Spotlights

[Mav96]

Is the relay and wiring up to the job? It looks a little on the cheap side, I don't want any cable fires :nenau

If it doesn't smoke after installation your all good :lol:lol:lol

 

[Banshee]

If you are running standard 55w bulbs in the lamps, each light will draw approx 4.5amp, so 18 amp overall...

The biggest problem is, most "0ff the shelf" rated cable found in car shops is very under rated when you look into it. If you asked for 18amp cable, they would probably sell you 2.5mm2, but with a 5 meter run, the volt drop for all 4 lights would be 1.23 volts. With lights the volt drop you get over such a long run really notices if you do not use big enough cable, so you are better over specifying the wire... To get to a generally accepted 2% loss, you would need 10mm2 wire.

The problem then is the size of the wire, and the cost becomes impractical... What I did when I had the roof spots, is buy 4 core 2.5mm cable, and use each conductor to run a separate feed to each light. I tend to use the body of the car as the return, so do not need the extra 4 wires., but that depends on if your roof bar is electrically connected to the body. If it is not, then you would be best running 2 x 4 core 2.5mm cables, so each cable serves 2 lights.

On my car, even though the relay could handle 40amp, I actually used 2 relays, so I then had 2 independent circuits. This meant that should one relay fail, I still had half my roof lights.

I ran a 16mm2 cable from the battery to a distribution fuse box, like this, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-6-10-WAY-1-POSITIVE-BUS-IN-LED-WARNING-FUSE-BOX-HOLDER-12V-24V-STANDARD-BLADE-/231540874733?var=&hash=item35e8e95ded:m:m3lOCdh7I4m1LFp-5Y5mdhA mounting it on the N/S inner wing, and then took the feeds from that to the spot lights.

Have a look on this site, it lets you calculate cable sizes for given currents and cable lengths.. http://www.solar-wind.co.uk/cable-sizing-DC-cables.html

Just been on a spending spree and got enough corrugated trunking and 4 core cable to do the job twice (which I will probably end up doing before getting it right :lol )

Thanks for the list Clive :thumbs

I went old school and managed to source a load of GCSE electrickery gear and had a play with relays and the switch I had to just to gain an understanding of how it would all work on the car but doing it in the warmth of the living room :lol

Will be a lot neater when installed on the car;

 

[emjaybee]

I'm starting to wonder if you are actually gradually emptying the school bit by bit. First it was desks, now science lab equipment.

Could this be the world's slowest burglary?

:augie

Just follow the sensible advice on offer, use good quality components and you should have no problem.

:thumbs

 

[Banshee]

I'm starting to wonder if you are actually gradually emptying the school bit by bit. First it was desks, now science lab equipment.

Could this be the world's slowest burglary?

:augie

Just follow the sensible advice on offer, use good quality components and you should have no problem.

:thumbs

Power Supply, Switch and Relay was mine, everything else was returned :lol

The desks were being thrown away

I really want to do a nice job :thumbs

 

[emjaybee]

I'm just waiting for Rustic to join in, he's usually on the ball with good advice on this sort of thing.

For reference, there's a company called Beal, I've used for fuses, hardware, fuel pipe etc. I know they do relays, seeing as your truck is an ongoing project they could be a good source of bits.

https://www.beal.org.uk

I look forward to seeing the "Blackpool illuminations".

:thumbs

 

[Banshee]

What are those little square plastic things called with the adhesive backs on that allow you to thread a cable tie through them to secure cables and do a neat job?

 

[Blocky10]

I'm sure you'll do a fine job Zac :thumbs
If you search flea bay for cable tie clips you'll find several different options:thumb2

 

[Banshee]

I'm just waiting for Rustic to join in, he's usually on the ball with good advice on this sort of thing.

For reference, there's a company called Beal, I've used for fuses, hardware, fuel pipe etc. I know they do relays, seeing as your truck is an ongoing project they could be a good source of bits.

https://www.beal.org.uk

I look forward to seeing the "Blackpool illuminations".

:thumbs

Hahaha not as bright as those bloody LED lightbars but I like the old school spots, looks less space ship more 4x4 :lol

I'm sure you'll do a fine job Zac :thumbs
If you search flea bay for cable tie clips you'll find several different options:thumb2

Gone for these :thumb2

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111348705768

 

[Fez_uk]

What are those little square plastic things called with the adhesive backs on that allow you to thread a cable tie through them to secure cables and do a neat job?

crap, I've used them in the past don't last long. Maybe i had a crap quality one?

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

"Self adhesive cable tie bases"

crap, I've used them in the past don't last long. Maybe i had a crap quality one?

I have never found them any good inside the engine bay, or where they are exposed to the elements, but have used them inside the cabin a few times. Just make sure you wipe where you want to put them with some Methylated Spirits and allow it to dry first.

Most times I just cable tie the new wires to any other orriganal wires when running behind trim.