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

Off Road Light Wiring Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 02-26-2009
platinum6316's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Scarborough, ON
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Off Road Light Wiring Question

OK, I understand about wiring and the need for relays, etc.
My question is:
I'm going to be wiring 4 Off-road lights on the front of my truck, should I just use 1 switch in-cab to switch all four, or 2 switches so I can have a 2+2 system?
What have you guys done, and do you like the results?
 
  #2  
Old 02-26-2009
Woods-Rider's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Hillsboro, OR
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
1 switch. much easier on the wiring and i cant think of a reason to only have 2 of the 4 on. its either none or all if they are all facing the same direction (forward)
 
  #3  
Old 02-26-2009
Rangerkid's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Livonia, MI
Posts: 489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I did mine with 2 switches. I did the outside to on my lightbar on one switch then the indside switch on another switch. Then I also have another switch that works my front 2 lights on my bumper.
 
  #4  
Old 02-26-2009
herm59's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Toms River, NJ
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2 lights per switch. Thats how I always do it.

And wiring to switches isn't hard at all. Best part is you can use the same ground wire on the switch.
 

Last edited by herm59; 02-26-2009 at 03:49 PM.
  #5  
Old 02-26-2009
elementsenjoi's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 352 Florida
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Mine is too lights per switch with four lights. It is wired with relays as well and my trigger wire for the relays is a ground so the switch are not 'hot'.

Edit: No real reason for the ground trigger. I just did it that way.
 
  #6  
Old 02-26-2009
04blackedge's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 23,426
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Depending on the wattage of the lights I would do 2 lights per relay and have the switch trigger both relays.
 
  #7  
Old 02-26-2009
platinum6316's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Scarborough, ON
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK, so my choices are:

Name:  OffRoadLights22.jpg
Views: 5746
Size:  21.7 KB

OR:

Name:  OffRoadLights4.jpg
Views: 556
Size:  20.4 KB

I'm leaning towards the 2+2 system
 
  #8  
Old 02-26-2009
04blackedge's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 23,426
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by platinum6316
OK, so my choices are:



OR:



I'm leaning towards the 2+2 system
You didn't link the images correctly

do it like this though

Name:  OffRoadLights4.jpg
Views: 1667
Size:  20.4 KB
 
  #9  
Old 02-26-2009
platinum6316's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Scarborough, ON
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah, I fixed it ...
 
  #10  
Old 02-26-2009
04blackedge's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 23,426
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
There really is no difference in the 2 diagrams, the one I showed is just a little easier to wire up.
 
  #11  
Old 02-26-2009
Woods-Rider's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Hillsboro, OR
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I have 2 130W, and 4 55W lights on one switch. they all point forward and even one would be too bright for traffic so if i ever want them on i would want all of them. i still dont see why people use 2 switches. why would you only want 2 of the 4 on?
 
  #12  
Old 02-26-2009
platinum6316's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Scarborough, ON
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is a slight difference in the diagrams, the first one has 2 switches and the second has 1 ... but you guys are right, If I'm gonna have them on, ALL of them would be on, so I guess 1 switch would be best.
'Course In a couple of years, I'm gonna add a bed lightbar and have 4 over the roof too, so then I would add a second switch for those 4.
 
  #13  
Old 02-26-2009
04blackedge's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 23,426
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
In both diagrams it says the highbeam is the switch, not an actual switch.
 
  #14  
Old 02-26-2009
herm59's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Toms River, NJ
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by platinum6316
best.
'Course In a couple of years, I'm gonna add a bed lightbar and have 4 over the roof too, so then I would add a second switch for those 4.
I have 8 lights with 4 switches. Four lights on the grill guard ( 2 switches) and 4 lights on a light bar (2 switches). 2 of the lights on the gril guard are fog lights so I use them when I drive. Plus I light being able to switch which lights I have on.
 
  #15  
Old 02-26-2009
elementsenjoi's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 352 Florida
Posts: 1,303
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
I really don't know why I like having two switches, but I do. Sometimes I like to just run my outer two when in a trail. They light up the tree line. It isn't anymore work two wire up two and it is nice to have a selection. Why not?
 
  #16  
Old 02-26-2009
t0x1k's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somerdale, NJ
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm running mine 2x2, no relay, just some heavy gauge wire and heavy duty switches. Relays **** me off.
 
  #17  
Old 02-27-2009
platinum6316's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Scarborough, ON
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by 04blackedge
In both diagrams it says the highbeam is the switch, not an actual switch.
I tried to show that 12v is being supplied from the high beam switch to the switches I will be adding, so the offroad lights will only work with the high beams turned on.

OK, next question: Where did you locate your switches (pic if you have them)
I'm thinking about the space beside the headlight switch.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CincyRanger21
General Technical & Electrical
3
11-03-2013 04:02 PM
Ranger1
General Ford Ranger Discussion
30
06-06-2010 10:25 PM
Bhavesh
General Technical & Electrical
4
02-11-2007 10:41 PM
Kosmo04
General Technical & Electrical
32
11-16-2005 02:00 PM



Quick Reply: Off Road Light Wiring Question



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:21 PM.