Wiring up some lights ...

[LimitedBlack]

I did search this but found no results, Sorry if I overlooked it but ...

I want to add 4 led spot lights to my Runner, I no not have factory fog lights but the wiring is there. Is it possible to tap into the wiring that is there and use it for the 4 lights?

Im assuming since it is prewired for the lights, the switch is prewired as well? I have no plans to add OEM fogs so I'm not really worried about losing that option ...

 

[Drcoffee]

To use the wiring for the factory fogs you would need the factory fog switch which is on the stalk with other functions. However, you can trace the wires up from the fog light plugs to the engine compartment fuse block and tap into there. But why would you? Just run new wires from the battery thru a relay and to a switch on the dash.

 

[LimitedBlack]

To use the wiring for the factory fogs you would need the factory fog switch which is on the stalk with other functions. However, you can trace the wires up from the fog light plugs to the engine compartment fuse block and tap into there. But why would you? Just run new wires from the battery thru a relay and to a switch on the dash.

Ok thanks, I can do a lot mechanically but I hit a wall when it comes to electrical stuff ... I will probably just have it done ...

 

[shootmymime]

Ok thanks, I can do a lot mechanically but I hit a wall when it comes to electrical stuff ... I will probably just have it done ...

No do it yourself. Look at my built

What questions do you have. Send me a message and I can talk you through any questions you have.

 

[Unner]

It is fairly simple to add the wiring for lights. I bought a premade harness and all i had to do was add my own switch to the end and then run the wires where I wanted them for my LED light bar.

You could use the stock fog light wiring, but you have to buy the relay and a new stalk with the fog light switch. Total for new parts this ran me about $70, but I am using that stuff to add OEM fog lights, not wire any aftermarket ones.

 

[Kryptoroxx]

I did search this but found no results, Sorry if I overlooked it but ...

I want to add 4 led spot lights to my Runner, I no not have factory fog lights but the wiring is there. Is it possible to tap into the wiring that is there and use it for the 4 lights?

Im assuming since it is prewired for the lights, the switch is prewired as well? I have no plans to add OEM fogs so I'm not really worried about losing that option ...

I would keep your aftermarket wiring separate from your factory wiring. If/when you have a wiring issue in the future then you can easily troubleshoot by removing one wire from the battery versus looking at a rats nest of tapped lines.

You can take a look at my build thread for some inspiration as well. I have 3 sets of lights currently.

 

[Brveagle]

+1 on not adding aftermarket lights to your factory harness.

Just run a 12v relay and some nice wire and wire it direct to the battery and then run a small switch inside the cab. Tiny wire can be used as it will just be used to flip the relay.

 

[cbr900boy]

I bought this wire harness from Superbrightleds.com for my LED flood lights, I've done some research and this is probably the best quality setup for $20 bucks. They come with connectors so you can easily unplug your lights, they are waterproof too if you look closely at the picture. I've looked on ebay, amazon, even 4wheelparts, and most of the wire harness kits I've seen look cheap.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...-relay--dual-channel,-dt-connector/1491/3406/

 

[infamousRNR]

No do it yourself. Look at my built

What questions do you have. Send me a message and I can talk you through any questions you have.

what a helpful guy///....

 

[LimitedBlack]

No do it yourself. Look at my built

What questions do you have. Send me a message and I can talk you through any questions you have.

DUDE! you are awesome ... Im planning on getting on it this weekend ... I will hit you up.

Super glad I found you guys, I have learned more in a month than I have in 2 years!

 

[LimitedBlack]

I bought this wire harness from Superbrightleds.com for my LED flood lights, I've done some research and this is probably the best quality setup for $20 bucks. They come with connectors so you can easily unplug your lights, they are waterproof too if you look closely at the picture. I've looked on ebay, amazon, even 4wheelparts, and most of the wire harness kits I've seen look cheap.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...-relay--dual-channel,-dt-connector/1491/3406/

Just ordered em! Also picked up the remote key fob ... I decided to go with the front bumper lights as well as a couple of backup lights ... I plan to notch the bumper and slide these:



Into here:



Thanks for the encouragement guys! I will keep y'all updated!

 

[jeremyc74]

+1 on not adding aftermarket lights to your factory harness.

Just run a 12v relay and some nice wire and wire it direct to the battery and then run a small switch inside the cab. Tiny wire can be used as it will just be used to flip the relay.

Or you could add the factory switch on the turn signal stalk and use the factory wiring to pull in the relay.

Personally I like to OEM look. Why run new wires all over the place when they're already there from the factory? The turn signal takes about 20 minutes to install.

