Light Wiring and Switches

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Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 10:48:59 -0700
From: phil callahan 
Subject: switches for driving lights
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org

A question was posed a couple of days ago concerning switches
for driving lights.  My solution might be old info for the many
technical folks in this group, but it has worked well for me
for a number of years and might be helpful for some.  

I use a three position toggle switch to allow me to manually 
activate my driving lights or automatically activate the driving 
lights whenever I hit the highbeam lever.  The toggle switch is a 
fairly common light-duty three-position center-off (ON/OFF/ON) 
variety with three terminals.  

This is how it works.  As with most driving light systems, a 12V 
relay is used to activate the driving lights.  Select a relay that 
is appropriately sized for the amperage of your lights and has two heavy 
duty terminals for carrying the power to your lights and two light
duty terminals for activating the relay coil.  You will want to run 
a fused heavy gauge wire from your +12V battery terminal to one of the 
heavy-duty relay terminals and another wire from the other heavy-duty 
relay terminal to your driving lights--keep this wiring as short as 
possible to minimize loss.  Ground one of the light-duty relay 
coil terminals.  From the remaining relay coil terminal, run a wire to
the center terminal of the toggle switch--the switch has three 
terminals.  From one of the other switch terminals connect a low-amp
fused wire (you're only activating a small relay coil) to a +12V source.
Now the neat part; wire (splice) the remaining switch terminal to
the highbeam wire of of your headlights (Optional--I put a small
2-3 amp diode, available from Radio Shack, in the highbeam line to the
toggle to act as a fuse and, since the diode only allows current to flow
in one direction, effectively isolate the headlight wiring).  

With the toggle switch in the center position, the driving lights are off.
With the toggle in one of the on positions, the driving lights are on, and 
in the other on position, the driving lights are automatically turned on
whenever you use your highbeams--no fumbling around in the dark when when 
you need to dim your driving lights for on-coming traffic.  


       o--- highbeam connection
toggle o--------------------------o relay coil o--- ground
       o--- fuse ---o +12V               


BTW, if you have already wired you driving lights, but would like to have
them activiate with your highbeams, you can splice a wire from your relay
coil to a highbeam wire (one of the three wires entering the headlamp). Use
the diode in this line so that current only flows to the relay coil whenever
the highbeams are on--the "arrow" on the diode points to the relay.

phil

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Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 11:09:17 -0700
From: Eric Johnson 
Subject: switches for driving lights
To: "'Toy4x4@tlca.org'" 

phil callahan wrote:
[snip]

That's a slick setup. I use a very similar setup for my fog lights. I was 
sick of leaving 'em on (forgetting they were on), so I wired the switch to 
the relay to get its power from the side marker lights. So, if my switch is 
off, fog lights are off. Otherwise, fog lights come on when the parking or 
main lights come on... and more importantly, they turn OFF when i turn the 
main lights completely off (which I'm reminded to do by an idiot bell).

- --
- -- ej@blarg.net

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Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 13:10:54 -0700
From: Scott Wilson 
Subject: switches for driving lights
To: Toy4x4@tlca.org

Eric Johnson wrote:

> That's a slick setup. I use a very similar setup for my fog lights. I was
> sick of leaving 'em on (forgetting they were on), so I wired the switch to
> the relay to get its power from the side marker lights. So, if my switch is
> off, fog lights are off. Otherwise, fog lights come on when the parking or
> main lights come on... and more importantly, they turn OFF when i turn the
> main lights completely off (which I'm reminded to do by an idiot bell).

Thats a slick setup too, but I think I have best of both worlds.  I also
wired my switch from the Accessory 12V (from the cig lighter), so mine
also go off with the ignition.  BUT!  I then stole an idea from a Hella
wiring diagram and modified it.  Not only does the switch flip the relay
for the lights, but there is also a line running to my high beams so
they come on with the high beams no matter what position the switch is
in.  

IMPORTANT: You have to realized that with the circuit I just described,
when you flip the switch to turn on your lights, you'll be not only
trying to flip the relay, but power your high beams!!  The answer
is...you'll need to put a diode in the line coming off the high beam. 
For those that don't know, a diode is like a one-way valve for
electricity.  So the high beams can flip the relay, but the power from
the switch can't go to high beam.

I designed this circuit back in the days I had a Prelude Si I was road
racing.  I was running some really bright lights, and I need to have all
the lights on or off with the flip of one switch, ('cause of on coming
cars) the high beam switch being the most logical.  But I also wanted
the option to run with my fog lights on with the low beams whenever I
desired.   I've used this circuit on the last two cars I've owned.  It's
way cool!

Scott
- -- 
*****************************************************
Scott Wilson TLCA #5261
88 4Runner SR5 V6
Santa Clara, CA
http://users.uniserve.com/~rcomber/scottw/scottw.htm

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Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 14:01:33 -0800
From: "Gary at MRI..." 
Subject: Switches...
To: 4runner list 

Ok, I was able to find a place in the San Jose area that carries the
Cole Hersee switches.
They are Electric Battery ph#408-292-2330
My cost for the 3-way Green/Amber pilot light switch is $9.
I lucked out in that although their distributor doesn't carry the
switch, they are placing an order to Cole Hersee today and should have
the switch within a week.

- -- 
=============================================================
Gary			SNX Product Support	 	x7289
garyt
=============================================================

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Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 11:28:57 -0800
From: "Gary at MRI..." 
Subject: Switches for your Cars
To: 4runner list 

Ok, I misspelled the name of the company producing the switches. The
real name is Cole Hersee and they do have a website
	http://www.colehersee.com/

Just spoke with a guy at my local NAPA parts and they are not Cole
Hersee distributors. Now I will start looking for a local distributor.
=============================================================
Gary Trubin		SNX Product Support	 	x7289
garyt
=============================================================

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Date: Mon, 08 Dec 1997 07:57:14 -0800
From: "Gary at MRI..." 
Subject: Toggle Switches
To: 4runner list 

Guys, for all of you who have been "misinformed" by NWOR regarding their
Super-Duper pilot-light toggle switches, here is the actual scoop.
The manufacturer name is Cole Heisee and the part number for the 3-way
switch is 58328-xx. The xx determines what color the pilot lights are.
Distributors like NAPA should have them. I found that Monument Auto
Parts in Pleasant Hill, CA sells these for $10 and have no problem
special ordering them within 3 days. However since I live about 50miles
from them I decided that I'll check with NAPA first since they are near
my house. 
I'll let you guys know how much they charge.
- -- 
=============================================================
Gary Trubin		SNX Product Support	 	x7289
garyt
=============================================================

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