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

Electrical advice

Old Mar 14, 2014
  #1  
Joe16's Avatar
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From: Eatonville wa
Electrical advice

I just put a set of Hellas driving lights on my ranger and didn't feel like putting it on a switch so I just tapped in to my high beams so what I'm getting at is am I over loading my high beams with them they seem to work good but just like a second opinion thanks
 
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Old Mar 14, 2014
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From: Dougal County
You need to run the new lights on their own fused relay powered from the battery.
You can use the headlight power wire to trigger the relay, but the stock wiring isn't designed to handle the increased load of the extra lights.
It may work for a while, but there's a good chance you'll overload the stock wiring possibly melting the insulation, leading to a short circuit or fire.
 
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Old Mar 14, 2014
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From: Eatonville wa
Yep that's what I was worried about lol I don't know a hole lot about wiring and appreciate the help thanks
 
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Old Mar 15, 2014
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From: Vancouver, BC
Battery-------20amp fuse----------Relay(40amp)------Hellas driving lights------Ground

High beam positive wire-----------Relay(40amp)------Ground

You want a 12volt 40amp SPST relay, these are very common, and cheap

It will have 4 connections
2 are for the "coil"
2 are for the "load"

The load will be connected to the Fuse from battery power, the other load connection will be to Hellas driving lights, both of them.
There is no direction(+/-) on an SPST relay "load"


The coil will connect to high beam wire, a tap like you have now, the other coil connection is to a Ground.
There is also no direction(+/-) on the coil connections.

When High beams are on the coil will have power flowing through it to Ground, power draw is less than 1 amp, this causes a magnetic field in the coil that Closes the "Load" connections.
When load connections are closed the Hellas driving lights get Battery power thru the added Fuse.

So the use of a relay means the stock head light system is only seeing less than 1 extra amp on it's circuit.
 
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