Date:         Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:46:41 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Aux driving lights question..best easy power source..?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

Hi all,

  I am installing some KC Daylighter lights onto my 84 vans front bumper.
These came from my now retired big Ford.  100 watt bulbs, you see em
everywhere on showboat trucks and buggies, the big round ones with the
'smiler face' covers sometimes.

  Anyhow, I used these on my pickup in Baja and on deserted roads and
they've saved me a few cow and deer encounters so now they are going onto
the van.
  So far, I have all the stuff and the hardware is in place, with the lights
drilled into the bumpers right under my headlights.  I also have a genuine
VW auxiliary light switch for the blank position in my dash switch panel.
Here's my plan..see if it makes sense.  I plan to take a small lead from my
high beams, probably from the fuse panel and run that to the aux light
switch.  I will use the aux light switch to control a 30 amp relay to power
the lights, but the aux. light switch will only get power through the switch
if the high beams are on.  So, if I want the aux lights on, I have to run
the high beams..and if I dim the high beams, the aux light switch will no
longer power that relay, so the auxiliary lights will go off also.  Just in
case I am on a mountain road and come round a corner encountering a stray
vehicle with my driving lights on, a quick dip of the high beams will kill
em. (as is mandated by law, too, I think, though the KC lights aren't
highway legal anyhow.)

  So the question is, where is a good place to get some power for the power
side of the light relay I plan to install as close to the lights as
possible.  Shorter is better, right?  But I don't want to chance overloading
a critical circuit so what would be good?  I could come forward from my
coach battery (under the driver seat) or maybe from the fan power supply.
Not the headlights..as I'd hate blowing a fuse and being lightless at
speed..
  any suggestions, any 'gotchas' with my plan?
  Thanks,
 Don Hanson

  I don't care if it doesn't look 'factory'.  I can live with extra visible
wires.  Easy of install overrides beauty, but durability and function trumps
all.