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LED light bars and wiring

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Southeastpete

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi, im no good with electrics, but thought id order myself a lightbar anyway.
I went with a 300w 33" lightbar, thinking 300w was better than 180w right? But today i went to Maplins to buy the wiring and switches. I asked what sizes i would need, and they said there that the 300w would be too big, and id need massive 25amp switches and wiring, and that it would drain my battery really quick.
So i asked about if i went and got a 180w one instead, and they said that would be better. So they sold me a 10 amp switch and 10 amp relay, and 15 amp wiring, to do a 180w light bar.
So the one i bought was 33". I looked to find a lesser wattage one, but maybe a bigger bar to reach all the way across the windscreen. But all the 44" ones are 400w.
What have other people found regards wiring, siz of wires and watts and amps etc etc. I dont want to melt my wiring or drain my battery..?

Also, for two 18w rear work/reverse lights they sold me 6amp wire, with the 10 amp switch and relay again. is that ok?

If it makes any difference im wiring them up with 3 way switches to have off, on with main beam or reverse, and on. with the rear lights having an extra switch at the tail gate for convenience.

thanks for any help and advice,
Pete
 
#2 ·
Southeastpete said:
Hi, im no good with electrics, but thought id order myself a lightbar anyway.

I went with a 300w 33" lightbar, thinking 300w was better than 180w right? But today i went to Maplins to buy the wiring and switches. I asked what sizes i would need, and they said there that the 300w would be too big, and id need massive 25amp switches and wiring, and that it would drain my battery really quick.

So i asked about if i went and got a 180w one instead, and they said that would be better. So they sold me a 10 amp switch and 10 amp relay, and 15 amp wiring, to do a 180w light bar.

So the one i bought was 33". I looked to find a lesser wattage one, but maybe a bigger bar to reach all the way across the windscreen. But all the 44" ones are 400w.

What have other people found regards wiring, siz of wires and watts and amps etc etc. I dont want to melt my wiring or drain my battery..?



Also, for two 18w rear work/reverse lights they sold me 6amp wire, with the 10 amp switch and relay again. is that ok?



If it makes any difference im wiring them up with 3 way switches to have off, on with main beam or reverse, and on. with the rear lights having an extra switch at the tail gate for convenience.



thanks for any help and advice,

Pete
Click to expand...


What a load of ******** they've told you. You don't need a high amp switch as that is the function of the relay. Get a 40A relay and a regular switch.

There are plenty of threads on here about working in a light bar or other types of LED lamps. Don't forget LED's are a lot lower wattage than their equivalent in filament lamps take a look here for some info

http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/light/how-lumen-to-watt.htm

The relay needs to be fused and there is also a thread on here with a wiring diagram. Someone is bound to put a link up for you.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Yea, i read alot of threads and looked at some wiring diagrams.
Not alot mentioned amps though. The light bar is sold as 300w, 60x5w leds. So 300/12 is 25 amps. So surely the wiring would need to be rated for 25 amps?
And if i had say a 200AH car battery, does that mean with the ignition off and a full battery it would run for four hours? or say 3 hours before it would be too low to start the truck? With the ignition running, would it slowly drain the battery or would it charge enough at idle to keep the light bar going?

Where did you guys with higher wattage bars get your wiring from and what ampage is it rated to?

thanks,
peter
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
these are the wiring diagrams i have drawn myself up. do they look right?
Does it matter if the switch and relay is on the positive or negative/earth side at all? i think there was a reason i drew it on the earth side but i cant remember it now...
 

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#6 ·
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Yea seen that one thanks. Still no mention of what size wire to use, amps wise.
Also would love to hear how using these high powered light bars affects the battery?
Also does anyone know where I can find a reverse feed behind the dash at all?
 
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Southeastpete
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