General Technical & Electrical General technical and electrical discussion for the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

5 KC's to one switch

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Old 08-29-2005
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5 KC's to one switch

How would i go about wiring 5 kc lights into one switch or is it even possible. Im getting a grizzly roll bar and light bar and your able to mount 5 lights on top just didnt want three switches.
 
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use 3 relays, and make your switch the switching wire for all 3 relays, that should do it
 
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Old 08-29-2005
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So i could split the wire that goes from the switch to relays. It wouldn't fry the switch or anything?
 
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Old 08-29-2005
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All the lights would be wired to 3 relays which would then be wired to the switch. The relay is like a switch in itself but it allows a lot more current to flow through it. Rather than "switching" a relay like a light switch you wire it to a switch in your truck that triggers the connection.
 
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Old 08-29-2005
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Yes the relay is just a switched device that carries the load, the switch it self just pulls the relay contact closed when you hit the switch. So if you wire it up like Bob and Michael then you will be golden.
 
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Old 08-30-2005
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Originally Posted by Rosemont
So i could split the wire that goes from the switch to relays. It wouldn't fry the switch or anything?
Nope, shouldn't be a problem, as long as you are reasonable about it. Wire the relay coils in parallel. The 3 relays (2 lamps per relay) should be okay for an interior circuit. But you might want to check the specs on the relays and figure out how much the driving coils draw. Current draw of circuits in parallel are additive. So if 2 relay coils draw ~10mA ea and the third draws ~20mA, then the whole circuit would draw ~40 mA and you would need to use the appropriate wire guage and fuse values.
 

Last edited by NHBubba_Revisited; 08-30-2005 at 08:41 AM. Reason: Der! I can like add and stuff!
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Old 08-30-2005
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normal automotive relays draw 1-3amps each. (generally)

Rand
 
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Old 08-31-2005
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Given, my spit-ball figures are a little low. But I've seen specs as low as 50mA.

IIRC most relay coils are ~75 Ohm.. which should result in a coil draw of ~160mA @ 12V.

Regardless, he should be okay wiring several relays in parallel on in a ~5 amp circuilt.
 
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Old 08-31-2005
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Originally Posted by Rand
normal automotive relays draw 1-3amps each. (generally)

Rand
No way. Maybe a starter relay. But the typical 12 volt accessory relays are less than 1amp, most less than 500ma.

I'm not sure what wattage the lights you're getting are. The rating of the relay will determine how many relays you need. Using the 125% rule:

100 Watt lights: 45 amps
(3) 20 amp relays
(2) 30 amp relay

150 Watt Lights: 67 amps
(4) 20 amp relays
(3) 30 amp relays

The high current feed to each relay should be fused according the the relays current rating. A 30 amps relay gets a 30 amp inline fuse feeding it. Do not just put one big 60 or 80 amp fuse and split to each relay. You can very easily cook the relays or burn the wires and your truck down if something shorts or is not working properly.
 

Last edited by FireRanger; 08-31-2005 at 10:02 AM.
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