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Light bar wiring


jcwcooper

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I need to wire up a light bar for my 90, The lights are 55w wipacs. Ive done a couple of searches and found some info. I have a couple of questions.

55w lamps should use about 5amps each?

so 4 lamps should be ok using 25amp thinwall cable or should i up the cable to 33amp?

and Relays should i go for 1 or 2? ..........2 lights one on each circuit or 4 on one circuit using two relays or is one relay ample?

Im starting to get the hang of wiring now, but a bit of advice would be brilliant if anyone can help.

Dave.

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so 4 lamps should be ok using 25amp thinwall cable or should i up the cable to 33amp?

4x55W is 18amps at 12V so 25amp should be plenty enough.

and Relays should i go for 1 or 2? ..........2 lights one on each circuit or 4 on one circuit using two relays or is one relay ample?

Depends on the relay's rating, if the relay you're planning on using is only rated to 15 amps, you'll need 2, you can use a single relay provided it can switch 18 amps or more.

On the other hand you could plan an element of safety and fit two relays so that if one fails, you still have 50% of your lighting and aren't left in the dark ;)

Don't forget to fuse this properly (as close to the battery as possible), and use grommets or some kind of protection on the live cables wherever they are likely to rub, crush or pinch on sharp chassis parts.

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Guest diesel_jim

If you get really stuck, pop up here (Swindon) one evening or on a weekend and i'll glue them together for ya, i've got some hefty string, (and some decent cable too) to make up any sort of loom and switching configuration you want (ie, always on with main beam/only if you switch it on/on without lights/outer pair/inner pair/all etc etc)

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Hmmm, I've got some lights on my roof rack that I really need to get round to wiring up.

Jim, is that offer personage specific or would someone like myself be able to take you up on it?

I have the know how to build an appropriate circuit etc but when it comes to the actual fitting, routing of wires etc I'm not so hot! ( I specialise in electronics that you can fit the whole najiimmy on a small desk in front of you!)

I already have two lights on my A-bar wired up to come on at full beam, but want to do the same with my roof lights. Yes it's excessive but as I have them it seems a shame not to use them - might need to start looking at a dual battery set-up soon with the amount of lights and bits and bobs I want to add! Especially as I ahve a paranoia about camping somewhere over night and not being able to drive off again the next morning!

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I set mine up with 2 relays for the roof rack lights (one for the outer lights and one for the inner lights) and another relay for the A bar lights.

Each set of lights is connected into the main beam and also has an illuminated switch so they can be turned off.

post-4939-1220275010_thumb.jpg

Slightly off this topic but... I have just come from a holiday in France and was wondering if I needed to put the anti dazzle headlight converter stickers on all of the spots or just my headlights? I played it safe this time and had them on all the lights but would quite like to save some money next time.

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Well as your spots are only switched on with main beam, it's not a problem.

It's just the dipped lights you need to convert -the spots won't have the section of lens that needs converting, unless they are dippable spots, which is unlikely, and useless on an roof rack bar!

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