Outer Limits 4x4 Board

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

was it earthed?

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

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

Thanks guys.

Will recheck the earth.

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

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

Will tighten everything and see how we go

Good Luck......Remember electricity is like water, it will always take the easiest pathe, and it doesn't take much to stop it
Tiny