ok so i have a question about the lights i have. i have 5 100watt lights on my headache rack...also 2 55watt fogs and 2 55watt back up lights. so according to this...Amps = Watts/Volts than that is 720/12=60....i have all these wired to a 50 amp circuit breaker...i can turn all of them on and they dont turn off..is the circuit breaker broken? i have them wired up using 3 relays....2 running off one, 2 running off another and 1 running of the last one...this is what the wiring looks like...is this safe...also i i got 150 or 130 watt bulbs in the 5 lights would the wiring be safe then? thanks

 

bump

 

i have very little knolage in wiring. but, i would try and whip up a better diagram. it was kinda hard to read, but thats just me.

good luck though pal!

 

I understand it. Yes, you have it wired properly except the grounding for the lights is not illustrated. I assume they are grounded sufficiently with at least 16 gauge wire?

As far as the amps go, one of two things is happening. The lights aren't really drawing 60 amps or the breaker sucks. Actual voltage with the alternator running is ~13.8 volts which drops the current down to a little above 50. In any case, you can't really know without putting an ammeter on the wire feeding the breaker from the battery. That will tell you what is really going on.

 

yea they are grounded and so are the relays...my main question is if the wireing going from the relays to the lights is big enough expecially on the ones that "y" out...and would it be big enough to put 150watt bulbs in? thanks

 

You're scraping the bottom of the design limits of 16 gauge wire. If that wire is 8 feet or more, you need to upgrade.

 

Your schematic only shows the 5 lights connected to the breaker (assuming it’s a fuse). If that’s the case then your only pulling on average about 40 amps. If in fact you have the other lights tied into the same fuse then your pulling on average about 55 amps. With manufacturing tolerances of plus or minus say 5-10 percent and if the fuse is a slow blow design it may not blow. However, you’re pushing the envelope. I’d recommend moving the fogs and backup lights to a new 25 amp fuse.

Your basic wiring layout is fine. However, I can’t discern which wires are 18g from the 16g since the colors are somewhat washed out in the picture. If you’re running 18g from the relays to two of the lights you’re pushing your luck. At a minimum I’d recommend 14g.

If you want to upgrade to 150w lamps you’ll need to upgrade the fuse to at least 70 amps and the wiring between the relays and the lights to 12g.

 

t5cents,

how is this, r u hooked up and running ?
It can work...

If it isn't too late... the 18-ga wire is to actuate one relay, go to 16-ga wire if you want to daisy chain them.
The 8-ga wire is over kill for the 17 amps needed for the future 2 - 100 w lights but it will work, bigger is better.
Make sure there is a fuse in the main power wire(s) going to pin 30 on the relays and that the ground wires are at least 12-ga per pair.
Always rate the fuse for the smallest rated component in the circuit.

Also, re-draw the schematics and let us see them again; include all of the lighting on the vehicle.

When/IF everything is on at the same time there mights be a problem for the alternator keeping up.

luck,