Wiring off road lights ???

Okay So......

I orderd 4 130w spotlights. Does anyone know what guage wire i should use to wire these things up? Will 10 guage wire suffice if I'm running a single power to the lights and splitting it? Should I go with an 8 guage wire to be safe? Can I run all the lights off a 40a relay, or should I run 2 relays?


Thanks for your help guys!

As with all DC wiring, it depends how long the run is. Use this chart to figure it out.

Amps and Wire Gauge - 12V Circuit (http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/amps-wire-gauge-d_730.html)

As with all DC wiring, it depends how long the run is. Use this chart to figure it out.

Amps and Wire Gauge - 12V Circuit (http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/amps-wire-gauge-d_730.html)



Thanks for that chart. With a heavier gauge wire, will I have to use a special heavy grade switch?

You're looking at a ~43A load, so I hope you plan on using a relay. If so, the trigger switch doesn't usually need much current handling capacity. Check the coil amperage of the relay you plan to use. I would think it should be somewhere around 10% of the total load, so about 4A, but check for sure.

I do plan on using a relay. Not sure if i sould use 1 or 2 though.

I don't think it matters. Two is more complicated, but it gives you redundancy.

I don't think it matters. Two is more complicated, but it gives you redundancy.

Cool. I appreciate your help and advice. I'll post pictures and let you know how it goes next week sometime.

Well, I got everything wired up. Here's some pictures. I put a trailer hitch wire harness on it so if I ever need to take the rack off, I can easily do so.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/DogBoneR1/Ridgeline/e2caada9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/DogBoneR1/Ridgeline/77223606.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/DogBoneR1/Ridgeline/2b6d2844.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/DogBoneR1/Ridgeline/c76b2c82.jpg