Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts!

Go Back   Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts! > >
Forgot Password? Join Us!

Welcome to Ford Ranger Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread

  #1  
Old 03-13-2012, 12:37 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

Before you ask, I am looking for something different than the normal wire diagram.

Currently, I have a foglight switch with a buggman harness powering a white 30" led bar on my front bumper. I am looking at picking up some amber lights for dust, and don't want to get another fog light bezel that'll need modding for my double din and all that hassle.

WHAT I WANT: insight, guidelines, or advice on how to wire it up so my fog light switch acts as main power, with the ability to use a secondary switch to toggle between amber and white light easily.
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-13-2012, 11:20 PM
Mikerider Mikerider is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,848
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

Pretty easy really just use the single dash mounted fog light switch to trigger 2 relays one for white, one for amber then you just need to interrupt the triggering signal on each of the relays (basically an inline switch on the ground wire for the relay coil) with a total of three switches you can do amber only, white only or both.

drew it up for you,



Red (Fused from Battery)
Blue (from Fog light switch)
Black (to cab toggle switches) then to ground
Amber (to amber light)
Grey (to white light)

Now I am not sure how the buggman harness is set up but the factory fog switch acts as a ground switch which means instead of grounding the black wire after the switch it would need to be connected to a fused 2.5 amp 12v source to work properly but dont quote me on that.

I would use a SPDT rocker switch in the cab to control both bars with one switch and the main power fog switch.
__________________
Supercharged and DBR long travel 2003 FX4 on 305/70R16 MTRs, Torsen LS FR ECTED RR 4.56 Yukons with cobra brakes, lots of expo parts and other mods

Build thread http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...cue-truck.html

Support Search and Rescue ... GET LOST!

Last edited by Mikerider; 03-13-2012 at 11:31 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-13-2012, 11:30 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

so if i get it right, from the switch before the wire leaves the cab, split that wire and run it to 2 separate switches? then from those switches go out to the relays that would power either set of lights...

holy crap that's really simple and i don't know why i didn't think about that. i even have an extra relay harness lying around. thanks a ton!
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-13-2012, 11:37 PM
Mikerider Mikerider is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,848
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

Quote:
Originally Posted by doyouquaxu View Post
so if i get it right, from the switch before the wire leaves the cab, split that wire and run it to 2 separate switches? then from those switches go out to the relays that would power either set of lights...

holy crap that's really simple and i don't know why i didn't think about that. i even have an extra relay harness lying around. thanks a ton!
That will work.
__________________
Supercharged and DBR long travel 2003 FX4 on 305/70R16 MTRs, Torsen LS FR ECTED RR 4.56 Yukons with cobra brakes, lots of expo parts and other mods

Build thread http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...cue-truck.html

Support Search and Rescue ... GET LOST!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-13-2012, 11:40 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

simple, easy, effective. i like it.
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-13-2012, 11:46 PM
Mikerider Mikerider is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,848
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

Quote:
Originally Posted by doyouquaxu View Post
simple, easy, effective. i like it.
just make sure to double check with Buggman on how he has the harness wired

"Now I am not sure how the buggman harness is set up but the factory fog switch acts as a ground switch which means instead of grounding the black wire after the switch it would need to be connected to a fused 2.5 amp 12v source to work properly but dont quote me on that."
__________________
Supercharged and DBR long travel 2003 FX4 on 305/70R16 MTRs, Torsen LS FR ECTED RR 4.56 Yukons with cobra brakes, lots of expo parts and other mods

Build thread http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...cue-truck.html

Support Search and Rescue ... GET LOST!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-13-2012, 11:48 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

10-4, i'll send him a PM to see
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-14-2012, 01:30 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

buggman confirmed that with his fog harness that running the signal wire to a second switch instead of straight to the relay will work. super sick.
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-14-2012, 05:22 PM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
Blinded by the light
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,674
Send a message via AIM to FireRanger
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

You only need one extra switch in the cab. Get a SPDT switch. (not a center-off).

Center pin of the switch is fed from the the buggman wire. The other two pins go out to your two relays. The switch moves up and down to switch between the two outputs.
__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-14-2012, 05:32 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

i've got regular toggle switches sitting around i was going to use, but if i can find one of those switches you mentioned i'd prefer that. i'll take a look. thanks
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-14-2012, 05:54 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

just clarifying, buggman suggested around a 2 A 12 V DC switch. I can use a switch for AC if the voltage rating for an AC switch is high enough, yeah? like this little guy?

Switch
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-14-2012, 06:05 PM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
Blinded by the light
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,674
Send a message via AIM to FireRanger
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

Yes. AC vs DC doesn't really matter here. You're switching relays. So you're switching a whopping 0.2 amps. The tiniest microswitch will handle it. Basically, you could not realistically purchase a switch that can't handle it.
__________________
(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-14-2012, 06:10 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

perfect, thank you very much for your input
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-14-2012, 07:57 PM
Mikerider Mikerider is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,848
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikerider View Post

I would use a SPDT rocker switch in the cab to control both bars with one switch and the main power fog switch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FireRanger View Post
You only need one extra switch in the cab. Get a SPDT switch. (not a center-off).

Center pin of the switch is fed from the the buggman wire. The other two pins go out to your two relays. The switch moves up and down to switch between the two outputs.
Agreed!
__________________
Supercharged and DBR long travel 2003 FX4 on 305/70R16 MTRs, Torsen LS FR ECTED RR 4.56 Yukons with cobra brakes, lots of expo parts and other mods

Build thread http://www.fordrangerforum.com/proje...cue-truck.html

Support Search and Rescue ... GET LOST!
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-14-2012, 08:26 PM
doyouquaxu doyouquaxu is offline
Almost ******
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7,466
Default Re: How would I wire 2 separate sets of lights to one switch?

picked up a mini spdt switch a few minutes ago for a few bucks. all i gotta do now is get my fuse block and then wire everything up.
__________________
Why does everyone think prerunners just jump stuff?


Please click HERE to watch this video!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Dash Light Illum. Wire behind Headlight Switch Requesting flyby Electrical Tech 3 01-07-2012 05:55 PM
How to wire fog lights? NewShockerGuy Electrical Tech 1 12-04-2011 10:42 PM
Discuss How To: wire canopy brake lights greyghost How-To Submissions 11 09-21-2011 08:33 AM
Which wire is the parking lights/headlights? snakeranger Electrical Tech 2 06-08-2010 09:42 AM
Spark plugs and wire sets? MIGGYMIKE 3.0 Vulcan Tech 17 06-06-2010 03:58 PM