Fixed Thanks! Need Help on fog and driving lights!

[Metrodps]

OK so I am trying to fix the POS wiring job the prior owner did on these. I did the exterior wiring before I moved. The problem I have is in his switch wiring and relay. I ran new from the hot bolt on fire wall by wipers to replace his battery hack job. Here is where I get lost I think this is how it should be but he has the two relays linked.

If I have this right I am going to redo it all. Thinking of a on off on switch for the inside.

 

[88jimmy4x4]

I would like to know this too

 

[lectric80]

Yes that is right if you are using two SPST switches. Each switch controls a different relay and a different set of lights. Your diagram is exactly how I would do it if I was running both types of lights.

Now if you wanted to switch to a on/off/on type switch, you would have the green wire run into the supply side of the switch, then the yellows would run from the other two posts to their respective relays. When it is on in one position the fogs would be on, when in the other the driving lights would be on. Hope that helps.

 

[Jessie James]

Looks right to me too.

FYI - in most states it is only legal to have one set of lights on at a time - either fog OR driving, but not both. You may save yourself a ticket if you use a single switch which is off in the middle, then on up or down for fog or driving lights. That is how mine are setup.

 

[4xcrazy]

Never heard that one with "most states"

They usually allow the use of one set of add on lighting and they cannot excede 55 watts out of each light. Maybe some of those crazy states like Jersey, Mass of some east coast lib state.

 

[Jessie James]

You have it exactly right - one set of lights ... at a time. So you can have more than one set, but only one set can be illuminated. CA vehicle code, for example, spells it out plain and clear - you can only have your two headlights on and two other lights on at the same time. However, you cannot have those supplimental lights on with both your low AND your high beams. So if you have fog lights, and they are on with your low beams, if you switch to your high beams the fog lights have to switch off. The same is true for driving lights. You could wire them to your high beams OR your low beams, but not both.

You know those trucks who have 4-6 lights on a bar? In CA, those are legal only for off-road use. You can only have 2 lit at a time. if they pull you over and find out you have them wired with power they will ticket you. The only way to not get a ticket is to have a fuse and remove the fuse when you are not off-road and the fuse cannot be somewhere that you can plug it in while you are in the cab. Put it under the hood and you're okay.

Ask me how I know all this... Yes, I got tickets!

As always, local laws trump, so check with your vehicle code.

 

[Metrodps]

OK fixed it today outside work bites. Below 30* and windy here on western slope. Wired like diagram and every thing works fine.

Why the PO had jumpered the relays I have no clue. Will pick up some new switches next month when I get my disability check. Thanks guys as always the brother hood rocks.

 

[munepit]

You have it exactly right - one set of lights ... at a time. So you can have more than one set, but only one set can be illuminated. CA vehicle code, for example, spells it out plain and clear - you can only have your two headlights on and two other lights on at the same time. However, you cannot have those supplimental lights on with both your low AND your high beams. So if you have fog lights, and they are on with your low beams, if you switch to your high beams the fog lights have to switch off. The same is true for driving lights. You could wire them to your high beams OR your low beams, but not both.

You know those trucks who have 4-6 lights on a bar? In CA, those are legal only for off-road use. You can only have 2 lit at a time. if they pull you over and find out you have them wired with power they will ticket you. The only way to not get a ticket is to have a fuse and remove the fuse when you are not off-road and the fuse cannot be somewhere that you can plug it in while you are in the cab. Put it under the hood and you're okay.

Ask me how I know all this... Yes, I got tickets!

As always, local laws trump, so check with your vehicle code.

I always see rigs with their lights facing up to the sky for that reason, or have a cover over the lights. The way your talking about the fuse sounds like carring a weapon where the ammo have to be out of the passenger compartment.

 

[Jessie James]

I always see rigs with their lights facing up to the sky for that reason, or have a cover over the lights. The way your talking about the fuse sounds like carring a weapon where the ammo have to be out of the passenger compartment.

Those methods work also. But hey, I don't make the laws, I just get busted!

 

[Speedo]

I run an on-off-on switch for the relay trigger, one from either a batt. or ign. hot to turn the lights on whenever you want to and the other from the high beam for the driving lights. That way you can turn the lights on by themselves or use the dimmer switch to turn the driving lights on with the high beams and off with the low beams. With the fogs you could do the same thing using the low beam to turn them on.

Gus

 

[Fordum]

Thats the way I had my big driving lights on my old truck. The switch armed them, but the relay got its power through that switch from the high beam switch.

That way, if I met someone at night with them on, they went off with the highbeams. However, you have to remember they are armed. If you forget and flash your highbeams at someone, and 300,000 cp of driving lights flash at the same time, it really POs folks.