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LED Light Bar Wiring Question

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by paradizecityz, Sep 10, 2019.

  1. Sep 10, 2019 at 6:40 AM
    #1
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    I finally got an Auxbeam 32" LED lightbar and was able to install it successfully. It came with it's own switch/harness and I see the red light indicator on it always on because the harness directly connects to the battery. Is this Ok? Will it drain the battery? What other power source can I tap into if I want it to only be useable when the truck is on?
     
  2. Sep 10, 2019 at 6:45 AM
    #2
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    That little light won’t create much of a draw...but still a draw. You really need to consider wiring this light bar switch to a relay. I was unaware of what that really was before installing my light bar, but after some research, it’s 100% necessary. Your cheap switch is likely only rated for a 3amp draw and your light bar is prolly pulling over 10amps when on, you will fry it sooner or later.
     
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  3. Sep 10, 2019 at 6:59 AM
    #3
    omgboost

    omgboost The Accountant

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    I thought the wiring harness already has a relay? At least on my harness it did. I also wire directly to battery and red light is always on. Doesn't really drain battery but I do have a portable jump starter if it does get drained. I thought about adding a fuse and wiring to my high beam fuse so I can turn on the lights when high beams are on.
     
  4. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:08 AM
    #4
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    This is a common relay. Not sure if it’s possible that they can be wired into such a cheap switch that comes with your light bar. It’s usually aftermarket...
    1 PACK 40/30 AMP 12 V DC... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074QV54V1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
     
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  5. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:13 AM
    #5
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    Generally the switch is either two-prong or three-prong. I have a two-prong switch (there’s no LED in the switch itself showing on/off) for all my LED’s (4 bars). If two prong, one wire goes to a switched power source that powers off when you remove your keys. The other wire goes to the relay. The relay should have a wire going directly to the battery, one to the ground, one to the switch, and the + and - wires to the LED.

    If a three-prong switch where the switch itself has an LED showing on/off, I think (ask @Watt maker ) one wire goes to switched power, another is negative, and the other goes to the relay.
     
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  6. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:14 AM
    #6
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    The Auxbeam LED lightbar is 180W and came with the below harness that does include a relay: (What exactly does the relay do?)
    [​IMG]
     
  7. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:31 AM
    #7
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    A relay makes it so the battery is powering the light bar and not the switch. You push your led light bar button inside your cab, it activates the relay, which takes direct power from battery and applies it to light bar. No middle man (cheap switch) to fry. Google it and watch a video, it’s super interesting and you’ll think you’re crazy for not using them...
     
  8. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:34 AM
    #8
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    With that explanation, I can already understand the importance lol....thanks!

    So I should be good then and not worry about my battery draining? I'm eventually going to wire it up to an OEM style switch somewhere
     
  9. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:35 AM
    #9
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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  10. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:40 AM
    #10
    Jrharvey02

    Jrharvey02 New Member

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    Another cool thing about a relay is you can use thin wire to run most of it, the only things that really require the fat boy wire (8-10 gauge) is: relay to ground, relay to battery and relay to light bar. The relay is placed inside the engine bay so your wiring runs with fat, expensive wire is minimal, a couple feet of each at most...the rest is cheap 16 gauge...
     
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  11. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:44 AM
    #11
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    I have something like that already but from Caliraised. I was just too tired after installing the lightbar that I just hook up the included harness/switch just to verify that it works and left it there. Will hopefully be doing the OEM style switch this weekend :)
     
  12. Sep 10, 2019 at 7:45 AM
    #12
    TXMiamiFan

    TXMiamiFan SSEM #3 and tractor extraordinaire

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    I did not connect the cable that lights the light on my switch so I wouldn't have the constant power draw. One of these days I'll connect it where it comes on only when the car is turned on.
     
  13. Sep 10, 2019 at 1:52 PM
    #13
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    If you're saying the LED light on your switch is constantly on, it should not be. It should only come on when you turn on the switch. I believe your positive wires going to the switch may be backwards.
     
  14. Sep 10, 2019 at 2:16 PM
    #14
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Yes, the button switch has a Red and Green light. The red light is always on and I thought the reason for that was because it was wired directly to the battery...?
     
  15. Sep 10, 2019 at 2:58 PM
    #15
    Cthulhu

    Cthulhu The White and Black Goat of the Woods

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    I’ve never seen a switch with both a green and red LED. You got me stumped. How many prongs does the switch have? Where are the wires going from each prong?
     
  16. Sep 10, 2019 at 6:34 PM
    #16
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    My switch has power only when headlights are on. I have the illumination hooked up to a neighboring switch. When I push it the upper part lights up to indicate LED bars on on.
     
  17. Sep 10, 2019 at 6:58 PM
    #17
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Thanks everyone. It's the way the switch came so I'm not sure. I would have to look at it in more details.


    I think I'm going to try this out but it might be useless if I end up changing out the style of the switch? When you say "run it to a key-on power," which one did you run it to?
     
  18. Sep 14, 2019 at 10:53 AM
    #18
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Grr...gotta be something from Auxbeam then. I wired up to my new Caliraised switch and now that switch stays lit even after turning off the truck...
     
  19. Sep 14, 2019 at 10:55 AM
    #19
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Do you remember what fuse amp did you tap into? 10 amp?
     
  20. Sep 14, 2019 at 5:36 PM
    #20
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Yes. It’s wired up directly to the battery. Should I cut that wire and do an add a fuse to like a 15 amp fuse?
     
  21. Sep 14, 2019 at 5:51 PM
    #21
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Thanks! But would it matter in the amps?
     
  22. Sep 14, 2019 at 7:11 PM
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    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    Not if you are using a relay
     
  23. Sep 14, 2019 at 7:31 PM
    #23
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Good deal! Thanks!!
     
  24. Sep 15, 2019 at 12:03 PM
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    Scuba

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    paradizecityz[OP] likes this.
  25. Sep 15, 2019 at 12:11 PM
    #25
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Thanks, the harness my lightbar came with is very similar and does have a harness as well :)
     
  26. Sep 17, 2019 at 7:46 AM
    #26
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Sorry guys, one last question as I have the parts now and will be wiring it up pretty soon. I bought the below fuse tap and it came with a 15 amp fuse. From what I've read, pull the fuse from from fuse box and put that one on the lower slot, closest to the connector and the top one has to be equal or lower amp than the fuse you pull right? Thanks for all the help!

    https://www.amazon.com/10-Pack-Add-...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
     
  27. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:09 AM
    #27
    Stumpjumper

    Stumpjumper New Member

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    Best way to protect your wiring on that circuit. I used one the headlight circuits. It is in the box under the hood. Low beam circuit worked for me. I have no need for high beams when running 2 light bars. I rarely use high beams anyway with the retrofit led headlights.
     
  28. Sep 17, 2019 at 8:13 AM
    #28
    paradizecityz

    paradizecityz [OP] New Member

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    Thanks guys...I wasn't going to use a 15 amp fuse anyways, thought that was a lot just for a switch, just verifying that I had the correct information with putting the fuse you pull from the box on the bottom and the top either has to be equal or lower than the fuse from the truck.

    Now I'm just trying to think if I should cut the splice the current wire connected to the battery or the power wire between the switch and relay :p lol
     
  29. Oct 9, 2019 at 7:42 PM
    #29
    SiberianTundra

    SiberianTundra I heard Unicorns get horrible MPG

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    good information here
     
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