone know which wire to tap into for them to work with the high beams and where its located. I have daytime running lights, i think that makes a difference.

I've tried searching for the answer to no avail.

Cheers.

I wouldn't recommend tapping into anything for power if that's what your talking about. It would be better to power the lights directly off the battery with an in-line fuse and switch installed. You could hook up a relay for more switching options and control too

 

[thorridder]

yeah from an electronic stand point, thats that much less power the lights may not be getting and there for may not do any good

 

[cosmos7]

I just installed Hella 500s last night. I wouldn't recommend tapping into the highbeams either. I wanted the ability to switch them on whenever I wanted, but still turn off when I turn the car off.

I used the Hella wiring (pretty small gauge IMO) including relay, and ran the relay wire back through the firewall to a Daystar switch in the dash. The switch (and thus the relay) is powered from an Add-A-Circuit I plugged into the dash accessory fuse panel... thus killing the lights at shutoff.

 

[mysticz]

I just installed Hella 500s last night. I wouldn't recommend tapping into the highbeams either. I wanted the ability to switch them on whenever I wanted, but still turn off when I turn the car off.

I used the Hella wiring (pretty small gauge IMO) including relay, and ran the relay wire back through the firewall to a Daystar switch in the dash. The switch (and thus the relay) is powered from an Add-A-Circuit I plugged into the dash accessory fuse panel... thus killing the lights at shutoff.

Question, you used a daystar switch right?

How did you run the wires?

1. power in to fuse acc?
2. power out to yellow wire from relay?
3. light ground to ground wire?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Ian97]

I've got two kc lights on the front of my 4runner and I tapped into the high beam wire, not for the power supply itself, but to let the relay/switch know to turn the lights on. I have a separate power wire to actually power the lights. Its great because I only need the extra lights when driving on long stretches of highway without oncoming cars, all I have to do is turn off the brights, the extra lights go off.....when the cars pass, back on with the brights and the extra lights....

In order to find the high beam wire, I'd just take a multimeter and check for power when your high beams are on.

-Ian

 

[brian2sun]

I've got two kc lights on the front of my 4runner and I tapped into the high beam wire, not for the power supply itself, but to let the relay/switch know to turn the lights on. I have a separate power wire to actually power the lights. Its great because I only need the extra lights when driving on long stretches of highway without oncoming cars, all I have to do is turn off the brights, the extra lights go off.....when the cars pass, back on with the brights and the extra lights....

In order to find the high beam wire, I'd just take a multimeter and check for power when your high beams are on.

-Ian

Exactly^^. You don't power the lights from the hi-beam tap, you power the relay from the tap and then run the power for the lights straight to the battery. The hi-beam set up is awesome - especially with driving lights. I have my IPFs set up this way and lemme tell ya.. it is sooooooooo much easier to be able to dim them from the normal steering wheel lever when a car is coming at you - rather than trying to search in the dark for a separate switch on the dash. For driving lights, it's the only way to go and so much easier to use.

I have yet to ever find myself in a situation where I want my IPFs on without my hi-beams eaither. The more light the better.

 

[durrell]

I wired my switch and relay to the battery and just run my Hella 700s full time. I just aimed the driving lights down where my low beams are and I've only been flashed once by an old guy in the rain. I've considering wiring up a separate set of fogs in the bumper and then only running the Hellas when I need lots of light (off-road, basically), but if I do that it will be later down the road.