Quick Lighting question

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:38 pm

Ok, just got back from PepBoys where i picked up some Hella 500 Drving lights. It says to run this wire here and that wire there, blah, blah, blah, but the part that concerns me is the "connect to high beams" part. I want to be able to opperate my Hella's seperate from ALL of my other lights, lows, highs, fogs, and possible added lights later on. Thanks for your help.

-savage-

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

I just installed some kc slimlites. I ran that wire to the parking lights. Particularly the driver side side marker. That way they can come on anytime I have at least the parking lights on and will go off once I turn off my lights. Also if I forget to turn off my lights and the computer does it for me, then my auxiliary lights will also go off.

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:02 pm

but you can turn them off seperately from your parking lights correct?

-Savage-

waddy whiteguts · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:32 pm

The wire that you are instructed to wire in with the high beams can be tapped onto any power source switched or not depending on how you'd like the lights to function as long as it's properly fused. You can join the relay (main-lights) power and switch power taps together and tap into the fusebox under the hood with a crimp-on blade terminal. Use an inline blade fuse holder or the bullet holder that came with your kit.

FWIW I wired mine up this way so that I can turn on the Hellas at any time regardless of whether the ignition or other lights are on and I don't like it. It's an inconvenience to use them on the road when it comes time to dim the highbeams and switch off the Hellas, I'd rather just use the dimmer switch for both. I'll be changing mine accordingly once it warms up here. It might be a legal issue also.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:43 pm

when you all wire the aux lights to the park lights, where do you hook into them at? I like the feature where my headlights go off even if i leave them on. But my hellas would never go off.

And to answer your question, you can put that wire anywhere you want. They just want it on your highbeams so you can only use them when your highs are on. I dont remember if its + or -.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:44 pm

The instructions should show two ways of wiring the relay, one for independant use and one for high beam use, make sure you use the independant one with a switch in the schematic. I have the 500's and i wired them to my high beams, makes it much easier to install and use. If they are the driving light, the only time you would use them is if you had your high beams on as they are much brighter then your high beams and will blind other drivers. I am getting a set of Hella 500 fogs to wire into my stock foglights. as well because the driving lights worked so good.

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:49 pm

I think i'm going to wire them into my parking lights so that they will still be turned off by the battery saver just in case. But i would like to use them as a replacement for the highs, not in addition to, so that i can have my fogs, my lows, and the Hellas all on at the same time. Thanks for all your help, going out to do the work right now and i'll let you guys know how it works out.

-Savage-

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:05 pm

that may be too bright, you might run into some legal issues then. Mine shut off automatically if i leave my high beams on when i shut off the vehicle. They work just like the factory put them in. Having the 500's on with fog light defeats the purpose of foglights. Try driving in fog with your high beams on, you'll see what I mean-the light reflects back in your eyes, you need a low flat beam for dealing with fog. The 500's also hurt in a heavy snowstorm. But it's your Jeep, so the choice is yours.

Guest · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:30 am

In PA if you went in for the yearly inspections they would fail it if the lights aren't connected to the high beams...... I normally wire mine so I can remove for inspection... or just find a 4x4 shop they don't normally care...

Course that may not be a problem in NJ

Mike

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:54 am

Well, the lights are finally in and they look great. Next on the list are some bulbs to match my headlights and fogs, hopefully some nice 100w bulbs. I wired the relay into the parking lights, and fortunately, changing what they're wired into is the easiest thing to change out of the whole installation, so if i have any issues w/ inspection they should be easy to rectify. Can't believe that i got it right on the first try, especially considering i've never done anything electrically in a car before.

I'm off to bed, gotta leave for a lift party in about 6.5 hours, need some sleep, goodnight all and thanks for your help

-Savage-

MikeD0106 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 7:37 am

As far as legal issues, in AZ you must have a minimum of 2 (motorcycles excluded) and can only have a total of 4 headlights, fog lights, driving lights, or any combo thereof on at any one time while on the road.

That's the legal mumbo jumbo for here. On a personal note I am curious to see what it looks like so if you get a chance to post a pic I would greatly appreciate it. A day & night photo if possible.

Thanks

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:04 am

Mike,
I don't have a digital camera, but i'll see what i can do, most of my friend have them and i'll probably be getting one for christmas as i will need one for my digital imaging class.

As for the lights thing, i guess i'll just talk to one of my police officer buddies and see what the deal is.

-Savage-

MikeD0106 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:15 am

Just would hate to see you get a ticket over something dumb.

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:16 am

haha, yea me too

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Cool you wired it just like me then Savage. Man I just tried out my 100 watt kc slimlites here last night and they are so bright that you can't even really tell if you turn your head lights off or not. I wonder what the 130 watt ones would have been like.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 3:22 pm

eddo, care to tell me where you wire into the park lights at? Ive got mine on a switch by them selves and would like to have them go off with the head lights.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

Take off a side market (i choose the driver side because everything is closer that way).

There are two bulbs in the side market. Find the one with the 3 wire lead.

Then splice into the middle wire.

*Note, this is only the 12 volt source that goes to the switch used to control the relay. The actually power to run the light should be coming off the battery.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 5:47 pm

I'd be careful with swapping the 55W bulbs in the Hellas for 100w bulbs. The wiring may not be of a big enough gauge and it could be a fire hazard.

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:33 pm

Eddo,
Let me know if you do swap those 100w bulbs into the Hellas and let me know how it works out.

Also, how much were your slimlites (1 or a pair), do they come with a switch and harness, and can you get them in Flood, Driving and fog?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:00 pm

Thx eddo. Ill never understand why they wire things like they do. Why do they have 3 wires going to a light when all it takes is two. Ill rewire mine sometime this week. I just dont like the fact if something happens and i have the covers on them and have the lights on nothing turns them off but me. Ill have to run wire back through the fire wall though, and it really sucks doing that.

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