Aftermarket Lights - Automotive Wiring and Electrical


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Auto Repair Home>> Automotive Repair>> Automotive Wiring and Electrical

sean882
Novice

Mar 11, 2009, 9:56 PM

Post #1 of 5 (1471 views)

Aftermarket Lights	Sign In

1996 Cheep Cherokee, 4.0L HO

I picked up a cheap set of 55W (each) driving lights. Well, being the cheap lights they were, I got sick of their poor beam pattern after a few weeks, and mounted them as reverse lights. I used 12 AWG wire, probably running about 10 feet of it. It came with a 15 amp fuse (the total draw from the two lights should be a hair less than 10 amps), so I used that. The wiring they came with worked fine while they were in the front (it had to have been 18 or 20 AWG... it was tiny) but I wanted something beefier for the extra distance. Now, these lights work great for the first 45 seconds or so that they are on, but any longer, and the fuse will blow. Any Ideas? I'll describe my wiring setup as best I can below:

+12 V supply -> Relay (on when car is on) -> Fuse -> Switch -> Lights. Lights are connected in parallel, and each light is grounded to chasis.

I have no idea where to start. Should I have used a heavier gauge wire? I didn't notice any, but maybe a loose connection? The really long delay is what gets me.. I only noticed it when using the lights to look for a screwdriver I dropped, and after it happened once, I put a new fuse in to try to replicate it, and sure enough, happened again. I thought of a ground fault, but that doesn't explain the delay.

Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator
Loren Champlain Sr profile image

Mar 13, 2009, 4:23 PM

Post #2 of 5 (1465 views)

Re: Aftermarket Lights	Sign In

Sean; Sounds like you've done everything correctly. Great job. But, 15A sounds a bit light, IMO. A 20A sounds a little more like it, to me. But, electrical is my weakest point.

Wouldn't the fuse be in line ahead of the relay? Not sure.
Loren
SW Washington

sean882
Novice

Mar 13, 2009, 4:39 PM

Post #3 of 5 (1462 views)

Re: Aftermarket Lights	Sign In

Thanks, I'll try boosting it to a 20 Amp Fuse, and keep an eye on everything for a few minutes. I shouldn't ever need backup lights on for more than a minute or two anyways, so if it can last that, shouldn't be a problem. Thanks again :)

I do have another fuse, a 50A fuse, as it is a 50A relay, before the relay. I did this, because the relay is powering a few separate circuits. (also the reason I used a 4AWG wire, about 6 inches long, running from the battery to the relay). The relay can, if switched on, power a set of fog lights as well. Basically, so when I turn off the car, they will shut off if I absent-mindedly forget. Then, I have individual fuses so if one circuit has a problem, it doesn't destroy them all. Thats just my explanation of why its like that, not really playing into the problem at hand.

Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran / Moderator
Loren Champlain Sr profile image

Mar 13, 2009, 4:45 PM

Post #4 of 5 (1460 views)

Re: Aftermarket Lights	Sign In

Sean; I'm pretty sure that you should be using a seperate relay for each individual system. That way, you can individually fuse each system, as well...I'd stay away from the 50A fuse.

Loren
SW Washington

sean882
Novice

Mar 13, 2009, 6:31 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1453 views)

Re: Aftermarket Lights	Sign In

Yeah, I probably should be using the separate relays..

.. but each system is individually fused. Also, the spare backup lights and fog lights would have no reason to ever be running at the same time, it should be isolated circuits. The 50A fuse is more of a just-in-case something completely unexpected were to happen, the fuse would be cheaper to replace than the relay would be. But yeah, its as if it were a relay powering a small fuse box, if you will. I know... that setup isn't exactly how an electrician would do it, but the fuse is blowing after that system, so I know it has nothing to do with it. The 20A fuse seems to be working great! Thanks for the help :) and for noticing my "interesting" setup that tries to save money

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