Notice: We request that you don't just set up a new account at this time if you are a previous user.
If you used to be one of our moderators, please feel free to reach out to Chris via the facebook Outerlimits4x4 group and he will get you set back up with access should he need you.
Recovery:If you cannot access your old email address and don't remember your password, please click here to log a change of email address so you can do a password reset.

Lights

General Tech Talk

Moderators: toaddog, TWISTY, V8Patrol, Moderators

Post Reply
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:52 pm
Location: Lysterfield, Victoria

Lights

Post by endo »

Quite possibly a stupid question but...

Is a relay required for driving lights to function?

Was on hols recently and have a driving light mounted backwards on the roll bar, wanted to turn the bugger on and unplugged a direct 12v line from the battert (runs the air comprssor) and plugged it in to the light directly.... Power was going through and the globe was ok, so guessing possibly relay?

Thanks :)
The Haggler!
Posts: 6652
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2002 8:48 pm

Post by ToNkA »

was it earthed?
MY JEEP BUILD
v840 wrote: [Not a shot at Tonka] It's like saying, hell I've got two nuts, I may as well cut one of them off for the hell of it. I ain't using it.[/NAS@T] It's ridiculous!
Road Ranger
Posts: 10722
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 12:21 pm
Location: In a town near you

Post by Tiny »

No, a relay is not required for light to function, but required to turn on and off with headligh high beam dip switch. If the thing was directly pluged in to power, then it should have worked.......as said above was it earthed.

Tiny
If the above post did not offend you in any way please PM me so I can try harder!!
Posts: 2384
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:05 am
Location: Brisbane or 169.254.243.241

Re: Lights

Post by RaginRover »

endo wrote:Quite possibly a stupid question but...

Is a relay required for driving lights to function?

Was on hols recently and have a driving light mounted backwards on the roll bar, wanted to turn the bugger on and unplugged a direct 12v line from the battert (runs the air comprssor) and plugged it in to the light directly.... Power was going through and the globe was ok, so guessing possibly relay?

Thanks :)


All a relay does is allow you to switch a high current line (like the line supplying power to your lights) with a low current line (like a tiny little switch on your dash)

Without a relay your switch would be taking all the current you lights draw and passing it through itself - which if you look into it would fairly quickly make the switch become a little puddle of plastic goo or start a fire.

The other guys have given you the info on why your lights didn't work

Tom
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:52 pm
Location: Lysterfield, Victoria

Post by endo »

Thanks guys.

Will recheck the earth.
Road Ranger
Posts: 10722
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 12:21 pm
Location: In a town near you

Post by Tiny »

Just had a thought......If the roll bar is on a ute, and the tub is not tight, the earth on the light itsself may be good, but the contact on the tub to chassis could be f$@#ed. It hapened to me....my light got dim and then died one night, and when I jumped up the tray to figure it ougt it worked again.....blinded me and I almost fell off the bastard.......maybe the roll bar itself is on rubber spacers for vibration, and they are loose????

Tiny
If the above post did not offend you in any way please PM me so I can try harder!!
Posts: 72
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2004 1:52 pm
Location: Lysterfield, Victoria

Post by endo »

After the beating it has got recently, its more then possible :)

Will tighten everything and see how we go :)
Road Ranger
Posts: 10722
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2004 12:21 pm
Location: In a town near you

Post by Tiny »

Good Luck......Remember electricity is like water, it will always take the easiest pathe, and it doesn't take much to stop it
Tiny
If the above post did not offend you in any way please PM me so I can try harder!!
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest