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Hello, iv got a K reg sporty elxi 1.6, need to wire up spotlights only 2 of them, they'r a brand called 'Ring' bulbs are H3 12V 55W.... where do i get a relay for spotlights and how then do i wire them up? Tried the old plug em in the back of the headlights but no joy (other posts mentioned this also) i do get side lights with the ign on (engine running) which iv heard causes problems when trying to wire up spots....... Can anyone tell me from start to finish how to do this affordably as im a single dad of 2 and unempled at the mo (credit crunch isnt helping the job search either) Please someone help cos the lights at night are rubbish!!!!
i got loads of rings
i have several of these cheap ring spots attached to my truck in various ways, some direct clicked onto wires, some on the relay for full battery use, you can pick the relay up easy enough in any motor store ( or i got spares), sometimes you can buy a complete kit with the lights, the instructions you need are mainly to know the corresponding numbers on the relay, you have one for a switch, one for battery power, one outlet to the spots and one for earth, now for a switch you can either have one in the cab(rocker switch or whatever) or what i do is use the headlight full beam cable as my switch, the relays numbers are as follows - 30 = power (battery), 87 = spot lights/application, 85 = earth clamp of some sort, 86 = switch of some discription.
You can just plug the spots into your headlight wires and run an earth to chassis but it will be a dim light, it is best to use relay,fix spots down, the spots need to be earthed somehow (wire to chassis/another engine earth etc) then live wire/cable to relay(87) ( try to use colour coordinate wire - black - earth, red - live), then wire up relay and if i was you i would fumble about and find the wire that activates your main beam headlight bulb as this is easier then a switch in the cab (so much cable is needed looks messy unless lots of time taken to hide it, thick black cable to earth(85), thick red cable to a good live battery feed(30), then a red cable to switch(86) hope this all makes perfect gibberish, LOL oh ps diconnect battery before doing this
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
Spot lights ( Ring Brand)
'91 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX
Hi all.
Have a pair of this brands rectangular spots with 55 watt
bulbs, within one year the reflectors started to go rusty, bought because the original headlights were so poor, even with 80/100 watt bulbs, now with new replacment headlights ( without the bulb shroud which was fitted to the factory fitted headlights, purchased from Milner's) and 80/100 watt bulbs I find I have no need of them, well they are like candles with a 55 watt bulb, they were available as a kit from Halfords, wire and relay included.
Any one recommend a brand of rectangular spots, which will last and can take a high wattage.
Yep !. I know these headlight bulbs (80/100 watt)are possibly not legal for on road use, but have never had a problem, not even in my Volvo estate going back many,many years.
I believe replacing the original factory fitted headlights ( these have a bulb shroud) which are so poor with Milner's replacments, was one of the best things I have done, and really cost effective ( really good price, that means cheap for what I gained in night vision). Check out current prices at Milners, top of page , click on 'Parts Dealers'. Go to Diahatsu, Fourtrak.
Post's have been been made on on the Fourtraks poor headlights before, and the result has been to purchase these replacment headlights, the poor illumination seems to be due to the bulb shroud fitted to the factory fitted headlight. The head light addjusting screws are prone to rusting and can easily be snapped off, so soak them well in WD40 or similar before trying to remove. I broke two off and and had to make a special order via a Diahatsu dealer, (screw with spring attached).
Edward (ews) '92 Fourtrak 2.8 TDX
i agree on quality
Ring is not the best brand of spots, you get what you pay for here, they are cheap, but at the end of the day they work and you get more light so it depends what you want, wipac lights are good - expensive in comparison (twice price), it would be great if you could get these little 55w halogen bulbs that fit them in a wattage of about 70w, so they just glow that much more.
Full of ideas but no time to do them!!
www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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youtube: Redfourtrack
Ring Spotlights
The biggest problem with these lights is the water getting into them. If you put some silicon seeler or insulation tape around where the light joins together & ensure a watertight seal where the wires go in this should stop reflectors rusting which causes poor light, i have 4 of them on a light bar on the roof of my rocky & have had no problems. Ok there not the best lights on the market but they are cheep & do the job.
Ring spotlights
Thanks for all the comments, the wiring up bit makes a lot of sense with the aproppriate relays numbered corresponding to their function so thanks for that, il prob upgrade the headlight units as i wont be doing much in the way of off-roading so brighter headlights will suffice, they are rather poor, how they managed to get such poor quality lights through the quality control is beyond me.
Il be havin a look on ebay to see what filters through. many thanks.
Spots
To comply with the law spots must only operate with the headlights on full beam, fog lights do not need this requirement, so can be used with main beam only, or with full beam.
Contact Vehicle Wiring Products, they do a range of good quality vehicle wiring products, and are cheap for what you are getting.
Obtain a 30 amp rated relay and the relay holder, the VWP catalogue gives the wiring for relays in it and is free. Find the fuse in the fuse box for the high beam only and on the back, connect a suitable piece of cable to a switch on the dash( they have to be switchable to be legal)
From the switch connect a cable to terminal 85 of the relay, connect terminal 86 to a good earth, this controls the operation of the relay.
Connect terminal 30 to the live feed (battery + terminal) and terminal 87 to the lights.
I would suggest running them through a fuse box with seperate fuses for each light.
For one pair of 55w lights use 16/0.20 cable, this is rated at 11 amps.
Costs are 21p per metre for cable, relays are £1.87, fuse boxes from £1.47 (4way) relay holder with terminals from 91p, this is + postage and VAT.
I would suggest you contact them for a catalogue on 01159-305454 or eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%73%61%6c%65%73%40%76%65%68%69%63%6c%65%70%72%6f%64%75%63%74%73%2e%63%6f%2e%75%6b%22%3e%73%61%6c%65%73%40%76%65%68%69%63%6c%65%70%72%6f%64%75%63%74%73%2e%63%6f%2e%75%6b%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b'))