Wiring up LED light bar

[GotFlex]

Just bought a 24" LED light bar
However I have no idea how to wire them up..
I've wired up spotlights is it the same? What relay do I need?
Any help appreciated

[kbushnz]

Same as spot lights however I think you can ditch the relay as they don't draw the amps like old fashioned bulbs...
I have 4 27W units just wired thru a switch and fuse....
No issues....

[GotFlex]

So run the red to the switch - fuse - battery
And black to an earth?

[GotFlex]

I'm not going to bother wiring it up so it switches when hi beams on just want a simple on/off

[SamLogan]

how many watt is the bar? it is always good practice to run things that draw and largish amounts of current through a relay. By running it through a relay you can shorten the amount of wire you need and if the wire does rub through for some reason when going into the cab it is not a large cable that can carry a large current. Go buy a relay that has a fuse holder built into it.


Here is a picture on how to wire them up

http://www.the12volt.com/relays/page1.asp

pin 85 goes to one side of a switch and the other end goes to earth

Sam

[rokhound]

These draw very low amperage (ie single figures in most cases). I'm with Kbush, mine are just through a switch, no relay.

[SamLogan]

My 42 inch light bar draws 20 amps as it is 240 watt. If you halve that roughly for a light bar that is half as long you have 120 watt which at 12 volts is still 10 amps. I don't think i would like to have a switch close to me with 10 amps going through it continuously. If you don't mind having a big whorey looking switch that can handle at least 10amps thats fine. The shorter the better for components that draw large currents. As LED's heat up the become more in efficient and will therefore draw more current. Up to you in the end

Sam

[Big]

I've piggy backed on a circuit that I have no idea what it runs and it's mean.. works a treat but as other have said they draw bugger all.. so you should be sweet as..I'm working on the assumption that if it blows the fuse then it's too much..lol

[monterey]

I've fitted a 30" light bar, it only draws about 2.5 amps @ 24v. Didn't worry about a relay, just a fused lead from the battery, through a switch and on to a waterproof plug that I've mounted on the inside of the B pillar. I made up a short lead that goes out the window and plugs into the light unit. I figured that if the wire is damaged going out the window, it will only be a short lead with a plug on either end to be replaced.

[GotFlex]

Ran the relay in the to be safe, just a 4 pin normally open one
Was easy as to wire, hardest but was mounting the dam thing, throws an awesome light and was cheaper than buying spotties (eBay special)

[4WDbits]

how many watt is the bar? it is always good practice to run things that draw and largish amounts of current through a relay. By running it through a relay you can shorten the amount of wire you need and if the wire does rub through for some reason when going into the cab it is not a large cable that can carry a large current. Go buy a relay that has a fuse holder built into it.


Here is a picture on how to wire them up

http://www.the12volt.com/relays/page1.asp

pin 85 goes to one side of a switch and the other end goes to earth

Sam

It pays to always check the relay pin out. I've seen a car fire caused by sparky who didn't, he thought pin outs were all the same. His bad.