KC Lights Blowing Fuse
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Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 143
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From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: AMC 4.0
Common problem it seems.
I hooked up a pair of 50w (I think) fog lamps with a relay and power drawn directly from the battery. They worked great.
I recently bought an ARB bumper and the guy included some KC driving lights with them. I don't know the wattage of them at all and can't find a model number on them. I hooked them up in place of my fog lamps (so same exact relay, switch, and wiring that was working) and as soon as I flipped the switch, the fuse (20amp) blew. I tried a 30 and it blew as well. I don't think they would draw more than 30 amps so what are the main things to check for? My grounds all worked for the fog lamps. Would my relay spontaneously going bad have caused this? Could something in the lights themselves be bad?
I'm going to stick the fog lamps back up there to see if they still work but in the meantime I wanted to get some feedback.
I hooked up a pair of 50w (I think) fog lamps with a relay and power drawn directly from the battery. They worked great.
I recently bought an ARB bumper and the guy included some KC driving lights with them. I don't know the wattage of them at all and can't find a model number on them. I hooked them up in place of my fog lamps (so same exact relay, switch, and wiring that was working) and as soon as I flipped the switch, the fuse (20amp) blew. I tried a 30 and it blew as well. I don't think they would draw more than 30 amps so what are the main things to check for? My grounds all worked for the fog lamps. Would my relay spontaneously going bad have caused this? Could something in the lights themselves be bad?
I'm going to stick the fog lamps back up there to see if they still work but in the meantime I wanted to get some feedback.
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Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Lapeer, Murder Mitten
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Sure the + & - from both lights are hooked up same? Checked each light seperate (for operation) with outside power source (other batt or batt charger)?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 143
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From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: AMC 4.0
You mean complete with a relay/switch per light?
16 guage for ground and hot leads. The positive wire came with the fog lamps.
I'll check on that when I have some time during the day and get back to you.
16 guage for ground and hot leads. The positive wire came with the fog lamps.
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Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Las Vegas, NV - St. George, UT
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Even if they are both 130W bulbs, a 30A fuse is sufficient. I ran 2 130W KC lights on my bumper with a relay and 30A fuse. Never had an issue.
If you are blowing 30A fuses on 2 lights, then you have a short somewhere. Either in the light housing or in your wiring. I would check the light housing.
If you are blowing 30A fuses on 2 lights, then you have a short somewhere. Either in the light housing or in your wiring. I would check the light housing.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 143
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From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: AMC 4.0
The fog lamps for sure are 55 watt. The driving lights are what I'm not sure about. They're 6" round driving lights. The wiring coming out just has a rubber boot with no metal tubing. Kind of look like Daylighters. They came with rock guards too. Not sure what other info I can give.
I'll check the lights tomorrow for any shorts.
I'll check the lights tomorrow for any shorts.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: AMC 4.0
So it turns out one of the lights was the culprit, I took it apart and from what I could tell, the positive lead may have been shorting against the backing of the light. The rubber around it was slightly scorched and also the same rubber wasn't pulled all the way over the connection. Downside is the bulb burnt out so I don't know if this solved it. 
I decided to put my fog lamps back in but then one of them won't work. I have a circuit tester and both the positive and ground leads going to that specific light are working. I took apart the light and see nothing wrong with it. The filament in the bulb is intact and the connections are all good. I'm at a loss.

I decided to put my fog lamps back in but then one of them won't work. I have a circuit tester and both the positive and ground leads going to that specific light are working. I took apart the light and see nothing wrong with it. The filament in the bulb is intact and the connections are all good. I'm at a loss.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,314
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From: Las Vegas, NV - St. George, UT
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So it turns out one of the lights was the culprit, I took it apart and from what I could tell, the positive lead may have been shorting against the backing of the light. The rubber around it was slightly scorched and also the same rubber wasn't pulled all the way over the connection. Downside is the bulb burnt out so I don't know if this solved it. 
I decided to put my fog lamps back in but then one of them won't work. I have a circuit tester and both the positive and ground leads going to that specific light are working. I took apart the light and see nothing wrong with it. The filament in the bulb is intact and the connections are all good. I'm at a loss.

I decided to put my fog lamps back in but then one of them won't work. I have a circuit tester and both the positive and ground leads going to that specific light are working. I took apart the light and see nothing wrong with it. The filament in the bulb is intact and the connections are all good. I'm at a loss.
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Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 143
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From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: AMC 4.0
Do all KC lights use H3s? I'm ordering bulbs for both my foglamps and driving lights.
I checked continuity on the light that wasn't working and the bulb itself wasn't showing continuity which I didn't understand since the bulb looked fine.
I checked continuity on the light that wasn't working and the bulb itself wasn't showing continuity which I didn't understand since the bulb looked fine.
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors


