Looking for opinions on good lights for offroad. Im planning on mounting them on top of my headache rack porbably two fogs and two spots. Also need some that will look decent up on top since they will be fully exposed. I dont want to spend more than about $160. So basically the best lighting and appearance for my price range is what I am looking for.

was looking at these but im a little weary because I havent found any reviews or anything on them: 4pcs 7 inches 4x4 Off Road 6000K 55W Xenon HID Fog Lamp Light 2xSpot+ 2xFlood | eBay

Thanks!
-Joe

 

I used aircraft landing lights years ago on my off-roader, looks like DAYLIGHT when they are on, lol.
But they do run hot, aircraft are generally going 100+MPH when they turn these on for landing so plenty of air cooling.

But not too expensive to replace for what they do, also a set of regular "spot lights" for general full time use that can be left on for longer periods.

NAPA used to sell the holders and bulbs, and use a large gauge wire and RELAY they will melt any switch

 

I do really like that Idea but have no idea how to do that exactly and dont have any experience using relays. If someone could explain that would be great, but if not I am still open to other suggestions

 

Then good time to learn it and save some money

A relay is used to control high watt/amp power via low watt/amp switch, also safer and cheaper when running larger gauge wires.

When you run voltage in a wire the wire will heat up, if it gets too hot it will melt the insulation and start a fire and/or short out.

here is a wire size chart for 12volt systems: Amps and Wire Gauge - 12V Circuit.

Wire size is done by Gauge, 16 gauge is smaller than 8 gauge, 8 gauge is smaller than 4 gauge, the lower the number the larger the wire

Similar to shotgun Barrel diameter, 12gauge has larger bore than 20 gauge

Watts and AMPS are the same thing just different measurements for use

If a 12volt light bulb puts out 120watts then it will require 10amps to do that
120watts divided by 12volts = 10amps

400watts / 12v = 33.3amps

60watts / 12v = 5 amps

So easy to get AMPs from watts using voltage

60watt bulb at 110v = .54 amps
This is why we use 110volt power in our homes and buildings, much cheaper(smaller) wire for 110volt
Rest of the world uses 220volt, even cheaper(smaller wire) wire for same watts
Higher voltage = lower amps for the same watts

Voltage out at the power poles is 150,000 to 300,000volts, so they can use a smaller wire to carry thousands of amps/watts to houses


Back to 12volts
get the wattage of the lights you chose that will be on the same switch/relay.
Say 2 lights that are 100watts each, for 200watts
200w / 12v = 16.6 AMPs

Measure(approx.) how far it will be from the Battery to the farthest light, lets say 25ft.

Look at the Chart
25ft at 16.6amps would need 8gauge wire size

Relays are cheap, 12volt 30/40amp relays with sockets are under $10
All a relay is, is a remote switch
Instead of having to run the BIG 8 gauge wire into the cab from the battery and then back out to the lights, you just install a relay in the engine bay and run the 8 gauge wire directly to the lights thru the relay.

Then you have a switch inside the cab that turns the relay on and off, and you can do that with just ONE small wire per relay.
To activate a relay takes under 1/2 an amp, so 18 gauge wire is fine

Starter motors can take up to 100 AMPS, but you control the starter motor from a small 16 gauge wire to the Starter Relay(solenoid)