Reverse Lights / Auxiliary lighting wiring help
10-14-2014, 12:30 PM
#1
JK Newbie
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Location: Houston, TX
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Reverse Lights / Auxiliary lighting wiring help
When looking at some other things I found this helpful writeup the guys over at JCR Offrad put up concerning wiring. It goes over several wiring options and explains them pretty well...
http://www.jcroffroad.com/install_gu...g_diagrams.pdf
idk, just thought this might be helpful to some people out there...
http://www.jcroffroad.com/install_gu...g_diagrams.pdf
idk, just thought this might be helpful to some people out there...
10-17-2014, 08:15 AM
#3
JK Enthusiast
I have, what may be a stupid question. I am planing on wiring up to lights that the previous owner attached to the front bumper. The one thing I am concerned about is forgetting to turn the lights off when I shut the car off....I have been known to be really bad at this..........how can they be wired up so there is only power when the engine is on?
10-17-2014, 08:19 AM
#4
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I am not an electric guy, but I would assume you just hock the load wire up to the starter instead of the battery... Maybe somebody here could answer better than that...
10-17-2014, 08:29 AM
#5
JK Junkie
Did he use a relay? If so, wire the control circuit to a switched 12V source. That way the ignition switch has to be in the run position for the lights to be on. They will automatically turn off with the vehicle.
If he didn't, add one. This is set up for negative switching of the control circuit (pin 85) which I prefer. Yours may be wired with the switch on the positive side (pin 86).
If he didn't, add one. This is set up for negative switching of the control circuit (pin 85) which I prefer. Yours may be wired with the switch on the positive side (pin 86).
Last edited by 14Sport; 02-01-2015 at 11:31 AM.
10-17-2014, 09:02 AM
#6
JK Enthusiast
Did he use a relay? If so, wire the control circuit to a switched 12V source. That way the ignition switch has to be in the run position for the lights to be on. They will automatically turn off with the vehicle.
If he didn't, add one. This is set up for negative switching of the control circuit (pin 85) which I prefer. Yours may be wired with the switch on the positive side (pin 86).
Attachment 580189
If he didn't, add one. This is set up for negative switching of the control circuit (pin 85) which I prefer. Yours may be wired with the switch on the positive side (pin 86).
Attachment 580189
i want to wire it correctly, and the diagram will help a great deal......thank you again.
10-17-2014, 09:08 AM
#7
JK Junkie
No problem. Good for you for wanting to do it right. 
That's a single pole, single throw (SPST) relay. Make sure you use the correct size fuse and wiring for the lights. The control circuit, pins 85 and 86, run on milliamps so you can use smaller wire and therefore a simple switch. I use 18 or 20 gauge for that, whatever I have handy.
That's a single pole, single throw (SPST) relay. Make sure you use the correct size fuse and wiring for the lights. The control circuit, pins 85 and 86, run on milliamps so you can use smaller wire and therefore a simple switch. I use 18 or 20 gauge for that, whatever I have handy.
Last edited by 14Sport; 10-17-2014 at 09:11 AM.
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10-17-2014, 10:22 AM
#8
JK Enthusiast
No problem. Good for you for wanting to do it right.
That's a single pole, single throw (SPST) relay. Make sure you use the correct size fuse and wiring for the lights. The control circuit, pins 85 and 86, run on milliamps so you can use smaller wire and therefore a simple switch. I use 18 or 20 gauge for that, whatever I have handy.
That's a single pole, single throw (SPST) relay. Make sure you use the correct size fuse and wiring for the lights. The control circuit, pins 85 and 86, run on milliamps so you can use smaller wire and therefore a simple switch. I use 18 or 20 gauge for that, whatever I have handy.
would 12 gauge be ok for the rest?
2-100W halogen lights
10-17-2014, 10:33 AM
#9
JK Junkie
10 would be best. Those are pretty powerful lights. Each one is drawing about 8.33 amps so the 2 together are 16.66 amps.
Here's a link to a wire sizing chart.
Amps and Wire Gauge - 12V Circuit
From the chart you will see that you can use 12 from light to light, but the feed up to the lights from the relay requires 10, as does the wire from the battery to the relay, since both of those will be carrying power for both lights.
To calculate amps from watts, the formula is:
Amps = Watts / Volts
Here's a link to a wire sizing chart.
Amps and Wire Gauge - 12V Circuit
From the chart you will see that you can use 12 from light to light, but the feed up to the lights from the relay requires 10, as does the wire from the battery to the relay, since both of those will be carrying power for both lights.
To calculate amps from watts, the formula is:
Amps = Watts / Volts
Last edited by 14Sport; 10-17-2014 at 10:35 AM.