I already have a relay wired up that used to run some fog lights that got tore off while wheeling. I want to put 4 Hella 500s up on my Yak Rack and was wondering if this can be done off just one switch and relay? I hope so I'm running out of places to mount switches and relays and getting tired of routing wiring.

 

go for it. I have all 4 of my hellas on one relay and switch. works fine. Just check and see if the fuse you have in there will handle all the lights, also look at the size of the relay.

 

Dunno what the current draw of the Hellas is, but if it is more than 7½ amps (or 90watts) per light you should use two relays (assuming standard 30A relays). Just trigger two relays off the same switch if necessary.

 

i think hella 500s are 55W.

 

I would suggest using 2, however I'm sure you you could get 1 to work untill the flames started shooting out of it after long use J/K...maybe smoke probably not full sized flames...cause thats probably a "Hella" lot of current draw for one relay to handle over a long period of time...

 

Joey, I have an old post here, and we used the watt/amp formula to figure it out, and 4 55 watt Hella 500s will work on one 30 amp relay.

If you change the bulbs over to the 100 watt ones,
You would need two relays.

 

I have 2 Hella 500s and 4 Hella optix all are 55w and the are all on the same switch. I used 10 guage wire and used a heavy duty fuse (40) and holder. The wires never get hot and is connected directly to an Optima

 

not the wires you should be checking but rather the relay.

remember, calculate amps by:

amp = total watts / 12

so 55 x 6 = 330 watts

330 /12 = 27.5

while it's still under the 30 amp rating of a standard bosch type relay, sure you wanna chance it?

 

If in doubt, you could always use one of these:

Cole-Hersee continuous duty solenoid. p/n 24059 rated at 85 amps continuous current. This is NOT a Ford starter solenoid but is very similar in construction. I currently have three of these doing various things.

 

I wasnt sure on mine, so jowie and I wired 2 relays together on 1 switch, for my 4 lightforces (and a 30amp fuse)

we figgure load balancing lol...

 

I have run 4 55w lights off a 30 amp relay no problem but it does shorten the life of the relay