wiring fog light HELP
10-23-2007, 02:25 PM
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wiring fog light HELP
So today I attempted to wire my fog lights, without usiong a kit. I bought all the wire I would need, fuses and i had conectors. I ran the wire from the battery to the switch in the cab, with a fuse. Than from the swtich I ran a wire to the left foglight. I spliced in the wire from the right foglight so they would be conmected on the circut. Next I did a seperate ground for each foglight. The ground is screwed into the metal rollbar. Turned them on and rejoiced...than drove home (about 20 minutes) got home and checked them again, nothing! WHAT HAPPENED? I check all my conections,grounds and the fuse. Its all good. So i swapped the switch, thinking maybe it blew....still didnt work. The bulbs appear to be ok. what the heck happened?
10-23-2007, 02:29 PM
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dude, that sounds odd. seems like you had them wired correctly, but then again, it's probably something simple messing with ya. but i don't know? 
have you traced all the wires back and made sure connections are still good?
have you traced all the wires back and made sure connections are still good?
10-23-2007, 02:31 PM
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I even went as far to REDO all the conection!!! what a PITA. Here is a question.. I have the FUSE going directly to the battery. So its goes like this
battery-fuse-14 gauge wire-switch...should it go
battery-14 gauge wire-fuse-14 gausge wire-switch?
battery-fuse-14 gauge wire-switch...should it go
battery-14 gauge wire-fuse-14 gausge wire-switch?
10-23-2007, 02:34 PM
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well, with any kind of electrical accessories, you want the fuse as close to the battery as possible, just like when you hook up an amp. but either way you should be getting power to the lights. and i didn't mean "re-do" all connections, just check 'em really good...
10-23-2007, 02:39 PM
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I know....but im OCD lol. It wasnt working so i checked all the conections and redid them to be safe. STILL nothing. I need one of those little lights that tells you if you got power or not. This is why i just buy the damn kit. This ended up costing me more $$ in the long run
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10-23-2007, 03:24 PM
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fog light
Since you dont have a test light, briefly and I mean briefly touch each one of the wires to a bare piece of metal under the dash for a split second. Unless you know for sure which one is the supply,..and see if it sparks. It might pop the fuse if you touch it for too long.
10-23-2007, 05:31 PM
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Check the ground between the roll bar and chasis ground with a Ohm-meter (it should be .2-.3 ohms) , anything higher not a good ground for that kind of current , if you cant get a good ground then run a dedicated ground from chasis or from battery with your hot wire (that is best way , both from battery) , make sure your ground from the battery to the chasis is good , get a test meter and check your lights also , probably a bad ground on the roll bar maybe or from your batt. to chasis ground .
And how did you wire the lights , in series or paralell , would make a big difference on amp draw but testing the lights will tell that story , if they are blown already take great care in reading the schematic for installation (series or paralell).
And how did you wire the lights , in series or paralell , would make a big difference on amp draw but testing the lights will tell that story , if they are blown already take great care in reading the schematic for installation (series or paralell).
Last edited by n4ynu1010; 10-23-2007 at 05:34 PM.
10-24-2007, 11:21 AM
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So you are not using a relay?
Can your switch handle the amps?
Switches are usually meant to trigger a relay to turn on the lights.
I have a wiring diagram using a relay that I can send you.
Can your switch handle the amps?
Switches are usually meant to trigger a relay to turn on the lights.
I have a wiring diagram using a relay that I can send you.
10-24-2007, 11:49 AM
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Lights
That would need to probably need to be able to handle around 15-20 Amps to live or have a long life , it can be done that way no problem if the switch is rated for it 
otherwise it will die soon if not already if it has a very low rating ,it would toast a switch rated at 5-10 amps pretty quick and then I do not know the Wattage of these bulbs either , fog lights may be a lower wattage than the typical night light.
But if it was a kit with that switch and 2 lights then you should be Ok there (if there was not a intermediate/control relay .
otherwise it will die soon if not already if it has a very low rating ,it would toast a switch rated at 5-10 amps pretty quick and then I do not know the Wattage of these bulbs either , fog lights may be a lower wattage than the typical night light.But if it was a kit with that switch and 2 lights then you should be Ok there (if there was not a intermediate/control relay .
10-24-2007, 02:09 PM
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Well you should be good then , if the bulbs are not blown then you got a bad ground or bad connection on the hot side
Remember to check kit and make sure you have wired correctly (series or paralell) , most common is series.
Remember to check kit and make sure you have wired correctly (series or paralell) , most common is series.
