driving lights wiring question

[97splorer]

I just got some driving lights to put on my grill guard and I have it all wired up but nothing is happening. There is a wire that can be connected to the main headlights with a quick connect but I didn't want to do that. Is that keeping the lights from working or could the in line fuse be bad (fuse Looks O.K.)? I have a good ground tooo so I am lost. Any help is greatly appriciated.

 

[mattadams]

that would be the wire that trips the relay. It has to be hooke up to something. Do you have a switch with this? If so, that wire would just tell your switch it could come on only when your headlights are on.

 

[97splorer]

What can I hook it to if I don't want to splice into the headlight wire?

 

[mattadams]

cigarette lighter, radio power wire, etc. Instead of splicing you could just tap into the headlight fuse that way no damage to the wires.

 

[97splorer]

How do you tap into a fuse? Is that safe?

 

[Alec]

I have many circuits running off tapped fuses. If it's just a switch circuit, it's putting little load on the tapped circuit and won't do anything. If you're tapping for main power for an accessory, you should tap a seldom used, high draw circuit like the rear defroster or wipers.

To tap a fuse, all I do is pull the fuse out, stick the stripped wire end into one of the fuse terminal slots, then put the fuse back in, pinning the wire in. It's better to use the "downstream" side of the fuse, the one that is dead if the fuse is pulled out or pops. This way it protects your new stuff too.

 

[bipolarbob]

DO NOT "tap" into the fuses! It is a mickey-mouse, amateur way to do it.If a cop sees it he will give you an inspection notice.It looks horrible and they allways fall out.If you want to do it properly, get one of the piggyback connectors that clip over the wire.You just squeeze them with a pair of pliers with the wire you are splicing and the new wire.The hi-beam wire is the purple one coming right out of the back of the plug for the headlight plug.Hope this helps!You could easily start a fire "tapping" a fuse, or have some electrical components go out while driving.

 

[Alec]

I have to disagree with you there. I've had fuse taps for over 4 years without any problems. If done properly, not overloading the ciruits, and properly hooked up and fused, there are no problems.

The spade splice connectors you're talking about on the otherhand, fail often and are dangerous. I've had more than a few fail and don't use them anymore. I've seen a few fires caused by them too.

 

[bipolarbob]

The wire splices cannot catch on fire because they are on a fused wire. If you put the fuse tap you can short out your fuse box, you can bend the prongs that the fuse fits in or the fuse you are using can just fall out if you catch the wire with your foot. Also, check your state regulations - I bet it is illegal. If you have never had a problem with it so far you are lucky. I have never had an accident - but I still wear my seatbelt. (I don't mean to sound rude).

 

[Alec]

To each his own, I just speak from my experience of what I've seen work and what I've seen fail.

And I check state laws before any mod I do.

 

[97splorer]

Hey, thanks for the help guys, I ended up splicing it into the cig. lighter by cutting wires, using a small wire nut to connect them, and electrical taping it to ensure it won't slip off and they work just fine now. Does that sound good?

 

[aldive]

Alec is right on; do it at the fuse with the proper connector.

 

[Alec]

So you have power from the cig lighter circuit through the switch to the relay? Sounds good. If you don't have a switch in there, your lights are gonna be on all the time, hope you know that. Oh, and put a fuse on that connection.