I installed my rear rock lights today (the cheap Walmart lights) and just simply tied them into the switch that my front lights are on. My front lights don't seem as bright as they were. Am I reducing the power to the lights by wiring them up to the same switch?

 

Probably not a good idea to just simply connect them to another lighting system like that. Did you determin if the circuit was capable of handling the additional load?

 

They are just 55 watt lights so I think it can handle the load. Plus it's protected by a fuse. It's a total of four lights on the switch. I'm just concerned about the brightness.

 

"Just Thinking" is kinda like assuming. And is the reason for some serious electrical problems. I wouldn't be capable of even venturing a guess as to the current carrying capabilities of your system without knowing all the details of the circuit. There is a science behind electrical theory.

Your system may or may not be capable of handling the additional load. The lights dimming mean one of two things. 1) A bad connection. Or 2) the system is to small to carry the full current required to properly power the load.

 

You may be correct. I ordered another switch today so Ill wire it separately when the new switch comes in. I was trying to save a spot on my daystar switch panel.

 

Relays are your friend.

 

You could still use the headlamp switch, just install a relay to handle the power from your battery to the lights and use your headlamp switch to activate the relay. The additional load from activating the relay will not cause any issues. JK headlamps are borderline as it is so we don't need to make them worse.

 

Sorry, my OP was unclear. When I said tie them into my front lights, I meant front rock lights. Not my headlights. I already had my front rock lights installed using the basic wiring instructions that came with the lights - wire from battery to switch then switch to lights. Ground wire of course.

To install my rear lights I simply spliced them in to the wire coming from the switch. So instead of going from the switch to two lights, it now goes to 4 lights.

Is this ok? Will this divide the power going to my lights and make them dimmer?

 

Still use the relays. You're putting too much thru one switch. Use the switch as the relay trigger.

 

I'll pick up a relay tomorrow. So I can go from the relay to all four lights?