Wiring Roof Top Lights

[AaronsX]

When it comes to wiring things I have the intelligence of a toddler haha So I want opinions!

So I'm finally getting around to wiring these awesome lights up haha, I have a few questions. Tell me what you think will be best.
My friend says it will be easier to just cut the tips off of the wires that run from the lights, he says they will be easier to connect.
These tips

We are going to try and run through this rubber in the firewall, passengers side

Then run them to a fuse in the engine fuse box, the stock fogs are run in here on 2 different 15 amp fuses. Ignore the red circle I marked the wrong place. I meant to mark the other row of fuses that host the 15's and 1 20.

Im wanting to run 2 switches, one for the inside 2 lights and 1 for the outside 2 lights.
Where is the best place to put the switches...we are thinking here.

 

[TheFauxFox]

While it may be easier to use that connector for your wire, I'd recommend heat-shrink connectors instead. You can tape it all you want; tape does fall off. Additionally, I have seen those connectors used with small fuses, and they often fall off, even when heat-shrinked. Just be sure, if you use them, to make sure they DO NOT move. I've just had too many electrical problems with those; usually just the connections detaching.

As for the switch(es), that spot isn't bad. I have my never-gonna-be-used Hardon & Kardon iPod controller there. The only problem I have with anything there is that I sometimes knock it when I put a drink into the cup holder or reach for the gearshift.

 

[NMTerras]

That's where I ran my wires through the firewall. Pretty easy...

 

[drbandkgb]

I wouldnt mount them there... Thats where I had my switches on Turk.. You would be surprised how many time I turn the lights on with out knowing..

Now that being said.. I know what your hooking up and you would know if the lights are on.. (No covers)

Just something to think about

 

[AaronsX]

Is the running 2 switches good or bad? Also I'm gonna run the wire into my moon roof, under my head liner down the door and behind the bash

 

[RATTFINK]

I wouldnt mount them there... Thats where I had my switches on Turk.. You would be surprised how many time I turn the lights on with out knowing..

Now that being said.. I know what your hooking up and you would know if the lights are on.. (No covers)

Just something to think about

That's where mine are

Sent from my zombie fort.

 

[drbandkgb]

That's where mine are

Sent from my zombie fort.

And how many covers have you melted hehehe

 

[Ricel]

Get switch guards and youll be set!

Since then, I've moved them to overhead.


Heres a wiring schematic for your entertainment. Ignore the connector.

 

[drbandkgb]

Nice drawing rep

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Aaron, you would be so much better off to get the BlueSea Aux Fusebox, I have that that I took off from my 1st gen and trust me, its a peace of mind. Won't have to worry about your stock fuses blowing out.

I had 6 lights mounted on my shrock, 2 side lights, and one reverse light on my 1st gen before I sold it. All were connected to that aux fuse.

 

[AaronsX]

Well the racing style switched like ricel has where $18.99 a piece so I went with the $7.99 blue LED one. Looks like I'm just going to run ONE switch to all 4 lights. It handles up to 360 watt accessories... its a 30 amp switch...autozone guy said it will work.

Im about to sound dumb but I know little about wiring thats why my friend is helping. Do I run all 4 lights to one 15 amp fuse or just 2 lights to a fuse or what??

 

[TheFauxFox]

How many watts are your lights?

 

[AaronsX]

Not sure...

Dave do you happen to remember?

They seem to be the same size as the stock fogs...which I think are 50

 

[Ricel]

Just clarify, on that switch, 30amps at what volt? Usually switches have two amp ratings. 12v and 24v

Also if it just responds 30amp, 30amps*12volts=360watts. So tech you should be good. Most people use relays to do two things. Primary: to combat the tiny little eenny whee y switches hella provides in their packs, and Secondary: Make it a tad safer in the cockpit for electrical fires.

Where of your using correct switches, rated correctly, they you shouldn't have a overheating /fire problem.

I'm looking to replace my whole light setup with a blue sea breaker and switch panel. Tech. I would be able I remove my relays and clean up my engine bay too.

 

[drbandkgb]

35 or 55


Sent from the satellite of love..

 

[AaronsX]

Sweet. So just a check list
15 amp fuse will work (4 for each of the 4 lights???)
14-16 gauge wire
Switch
Ill have all 4 run to 1 ground
Missing anything?
Heres what the lights look like...lightbar

 

[dhyde79]

yes, you're missing many important things.

I agree with the above diagram for wiring, or, you can roll it this way...

power from battery to 30A relay, then power to the lights.

lights ground to the frame.

relay grounds to the body of the vehicle.

power switch grounds to the body of the vehicle inside the vehicle, the hot wire from it goes out through the firewall to the switch post of the relay.

doing it like this, simply means that you have ONE system to monitor. the down side is that if you do what they're telling you above that you need to do (install a blue sea fuse block) you'll have to run everything all over again for the next thing you decide to mod.

you'll have a power block that handles all of the power, (which you'll run 8ga power to, and 8ga ground to the body/frame) and then run 12ga wiring just like above, BUT, the next time you have to do any modding, you'll have a power source, and the only one new power lead running to the battery and the block itself is a safety link that you can run the switch to as well. you can put the power block INSIDE the vehicle as well so you can minimally run power to and from the firewall. you could even double up, put a block outside the firewall, and run a jump from that through the firewall to a second block, which then covers all of the mods you may choose to do inside the vehicle.

