Aux Light Wiring Problem

['92ExplorerIUPUI]

About 6 months ago, I installed foglights into the grill of my Explorer. I admit, I know little about electricity, and would love to learn the proper ways of wiring things so I do not blow up my truck. (If you have an education website, I would LOVE that!) It the circuit, I ran the positive from the battery to a switch under the dash, from the switch, I ran it to the lights. From the lights, I ran a negative power supply back to the battery. Now, my problem is, I obtained a green light up switch from Auto Zone. Last week while I was driving, my fiance noticed that my switch was off and pointed out to me that the wire was lying on the floor. I also noticed this, and realized that the connector was hot and the jacket it was in was singed. Any ideas on what happened, and how to fix it? If I need to put in a relay, why?

 

['92ExplorerIUPUI]

This is also the second time it has done it. Both times, the connector has been kicked out of the switch, and the switch will not flip. HELP!!!!!

 

[fixxxer]

#1. Always protect your circuit with a fuse.
#2. Add a relay, that switch can't handle the current.
#3. Use heavier wire, if the wire's getting warm, IT can't handle the power.
#4. Buy a new switch, that one's toast.
#5. www.the12volt.com

 

[Tbars4]

...This thread may help along with the many other sticky's on top of this sub forum...
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203037

 

[CmdrPopNFresh]

you need to have a relay to turn on the lights....the switch isnt designed to handle the current of those lights....they pull alot and the switch is just a bottle neck to the electricity because of the high resistance and small wires so it gets hot and melts. a relay will fix this right up. search around the internet to find how to wire a relay....its not hard and if you can wire up lights a relay wont be any problem

 

['92ExplorerIUPUI]

Thanks a bunch fixxxer, Tbars4, and CmdrPopNFresh. I will admit that I am new to the whole electrical thing, but I am not too bad at the mechanical side of life.