Series or Parallel

[DaveNay]

I have a silly question..... I am adding a couple of 55 watt halogen lights to my tractor so that I can see behind me when plowing with my rear blade. I plan to connect the lights directly to the battery with an inline fuse and a toggle switch on the instrument panel. But do the lights get wired in series or parallel? I am sure that the answer should be obvious to me, but it's not. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Dave

 

[rdbrumfield]

You can run the wire from the switch to the first light and then to the next, or run a wire from the switch to each light. There is no difference as they are grounded to the tractor and have they,re own return to ground.

 

[rdbrumfield]

Davenay, I should reiterate, if you have plastic light bases and have two wires coming from the light fixture, use one for power and the other for ground, do not go from your switch to the first light and hook to one wire and then go to the other light with the other wire to the other light. Ground each one individually.

 

[jinman]

Parallel... sorta like the illustration.

Gnd------\/-\/
lites----> O O
12vdc----/\-/\

 

[RobertN]

Parallel, as Jinman noted. rdbrumfield described parallel /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Do yourself 2 favors.

#1) Run the lights to a relay so that the switch only powers the relay and the switch doesn't take the full load of the power draw.

#2) Get waterproof switches. A good waterproof switch will cost you about $8 and may last the life of the tractor. A cheap switch will cost you about $3 and you will probably replace it every year or two.

 

[BB_TX]

I will second what Bob said. Either use a relay or at least make sure you get a switch rated for at least 10 amps. The two 55 w lights will pull a total of 9.2 amps.

 

[jmc]

Dave,

If 9 amps strains your alternator, you might want to see how much light just one unit throws. 55 watts of halogen light is a lot if the floodlight lense can spread it wide enough.

John

 

[CTyler]

Looks like you have the answer.

Just as an fyi... you can wire them in series but they would be kinda dim, each light would only get 6 volts.

 

[JLD]

Can someone recommend an online source for the waterproof switches and a relay. Where do people mount the relay? I've never used relays before, are they just a few bigger wires in and out to carry the load and a wire in and out to make a switch?