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rethinking my led light kit wiring

airmanwilliams

airmanwilliams

Well-Known Member
Location
Provo, Utah
So I really dont know a ton about wiring things up and wondered if you guys could help me out. Guess its not good to just run a wire from a switch straight to the battery so I need to figure out what to use. Been told I need to get a relay and a fuse holder.

Found this one but was told its a bit too big and would run quite alot http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-12V-DC-...6133?pt=US_Relays_Sensors&hash=item2c6cc69ae5

What would you guys suggest for a relay to run a rocklight kit?


Also found this inline fuse but may have to search around and see if I can buy them in bulk cheaper anywhere. http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Gauge-Fu...t=Car_Audio_Video&hash=item5d25bcdefd&vxp=mtr
 
skippy

skippy

Pretend Fabricator
Location
Tooele
I am no wiring master but for a small LED rock light kit I wouldnt worry about a relay at all, Call up S&H terminal and see if they have any fuse holders. They are great guys to work with as well
 
D

Deleted member 12904

Guest
Take how many watts you have been divided by your voltage to get your amperage. So if your rock lights had 3 wat LED's and you have 10 of them thats 30/12= 2.5 amps. So as long as you're switch is rated for at least that load at 12 volt you're okay without a relay. The fuse is really more of a ground short protection but you don't want to run out huge fuse for a small load.



Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
 
TurboMinivan

TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
Location
Lehi, UT
airmanwilliams said:
Guess its not good to just run a wire from a switch straight to the battery so I need to figure out what to use. Been told I need to get a relay and a fuse holder.
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A little off topic, but my only complaint about your LED kit is how small the wires are! Seriously, there is no way I can merely crimp them to a larger wire; I'm gonna have to solder all 16 connections. (Which reminds me: I need to buy some more solder.)

skippy said:
I am no wiring master but for a small LED rock light kit I wouldnt worry about a relay at all
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deviant said:
So if your rock lights had 3 wat LED's and you have 10 of them thats 30/12= 2.5 amps. So as long as you're switch is rated for at least that load at 12 volt you're okay without a relay. The fuse is really more of a ground short protection but you don't want to run out huge fuse for a small load.
Click to expand...

To each their own, but personally I will never add an electrical device without a proper fuse and, if possible, a relay. When I complete my install of this kit, it will utilize a relay with a fuse on the positive wire. Furthermore, it will be configured so no hot wires come into the passenger compartment--the relay will be triggered via the ground input.

But maybe I'm just overly cautious like that.
 
D

Deleted member 12904

Guest
TurboMinivan said:
To each their own, but personally I will never add an electrical device without a proper fuse and, if possible, a relay. When I complete my install of this kit, it will utilize a relay with a fuse on the positive wire. Furthermore, it will be configured so no hot wires come into the passenger compartment--the relay will be triggered via the ground input.

But maybe I'm just overly cautious like that.
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I didnt say not to run a fuse. You are are asking for huge problems not running a fuse. What I was trying to say is on a 3 amp load all a 15 amp fuse will to is blow if their is a ground short. You would be better off IMO running a fuse better fitted for the load.

As far as a relay goes the point of a relay is to switch a load with a load that a switch cant handle. If it is a load that can safely be used on a switch adding a relay is adding another fail point in a circuit.
I use these http://www.k-four.net/Product.aspx?pid=12 for my personal stuff and have never had a single issue running a 10 amp load on the 20 amp switch.

http://www.amazon.com/Dolphin-DC-100P-Super-Connector-Pcs/dp/B000JP7FIQ the blue "B Connectors" work great for small wire crimps and hide well in heat shrink tube or other wire management systems. The blue ones have anti corrosion gel inside also.
 
TurboMinivan

TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
Location
Lehi, UT
deviant said:
I didnt say not to run a fuse. You are are asking for huge problems not running a fuse. What I was trying to say is on a 3 amp load all a 15 amp fuse will to is blow if their is a ground short. You would be better off IMO running a fuse better fitted for the load.
Click to expand...

Excellent point; agreed 100%.
 
R

rholbrook

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville, Ut
I never crimp, always soldier and heat shrink. My christmas lights are soldiered where I would break the string between gables and roof lines. Never have problems if soldiered. Just my way of doing things nice and clean.
 
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