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How to Wire a Relay for Your Off-Road LED Lights
If you have a vehicle that’s off-road capable, then you know the importance of having lights. In this guide, we’ll show how to wire a relay for off-road LED lighting.
So that you don’t have to worry about burning out your factory wiring or causing other damage.
Wiring off-road lights with a relay and switch can be simple, but you still need to pay attention. We’ve listed below easy steps on how to wire a relay without compromising quality!
You have tailored the gauge or amperage requirements for your vehicle. So that it will function when completed. Otherwise, the charred connections are left instead of intense illumination.
What Is A Relay
A relay is a switch that can control the electricity flow of a high-current circuit. They’re used for low current situations. Like turning the LED light bar off or on and other appliances inside the homes with one flick!
What Is The Purpose Of A Relay?
We all know that a light needs to be connected between your battery and the LED lights. But what happens if you put in an ordinary switch?
Well, this may not work for our lowest amp draw pod (which has about 1.4 amps). They do well with 50″ led strips or higher-powered devices because their amperages are lower at 17 2 compared to 25+.
When there’s too much current flowing through something small without enough capacity. Things heat up. You might use electrical currents than a physical switch is with the help of relays.
How do I wire off-road lights with a relay and switch?
Here are easy to follow steps on wiring off-road lights with relay and switch:
When it comes to off-road wiring lights with a relay and switch, there are many options available. This guide will walk you through the various steps for connecting the relay and switch.
Check out our selection of offroad LED Light Bars and wiring harness
Step #1 Preparation of Materials and Tools
The first thing you need to do is prepare the tools or materials you need
Step #2 Disable Terminals
This step is not necessary if you need both sets of terminals. In any case, you must follow this step if you do not need both sets of terminals. Wrap the terminals in electric tape to prevent them from touching.
Ensure that the white and black wires won’t touch each other as well. Choose the shorter end if you need to use both terminals, depending on which side the battery is on.
Step #3 Attach the LED light bar to the other terminal set
Connect a white terminal wire to positive red wires. Then, black to the negative black wire with electric tape for secure connections.
Use electric tape on these connections, so they don’t short out in case of an accident.
Step #4 Wiring the Batteries and Relays in the Car
Ensure the red wire connected to the fuse joins the positive terminal on the car battery. Connect the black wire of the relay to the car battery’s negative terminal or a grounding source.
When the LED light bar short circuits, the fuse will blow to prevent further damage. Relays act as railroad switches, guiding the flow of power in the right direction.
Step #5 fit the button switch in the interior of the driver’s door
Due to the double-sided adhesive on the switch, it can be positioned wherever you like. Ensure the switch part of the wire is placed on the driver’s side to maximize cable management.
Pull off the rubber cover to reveal the firewall. Plug the switch into the engine bay from the interior
Step #6 Connect the Red Trigger Wire to the Positive Wire for the Headlights or Taillights
By connecting the red wire to the car’s positive wire, the car battery is protected. Drivers fail to turn off their headlights first. Due to these reasons, the red wire is connected to the positive headlight wire.
Step #7 Check the LED light bar after being wired
Don’t forget to test your wired LED light bar before taking a drive with it. Push in on the switch and make sure that all its functions are working!
FAQs
Lights can be wired without relays?
LED light pods don’t draw a lot of power. One can control a higher current circuit using a relay, such as a larger LED light bar, with a low current circuit.
A relay switch may not be necessary, but it is a must-have if you have a larger LED light bar.
Light bars have relays that switch from low-current triggers to high-current triggers. The reverse polarity, turn off circuits, and much more. A circuit is needed to supply enough voltage to LED lights.
Is there a standard fuse size for off-road lights?
Ten amps are usually the rate of switches so that you can protect your circuit with 16 gauge wire. Using a 20 amp panel switch would overload it and cause other damage if something were shorted out in the wires!
Is it possible not to have my LED Light come on with my high beam or backup lighting all the time?
So you’d need another switch on your dashboard that you can turn on and off. It will still be off if you put on your high beams when it is off, and vice versa.
The dash switch must be connected to the trigger circuit. That is the wire you spliced from the high beam or the backup light.