The biggest thing I can suggest is think about it in depth, and when you make the mod, do it so you only have to do it once. the more safety measures you use, the better things can be.

 

[AaronsX]

Had to make some changed once we got my X out and started working. The fuses where not the right size and I only had 3 spots instead of 4 so we ran it straight to he battery just like my CB. The wires are sorta janky I have to fix it up tomorrow in the sunlight, and make it look nice and clean.

Also you can see they are really shining into my sunroof more than the road it seems like! Need to fix this some how..maybe some guards/black metal under them to block the light and aim it out.

 

[TheFauxFox]

They make those glare guard things you can put under the round lights. Not sure about the squared lights though. I'm sure they'd be something easy to fab up. You could also look into a sun roof cover.

 

[AaronsX]

DRB said I should move the hole bar forward to the next screw holes. Im going to look at doing that tomorrow but that also means ill have to re adjust all the wires that where pulled tight and the slack was packed under the passengers seat.

We'll see....

 

[TheFauxFox]

DRB said I should move the hole bar forward to the next screw holes. Im going to look at doing that tomorrow but that also means ill have to re adjust all the wires that where pulled tight and the slack was packed under the passengers seat.

We'll see....

Sounds easier...

 

[AaronsX]

Come to find out it is already as far forward as it will go...

I may end up having to re wire them, right now two lights are connected so its double the wires packed into my sunroof seal.
This is what I got it down too...ran out of e-tape but I'm going to wrap the rest later

Battery...Blue wire is for the lights...red is for the cb.

The LED is extremely bright lol

 

[idratherbe]

It's a start. With some wire loom and an hour you can have that looking a little cleaner. Maybe snake the wire through the bar so it all meets up in one spot before it goes through sunroof? Any reason you don't want to go through roof? Its a easy run from under rack foot down pillar. Just some ideas I'm throwing out.

 

[AaronsX]

I would like to not go through the roof because this is the only think ill be wiring up on my roof and I'm afraid it'll leak and all. I am about to run to get more e-tape and clean it up.

 

[idratherbe]

As long as your smart where you drill, as in not in the rain channel, use a grommet, and seal with silicone you'll be fine. I'd be more worried about water penetration with your current setup. I'm not in any way trying to dump on your install just trying to help a fellow X.

 

[AaronsX]

UPDATE: I just used a little over 30 feet of electrical tape!

We have a winter weather advisory for tomorrow, freezing rain and snow so we will se how it holds up in the weather and if it leaks. Im also not to sure about when I go to wash it, ill have to be careful.

 

[drbandkgb]

Aaron... You know your supposed to run the wires in the bar right?

 

[drbandkgb]

Those are fog lights.. So that would explain some of that glare...

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Could've used zip ties instead of tape.....

 

[AaronsX]

Aaron... You know your supposed to run the wires in the bar right?

My friend wired the light bar while I ran the power through the firewall and set the switch and stuff...I told him but He didn't do it...its kinda hard to do now that they are already wired up.

 

[drbandkgb]

Understand...

 

[AaronsX]

He did tell me today he would fix it for free (not charged me for the wire) and hook all 4 up to 1 power and 1 ground so we don't have as many wires and run them thru the bar.

All it would take is some idiot in town trying to be funny and cut that bundle of wires.

 

[dhyde79]

so, I've seen a deal where you drop the wiring down through the roof where the roof rack bar attaches to the roof of the X on the front left corner, drill gently, grommet, and seal with silicone, and run your wire through the side rail to where your other bar is, so your wiring is always protected....not sure if you've got the means to do so, but, it would make everything nice and clean...and wouldn't have to worry about anyone cutting your wires...

 

[AaronsX]

Problem with that is the rain channel goes under the roof rack bar. I would love to do that...

Drill into the side of the roof rack bar run the wire down it and into the roof so you never even saw the wire, but thats a lot of work and I really don't like drilling on my X.
Or doing things that really can't be reversed.

 

[RATTFINK]

I drilled under the front left rack rail boot and ran the wires down the A pillar. Clean and simple.

Sent using telepathy.

 

[dhyde79]

I drilled under the front left rack rail boot and ran the wires down the A pillar. Clean and simple.

Sent using telepathy.

that's what I was talking about

 

[AaronsX]

At the moment I am the opposite of clean and simple haha.

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Or down the seal of windshield to hood.

Sent from my brain.

 

[Davcos]

You could do something like this

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

You could do something like this

That's pretty clean install.