Question on installing Hella 500's...

[ATiredExplorer]

Forgive me if this has been asked a time or two before (or more), but I noticed that the the instructions that came with the lights say to connect the green wire to the high beam. To my knowledge, I'm pretty sure this only enables the lights when the high beams are in use.
I want to be able to use the lights separately from all other lights, turn them on or off when I want too.
Can some one give me an insight on how to attempt this or direct me to another thread or website that already answers my question?
Thanks in advance

 

[solitary ogre]

it may not be legal to wire them separately from the high beams.
however......if you put a switch between the high beam wire and the relay that will stop the driving lights from being operated from the high beams. if you then run a wire off the battery that is fused as close as you can to that battery to another switch that operates the same relay for the driving lights. this will give you complete control and makes it a whole lot easier to align them.
with both switches in the on (closed circuit) position, the power will feed back and run the headlights if their switch is in the off position. (unless a fuse blows from overload). you may want to avoid this kind of situation which means you will have to be more creative yet with your wiring (that can be the fun part). you will have to make sure you know what position each switch is in. if you use illuminated switches that will help but you will have to isolate them so both illuminators don't light up while the other switch is in the on (closed) position.
my bronco ll is a bird’s nest of wiring form playing like this. My explorer is catching up with it in short order.
have fun playing.........t

 

[ATiredExplorer]

Sigh, you're right they aren't. Still researching into my state's auxiliary lighting laws though just to be sure (talk about desperate lol). But yeah, I suppose I'm fine with going the legal way. My high beams are almost low beams anyhow with the years put on those bulbs
Thanks for the help by the way

 

[Boomer12]

lighting faq's & answers


Wire them just like the diagram shows except instead of using the high beam for power just use a separate (switched) 12v source (i.e. the battery).

 

[Anime]

Just use the parking light wire instead of the high or low beam wire. That way it keeps you from leaving your driving lights on when the other lights are off, too. Plus it looks legal (as if anyone checks) since it's attached to a wire. Just don't use your driving lights on the highway or when theres oncoming traffic and you'll be fine.

 

[ATiredExplorer]

Finished up wiring my lights with my Dad today.
Here's what I did all together:
I bought 4" brackets from Home Depot for about $3 or so for two in a pack. Bolts, washers, and nuts cameup to 53 cents total. What a bad time to not have change. I had to break 10 lol

They're pretty sturdy but I had to cut off an inch on the side where the light was mounting too just 'cause it looked goofy sticking out and was pretty flimsy once it was on there.

I mounted the bracket behind the bumper. Right next to the bumper mounts basically. I'm not sure if they were pre-drilled holes or if my Dad made them when it was his.

They look pretty good in my opinion and I love the set up. Has a lot more range than the headlights, forward and the sides.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Looking Goooood. Nothing better than lights....

Angle brackets are a lighting guys best friend..

 

[ATiredExplorer]

Thanks Bill. So far I'm loving the lights. So much brighter than my stock lights and I expected less of it. I'm just trying to decide still of where to mount the switch. Thinking of putting it somewhere where the cup holders are. Right now it's just poking out where the tissue box hole is lol: