double check my plan

[9zero1790]

friends, i am planning to add more lighting to my ranger. i do not want to add another switch inside etc. here is my plan, tell me if im thinking correctly. im having a mind fart today and cant assure myself lol. i already have a set of lights with a switch in the cab. i want to use those with the new light at the same time. so i can add a relay onto the wiring for the set that is already installed, which will make them all run from one switch and the relay will keep the wiring and switch safe from being over burdened and allow full juice to the new light for full brightness- yes?? feel like im over thinking it or something.

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[Danager]

Yes. You can add a relay, triggered by the switch.

 

[9zero1790]

thank you !

 

[9zero1790]

friends i finally got around to this. and again brain fog day and doubting myself. i have a thyroid disease and some days i cant remember stuff that on most days i know without doubts. all this was easier when i was younger lol. i installed the light and added a relay to existing switch. however, i have an extra wire left over but all the lights work
i used a 4 pole typically open relay. the new light came with it and the full harness etc. with a single off on switch. so i ran the relay to the hot and ground of the battery, ran the relay turn on wire to one of the hot wires to the already installed switch to use it as the kick on for the relay. to be safe i went ahead and grounded the extra ground that was intended for the new switch on the wire harness. the wire left unused is the one that was intended to power the new switch (hot from the battery to the switch) on the new harness, but i removed that from the set up. heres where my head is not finishing the thought process. did i just create a closed loop where the one hot wire from the pre existing switch is running the new and old lights instead of just hitting the relay ??? ?. i think if it was the fuses would blow or the wires would melt and poof lol. i did flip it on but only for a minute. typing this out is helping me think it over. getting old sucks.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

friends, i am planning to add more lighting to my ranger. i do not want to add another switch inside etc. here is my plan, tell me if im thinking correctly. im having a mind fart today and cant assure myself lol. i already have a set of lights with a switch in the cab. i want to use those with the new light at the same time. so i can add a relay onto the wiring for the set that is already installed, which will make them all run from one switch and the relay will keep the wiring and switch safe from being over burdened and allow full juice to the new light for full brightness- yes?? feel like im over thinking it or something.

Hi Mark,

Yes a relay will greatly reduce current draw and likely will work just fine.... That said...where and how you mount the relay might come into play. Where do you intend to install the relay? Under that dash is good to keep it dry, Under the hood...take care to "waterProof"...

Do not cut corners with connections....it will likely not pay dividends but you will run trouble free. Otherwise...you will be chasing electrical gremlins for ever...

Best.
Phil

 

[9zero1790]

Hi Mark,

Yes a relay will greatly reduce current draw and likely will work just fine.... That said...where and how you mount the relay might come into play. Where do you intend to install the relay? Under that dash is good to keep it dry, Under the hood...take care to "waterProof"...

Do not cut corners with connections....it will likely not pay dividends but you will run trouble free. Otherwise...you will be chasing electrical gremlins for ever...

Best.
Phil

thank you phill! what killing my mind at the moment is the wire left unused . i tried to explain that above. i think my mind is over baking it, relay only works one way as far as i know.

 

[Danager]

If you wired up a standard relay, you will have an extra wire. There are the pins that energize the coil - #85 & #86. One gets ground and the other gets power from your switch - doesn’t matter which is which.
Then there are three more pins - a common #30, normally open #87, and normally closed #87a.
#87 should be a fused 12v+ input from battery. #30 is the 12v+ output to the lights. Again, you can reverse #30 and #87, and it is okay (as long as #87a is not in use).

#87a is the middle pin and is seldom used.
In your case, if you grounded it, it doesn’t do anything only because you are using #30 as your output.
When the relay is not energized, these two are closed/connected.

I would disconnect that extra wire anyway. No use having it grounded.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

thank you phill! what killing my mind at the moment is the wire left unused . i tried to explain that above. i think my mind is over baking it, relay only works one way as far as i know.

Hi Mark,

The relay has two modes...NO and Nc...Normally open and Normally Closed which gives you the option for your application. In your case...NO....only energized when current is applied... NC means current flows through the Relay until it is energized and "opens".... Make Sense?

Best,
Phil

 

[Radioman]

As Dan mentioned above, make sure the lead from the battery is fused.

 

[9zero1790]

thank you for all the replies gentlemen ! So after all that I had it correct. had to wait for my thyroid hormone pills to kick in before i could think it out clearly did i mention getting old aint easy lol. The new light is exactly what i needed to fill the gap in light coverage off road in the dark. now gotta clean up and paint my home made mount.

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