Modestmike

I've searched and read some interesting things but this is more of a sanity check just to be sure. I know very little about electrical wiring and components.

I'm wanting to redo the mess of wires on my XJs rock lights, electric fan, and front spot lights. I plan on installing a distribution fuse block on the passenger side firewall. Now I know thAt the DFB will get a power from the battery with a wire and an inline fuse. From there I will have a hot wire from the DFB to #30 on the relay. #85 will be ground for the relay and #87 goes to the accessory( lights or fan). My real question is where the switch in the cab come into play. Do I need to give it a hot wire from the fuse block and then the accessory terminal goes to #86 on the relay? So with this setup I need to supply power to a switch and then the relay has it's own power source?

Sorry if it sounds confusing.

Modestmike

Just to clarify my confusion, I have seen a few setups and the wires are different on a few relays. The numbers are the same (30, 85, 86, and 87) but the ground seems to either go to 86 or 85. Not sure which one is correct. I'd like to see what anyone here has done so I know I'm doing it right.

radio flyer

Either is O.K.

gmv93

relay is a very simple component. it acts like a very big and strong switch. it has two trigger wires and two hot wires. there are several types of relays but. some of them allows current to pass, some prevents it to pass.

when current applied to trigger wire, it "lets" the current pass thru on other two pins. you connect your power supply and your load to those pins.

you will connect your switch to 85, and other end of your switch will be connected to ground. 86 will be your live wire connected to battery or + on your configuration. 30 will be connected to battery again. 87 will be connected to load, lets say your lamp and other wire from your lamp will be connected to ground. so when you turn on your switch, it will trigger the pins which actually allows current flwo on themselves.

if you buy reverse kind of relay it turns off your lamp instead of turning it on because it will be letting current pass when it is "not" triggered.

which mean if you use this kind, when everything connected you will see your lamp is running all times except you use your switch.

http://summitracing.com/expertadvice...rygroup=HowTos

Modestmike

The switch has three connections on back. Power,ground,and accessory. The ground on the switch is for the illuminated light in it. Again I'm lost in what you're saying. The switch will not need it's own power source then? So then I will be grounding the switch on the power or accessory terminal?

gmv93

as far as i remember form ZJ, orange wire in jeep harness changes ground to + when you turn on key to acc position. it delivers power to illuminated things on dash board or anywhere else. as you see light behind your VIC or odometer etc.

forget about illumination of switch itself for a moment. switch will complete the wire connection between your relay ground to chassis ground. that is all. switch can not handle high current on itslef. it will be fried in seconds. that is why you need to turn on or off a relay by using your switch and additional power supply connection to it.

power or ground connection to switch is not related to (depending on your application) the power required by your lights orby your fan or by your horn etc.

to illuminate switch, you need to connect orange wire from jeep to illumination pin to your switch. when key is on or when you turn on parking lights it will be switch from common ground to + so your bulb inside your switch will illuminate. because current will be able to flow.

there is a switch in this diagram. it has three pins. your 12 volts will be your orange wire(becasue it is 12 volts when you rutnr on your key when no key no 12 volts only common ground). it is only to illuminte it. relay conneciton and ground are shown.

Modestmike

okay,but then if it is hooked up to the ignition then the lights, fan, etc, will only work with the key in the accessory position or on. I would like to be able to turn stuff on without the key in the ignition. With that said, I could just run the "supply" line from the switch to the distribution fuse block I have under the hood and have constant power right? Then I would just need to flip the switch correct?

radio flyer

You can wire it hot all the time if thats what you need or want!

Modestmike

That's what I figured. I'm just worried about electrical fires so I guess I'm over thinking it. Thanks.

radio flyer

Make sure that you fuse all of your power leads as close to your power source as possible, electrical fires can get nasty in a hurry!!!

gmv93

you can set everything live up alltimes. you will get trigger from you batery and power supply on other pins again on same battery. there will be no relation between key and your switch.

as an example you can even set a relay to trigger itself by using same power supply. I installed HID s to WK grand, then it start to flicker when it is doing bulb check. it was looking like a police car. then i installed relays before HID ballasts by supplying stock wiring voltage to both tirrger pins and load pins. and triggering time was longer than checking pulses in stock system, so it prevents ballasts to be turned on for a short time.

posjeepxj

my low beams. kicked on by stock wiring
high beams. kicked on by stock wiring
and electric fan. power supplied by block inline grounded temp switch to kick

Soaper

i like the above setup.

this is what im running for my distro block.
then running fuseable link between the relay's
but all my relays will wire into this.
was gonna install it on my lightning but i have about 30 boxes of to be installed... since truck is getting parked for winter figured id grab this outta the pile and use it for now.