Re: Driving lights installation question

[widetrack2000]

I'm trying to install a new set of driving lights on my 2000 GP and although I've added several aftermarket items in the past, this is my first try at anything with the electrical/wiring of any kind I've ever attempted so please be kind in answering what I'm sure will seem like a very simplistic question but everyone has gone through the trial and error process during there first attempts at doing something so here it goes...I'm not sure why but the majority of the lighting kits sold on Ebay which is where I found these do not come with an instruction manual and based on what I've heard from other members, that's not uncommon but it's certainly another hurdle to overcome when you've never done this before. There was only one wire coming from of the back of each driving light, one positive and the other negative so after mounting the lights, I connected each wire directly to the positive and negative terminals of the battery and both lights turned on immediately which was great except the car was turned off with no key in the ignition which even I knew wasn't right because there suppose to turn on and off with the headlights right? Anyway, I turned the car on trying several variations trying to get them to work in conjunction with the headlights and eventually had to pull the fuse because now the driving lights won't shut off even when the car is turned off and parked. I'm sure this is a rookie mistake from someone in process of trying to learn how to do this stuff but would appreciate any feedback you could give me on where I went wrong breaking it down in the most simplistic terms you can please because evidentially, I'm not smarter than a first grader!!! Thanks.

[douger]

Hooking your lights to the battery will mean that you can't turn them off.

What you'll need is a switch. You run a wire from the positive - you don't need to go to the battery, running one from the fuse block would be fine - to the switch. Run another wire from the switch to the lights. Do not wire them in series unless you want to play Christmas lights when a bulb goes out. Run the other wires to a bolt on the chassis as a ground. It doesn't matter to your bulbs whether you ground the red wire or the black, but when it comes to electronics, it's very important.

What you've done is create a simple electrical circuit. The current runs from the negative terminal of your battery - which is grounded to the chassis, which is why you can ground your bulbs there to - through the bulbs and the wiring to the switch. With the switch on, current flows back to the positive terminal of the battery.

You'll need a single pole, single throw (SPST) switch, and one of these, appropriate for your fuse block. You do not need the two fuse variety. Stick a 15 or 20 amp fuse in the adapter and add five amps or so to whatever fuse that you're piggybacking on. If you pick a fuse that is "switched," you won't have to worry about turning the lights off when you shut down the car. A "switched" fuse means that a test light will light up on both terminals only with the key in the "run" or "acc" position.

Oh yeah. Wire. Use the same size (gauge) or bigger wire as what comes out of the driving lights. I'm guessing at 12 or 14 guage wire unless you're talking about some big honkin' lights. If the wire is too small it will overheat. Bad things happen when wire overheats.

Have fun.

[widetrack2000]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate you taking the time to walk me through it as it's evident I missed several steps in the "fend for myself" install but I did have one follow up question for you and remember your talking to someone who wishes they made an electricity for dummies book. How does the wire running from the new switch you talked about actually connect to the fuse box? Thanks again!

[douger]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate you taking the time to walk me through it as it's evident I missed several steps in the "fend for myself" install but I did have one follow up question for you and remember your talking to someone who wishes they made an electricity for dummies book. How does the wire running from the new switch you talked about actually connect to the fuse box? Thanks again!

Use the "add a circuit" piggyback fuse holder that I linked to. Most of the major automotive stores carry them. They come in ATC (plastic fuse) and ATO (mini plastic fuse) configurations. Get the one that fits your car.