 

[Unner]

You can get an OEM fog light switch from the dealer that fits into the cutouts on the dash so you can run an aftermarket harness and still have a factory switch on the inside.

Keep us posted on the lights, and definitely those back up lights. I've been thinking about doing something very similar.

 

[cbr900boy]

Just ordered em! Also picked up the remote key fob ... I decided to go with the front bumper lights as well as a couple of backup lights ... I plan to notch the bumper and slide these:

View attachment 142372

Into here:

View attachment 142373

Thanks for the encouragement guys! I will keep y'all updated!

Yeah, with that wire harness you basically wire up the lights, connect positive and negative to the battery, and run and tuck the wires, and you're basically done. The relay and power switch is already done for you, plus your wireless keyfob is plug and play. Just remember to remove the fuse on the harness while you are installing everything and don't forget to put it back in. I can't tell you how many times I've seen guys wire everything up and scratch their heads because nothing is working and all along it was just a fuse, hahahaha.

 

[Brveagle]

Or you could add the factory switch on the turn signal stalk and use the factory wiring to pull in the relay.

Personally I like to OEM look. Why run new wires all over the place when they're already there from the factory? The turn signal takes about 20 minutes to install.

Different strokes for different folks.

Personally on an aftermarket lighting, there will be quite a bit of current flowing through the wires. I don't know your electrical background, but for now i'll assume you know that the factory fog wiring is very small compared to the wiring required to run a LED light bar, or in the OP's case FOUR led spot lights.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Different strokes for different folks.

Personally on an aftermarket lighting, there will be quite a bit of current flowing through the wires. I don't know your electrical background, but for now i'll assume you know that the factory fog wiring is very small compared to the wiring required to run a LED light bar, or in the OP's case FOUR led spot lights.

This isn't exactly true. Generally speaking an aftermarket LED fog light draws significantly LESS than the OE fog lamps or the 3rd gen era. For years the OE's used H1 bulbs drawing as much as 55W per bulb. Even a high intensity 4 LED fog lamp only draws 16W, most will draw less. The OP could theoretically power 4 of these at just slightly higher draw than ONE OE fog lamp.

Just sayin'

:naughty:

 

[LimitedBlack]

This isn't exactly true. Generally speaking an aftermarket LED fog light draws significantly LESS than the OE fog lamps or the 3rd gen era. For years the OE's used H1 bulbs drawing as much as 55W per bulb. Even a high intensity 4 LED fog lamp only draws 16W, most will draw less. The OP could theoretically power 4 of these at just slightly higher draw than ONE OE fog lamp.

Just sayin'

:naughty:

This was one of the reasons I posted, I figured that the factory wiring (I think i read it was intended for 55w) would be overkill for the 18w lights Im looking at. If so, I didn't want to burn anything up (especially my new leds). Even with 2 lights on each factory harness end, I am still left with an excess of power.

I have seen people on the forum run 55w or similar bulbs on the factory wiring but never LEDs.

I ordered the harness for both the backup and front bumper lights just to be sure. Better safe than sorry!

 

[TheDurk]

This was one of the reasons I posted, I figured that the factory wiring (I think i read it was intended for 55w) would be overkill for the 18w lights Im looking at. If so, I didn't want to burn anything up (especially my new leds). Even with 2 lights on each factory harness end, I am still left with an excess of power.

I have seen people on the forum run 55w or similar bulbs on the factory wiring but never LEDs.

I ordered the harness for both the backup and front bumper lights just to be sure. Better safe than sorry!

There is no problem running lower wattage bulbs or LED´s on a circuit that was rated for a higher draw. If you want to derate the fuse so overcurrent protection kicks in closer to the rated draw of your LED´s, just use a smaller fuse. The concepts of overkill and burning things up due to excess amp capacity in the wires or relay is uhhh...misinformed.

 

[Brveagle]

This isn't exactly true. Generally speaking an aftermarket LED fog light draws significantly LESS than the OE fog lamps or the 3rd gen era. For years the OE's used H1 bulbs drawing as much as 55W per bulb. Even a high intensity 4 LED fog lamp only draws 16W, most will draw less. The OP could theoretically power 4 of these at just slightly higher draw than ONE OE fog lamp.

Just sayin'

:naughty:

I guess I was under the impression the OP was installing LED light bars. For example, my large LED light bar on my 4runner is 250 watts and my small one is 120watts. Neither of which i would want to run through factory fog light wiring.

Oh well, moot point for now. A simple 14 watt led cluster won't damage anything.

 

[LimitedBlack]

Learn something everyday ... I know nothing about wiring anything :laugh: ... Good to know about the fuses though ... thanks for the info guys!