Wiring Light Relay question - part deux

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 10, 2006 9:58 pm

Since I ran my driving lights so that they can be switched on even when the power is off (ran the energized sensor wire off the relay to an always hot), do I really even need the relay? Why can't I just eliminate it, run the lights to the switch (capable of handling 20 amps) then to the battery with an inline fuse? Seems to me that the result would be the same except the relay would be gone and I'd have less wiring to run.

kolesy · **Posted:** Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:03 pm

Sounds about right to me, but remember I was never very good at english in school!

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 10, 2006 10:26 pm

Of course, I figured all this out AFTER I had run the relay and all it's associated wiring! I may just leave it in place for another project and just bypass it for this one.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:12 am

If you have a swithc that is able to handle the amp draw, then you do not need the relay. (I still would use the relay). Also, leave the relay where it is, you never know when you might need one. At least you know where the extra one is...

TDI4BY · **Joined:** Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:56 pm **Posts:** 644

A relay is really nice because you can switch the ground side of the relay and that means you won't have 12v running through the switch or the firewall for that matter as long as you pulled the power from under the hood.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:06 am

the point of the relay is to prevent having that much current running through the firewall and into your dash. If you really want to eliminate the relay, you'll need to figure out what the max draw is for the lights, then make sure both the switch and the wiring itself can handle it. You'll probably want to overestimate, too, just to make sure. That'll probably put you in 12 gauge wires, coming both into and out of your cab. I personally think a relay is a much nicer way to do it, since you can leave all the high-power stuff outside and just run the signal switch line in to the dash.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:50 am

Hmmm... Well, I left the relay inside the dash so I guess so much for that one. Also I have the signal wire going to an always hot so I can turn the lights on anytime.

Wiring Light Relay question - part deux

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