Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:31:52 -0400
Reply-To: Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Aux driving lights question..best easy power source..?
In-Reply-To: <001a01c8f346$27c76b60$4001a8c0@gateway.2wire.net>
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I used Hella XL driving lights and ran the power to my relay directly from
the secondary battery, but it's just as easy to run a lead wire from the
main battery, through the vent tube and under the vehicle. I eventually
used the same wire to power my triple Mercedes S-class horn.
2008/7/31 Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net>
> 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.
>
--
Chris S.
"Beware the Subie Vultures"
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