New Driving Lights for my RTV 500

[gobraphil]

Ok, i took the plunge and mounted some hella 1402(?) lights on my rtv500. Here are some crappy iphone pics.

Here is the recess where the wiring harness goes. This is the fused main wire that runs from the battery to the relay. Notice the amount of mud from 1 hunting season! The tool is what pops up the plastic fasteners that hold the floor mat on.

This is the current mess of wires. They will be tucked in plastic wire wrap shortly. I mounted the relay and ground centrally to minimize wires...

this is the switch wiring. I powered the new switch with the feed to the headlight so that the driving lights can only be turned on when the main headlight switch is on.

This is the factory looking switch ($3)

This is the mounting brackets i made (1.5" aluminum angle) . I tucked them back behind the brush guard to help protect them

Here is the front view..

 

[timswi]

Nice work...I guess that there is a big enough fuse in the headlight curcuit to handle the new lights?

 

[gobraphil]

Nice work...I guess that there is a big enough fuse in the headlight curcuit to handle the new lights?

That is what the relay is for. The headlight circuit and new switch provides just a few milliamps to the relay to when switched on. The relay then supplies the voltage/current to the new lights, independent of both switches...


Photobucket downsized my photos so they are really small. If anyone needs a better shot, let me know and i will email them or find another hosting site,

 

[sargex595]

Nice job. I have been told before but still don't really understand the use of relays. I have done some wiring of lights, switches and other accessories but have never used a relay. I've been told the reason for relays is to cut down the draw/over loading a circuit. How do you know what relay to use? Is there a web site that explains the use of relays and shows different wiring diagrams that I could go to and learn more on this. I have several wiring projects to do and I always like to solder my connections and use shrink wrap when doing the wiring but have never been able to fully undetstand relays. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Curt.

 

[gobraphil]

a relay is used to cut down on the amps going to a switch and potentially melting your dash...

basically, it allows a little bit of current to energize a circuit that needs a LOT of current (headlights, winch, etc) without all of the current going through the switch and getting hot....

try http://www.the12volt.com/
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