Wiring spots on a Vigo

[ChrisF]

I have a SRX Hilux (Vigo).

The aftermarket front bumper has spot lights.


I wanted to do the following:

Use a signal from the High beams to trigger a relay to operate the spots.

This would eliminate the need for an additional switch and also prevent forgetting to switch off another switch.


PROBLEM (apparently):

It seems that the Hilux switches the "negative", ie the wires at the light always has 12V on it.

Not sure how to proceed ..... What say the experts ?

[Family_Dog]

Chris,

Cast your peepers over here:
http://www.hilux4x4.co.za/wire_spotlights/index.php


-F_D

[ChrisF]

DANKIE.

[Family_Dog]

Groot plesier!


-F_D

[ChrisF]

So gemaak, en dit werk MOOI ! :)

Ek gaan Elders se thread update met die naweek se werk.

[Royco]

I have just wired up my spots this afternoon.
Thanks to all the contributors to that doc about the negative switching.

Now I have a question:
I'm able to turn on the spots irrespective of whether the main lights are on or not, as the 12+ to the lights are always live.
So 86 and 30 on the relay could both be connected directly to the battery, or any 12+??

But I want the spots only to work when the main lights are on.
Have I wired it wrong? I haven't blown a fuse... yet....

[Donkey]

Hi Roy

I hope I will make sense and you'll be able to follow. On my truck this is what I have done. The relay has 4 contacts normally: 2 are the switching points (the control or coil) and 2 the main points (these carry the actual load)

From battery positive connect wire to one of the main points, I used 2.5mm wire. The other end supplies the spots. The main circuit is now completed by earthing the spots.

On the control side (relay coil) I tapped one of the wires from the brights, via a switch to the one contact on the relay, the other goes to earth. If the brights are switched there's 12v to the coil and it gets earthed on the other leg. Spots come on.

I have 2 sets of spots, one on the front bumber for normal use, these are unswitched and work with the normal brights on the truck. The other set is on the roof (switched) and mainly stays covered up and used for offroad - it only switches on when the switch is on and also is operated via the normal brights.

Hope that helps, I was not going to try and explain using the numbers on the relay since I cannot which is which, I don't have relay with me.

Regards.

[Royco]

Thanks Tumelo

So from what I read here:

On the control side (relay coil) I tapped one of the wires from the brights, via a switch to the one contact on the relay, the other goes to earth. If the brights are switched there's 12v to the coil and it gets earthed on the other leg. Spots come on.

I should have taken the EARTH wire from the lights and not the positive.
Will have to change that. Thanks makes sense.

[rood]

If you have searched you would have found this :arrow:


viewtopic.php?f=94&t=19592" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Royco]

Thanks Rood, I did search, and that's why I found this thread....
Could it be a language barrier for me (?), but I don't see any mention of taking the earth from the main beams in that thread.
It just mentions the "negative switching".
But thanks for that - I'll read it again before starting the fix-up job.

[ThysdJ]

Here's a nice article that will help you Roy. There is a decent wiring diagram as well. You need to pick up both wires that switches the relay from the headlight harness, and not earth it to the body/chassis. Hope this helps..

http://www.hilux4x4.co.za/wire_spotlights/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rood]

as far as i can see this topic " http://www.hilux4x4.co.za/wire_spotlights/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" is not for vigo's, but urlier models

The one i attached is for vigo, if i am wrong, i do appologise.

[Royco]

Thanks Thys and Rood.
So the BLUE box (in your pic, Rood) is the switch off of the relay point 85?
The other side of the switch should then be taken from the negative behind the head lights main beam,
and after the main beam switch.
If I have it right...

[Royco]

and my next question...
I have a dual battery, which I have want the spots connected to.
Would it be a problem if I take the 12+ from the main beam of the main battery, and connect it to the 12+ on the spots from the dual battery.
I'm concerned that I'm connecting the 2 batteries together...
Any comments...

[rood]

the blue box is the head light, you use the red/yelow wire (high beam) from the light to the relay (85), bridge the 86 & 87 to the positive on your main battery with a inline fuse, and then 30 to your positive of your spots, then just ground your spots, then every thing will work....

[ThysdJ]

Roy if you want to connect it to your aux battery make sure you get all the power from the aux battery. But I wouldnt do that if I was you, because if your aux battery is disconnected for any reason your spotlights wont work. Or at least they will only work once the motor is running and the D/B solenoid kicked in.

Keep all the vehicle related systems connected to the main battery. Only extra (camping) related stuff should be connected to the aux battery. M2CW..

[Donkey]

I agree with Thys on this one Roy.

And if it is of any consolation, normally spots are used with the engine running, so it wouldn't take much from your main battery if that is your concern. Not unless your application is different to the norm.

[Royco]

I give up !!
The fuse companies must be doing well now!!
I have blown so many that I lost count!!

This little guy was holding on for dear life... didn't want to go... so now I need to replace some of the melted wires too!!

[Donkey]

Geez Roy! What you doing in that corner of Stellenbosch
How is that particular fuse connected? From where to where, wire thickness, and so forth?

Just be careful you don't create a fire hazard also.
Keep us posted

[luxman]

Gents, I am a bit offtopic, please excuse.

Roy if you want to connect it to your aux battery make sure you get all the power from the aux battery. But I wouldnt do that if I was you, because if your aux battery is disconnected for any reason your spotlights wont work. Or at least they will only work once the motor is running and the D/B solenoid kicked in.

Thys, please help. Do you get D/B systems where the solenoid kicks in when the aux battery is not connected? As far as I got it my system senses if the aux battery is connected, then it will kick in. In the event of a disconnected aux battery the solenoid will not kick in.

[ChrisF]

Matt it depends where you pick up the "signal" - it can be wired either way.


Typically, the the ignition is used to provide the "power on" signal - to switch on the second battery. IF you use this signal for any other uses, it will only work when the 2nd battery is connected - even if the power is actually used from the 2nd battery.


it all depends what you want to "achieve/prevent", then you choose the signal accordingly

[luxman]

Thanks Chris, that make sense, never to old to learn new tricks

[ThysdJ]

Yes Matt, what Chris says is correct. In my case, I built my own D/B system, and it does kick in when the Aux battery is not connected. Off the shelf solutions (N/L etc) does have a sensor that prevents this.

In my case, I needed the Aux loom to be "active" without an aux battery connected, as I have only 1 aux battery that gets shared between 2 vehicles.

[luxman]

Thanks Thys