Advice - Wiring

[Fargo]

Hi Guys,

I was after some advice from you guys, im wring in my demon eye kit and would like to turn them on or off via an independant switch loacted left hand lower side of the steering wheel (there seems to be a blank where a switch can be fitted).

The demon eyes run on 12V and are not polarity sensitive,.

My question is:- can anyone recommend a 12V feed i could use located inside the car that runs to the fuse box where i can wire in the lamps.

Has anyone else done anything similar....

Geoffers this sounds like one for you my man.. :P

[Geoffers]

As you'll have the knee guard off under the steering wheel (Where the switch blank is) you'll see a large thick white wire with a red stripe. Tap into that and all will be fine. This is a big feed so make sure you use a seperate fuse for the demon eyes.

It's a pernanent 12v so you'll have to drop a relay in if you want it ignition controlled. If not, just use your switch.

[Fargo]

Geoff my man,, i knew i could reley on you..

How would i do this if i wanted to run the lamps to the fuse box, and the switch to the fuse box..

Could i draw the power via a feed to the lights,, (obviously i could bite into the fogs so when they are on the demon eyes are on, but i would like to run the eyes seperatly.) *** i hate car electrics..

by the way will you be attending JAE. per chance

[Geoffers]

The only way you could run these completely seperately is to tap into the live (as above).

If you wanted the switch to work when the lights or fogs are on, you can take it off the feeds to the lights, but the lights would have to be on first.. i.e. no lights or fogs then no demons.

What is the wattage of the lamps in the demon eyes? If they are the standard dichroics then I'm assuming 20w each, but can you check this as you may need a relay anyway if you are taking it from your dips as the loom and fuse won't support the extra power.

Either way, I could draw you a little diagram, but really need you to be quite specific on extractly when you want them to work.

I'm not being picky, it's just that it's quite important.

They do look the dogs undercarrage though - You've done a smart job there. Where did you get them from? How much?

Not sure about JAE - the joys of being self employed. I may just turn up if I can.

[Fargo]

Geoff , As ever you are a source of great help.

Not sure on the wattage of hte lamps,, i'll have to look at them (kit is all round at the womens place)

Basically i want to swithc the eyes on and off independently of all the fogs and main light, via a switch in the 'cockpit'

Two thoughts though.. i would like to use them as side lights instead of the fitted sides, but not sure of the legality or MOT stance. i cant see there is a problem as the side lights do not i'lluminate the road ahead,

The other thoughtt is i would prefer that the demon rings themselves last as long as possible so having them on everytime the headlights are on would not be good.

What do you reckon. im guessing it would be easier to run off the side lights..

[Geoffers]

Hmmmm Depends on how you want to do it.

You could just have them on with the sidelights

Have them come on instead of the sidelights - the easiest way would be to take the low wattage bilbs out.

I see your point about not being on all the time - you can put a relay in so the Demons switch off when the main lights are on.

Whichever way you do it, you can always have the switch in to switch them off for MOT, etc.

[Fargo]

Ive checked the wattage.. they are 35W.

youve given me some more ideas,

Ideal world:-

I would like to have the demon come on with the side lights instead of the normal sides, and have them turn off when the main lights come on, as you say via a relay.

Not an ideal world:-

As above but i would manually turn the side off via a switch

How would this be accomplished.

[ifraz]

loacted left hand lower side of the steering wheel (there seems to be a blank where a switch can be fitted).

Wait, wait, wait, I think this blank space where you think a switch could be located is actually the climate control sensor.

I could be wrong here, but I'm pretty certain I have read it here somewhere

[ifraz]

loacted left hand lower side of the steering wheel (there seems to be a blank where a switch can be fitted).

Wait, wait, wait, I think this blank space where you think a switch could be located is actually the climate control sensor.

I could be wrong here, but I'm pretty certain I have read it here somewhere

I knew it...

Read it here

Changing the subject slighty, the forum seach tool is fantastic :winky: :D

[Geoffers]

Reading the thread, both are correct. The sensor is there, but there is also space for a switch. (I've have my alternating fog switch there). The sensor lives slightly to the right. The blank itself has plenty of space behind it.

Ok, for the demons to come on with the sidelight switch (but not the sidelights bulbs), the easiest way to do it would be with a relay to switch the demons on, and pop out the bulbs or take the lead off to the sidelights - you can then just connect back on if needed.

At 35w per lamp, I would take a new positive feed (ideally from the Battery, as you will be doing all this in the engine compartment anyway.)

Because you'll be taking a seperate feed, you will need two relays. One switches the Demons on when the side lights are on, the second disconnects the power when the main beam is on. You will need one normally open relay, and one normally closed (or changeover relay).

(Before everybody jumps on this asking why I'm doing it this way and not using dual coil relays, transistors, diodes, etc, I'm trying to make it simplest way to wire up!!!)

To wire up the relays :

Here you'll see that when you put the steering column switch to the first position, the first relay closes allowing current to pass to the demons as the second relay is already closed. When you switch on the main lights, the second relay opens, so disconnects the power to the demons.

The relays you need can be bought from any motor factors, or Maplin (Codes : RG11M, RG13P)

You can put a switch in as well if you want to to manually control the lights but there shouldn't be a need doing it this way.

[Geoffers]

Oh, if anyone is interested - this is what I mean't by my alternating fogs :

I only use them off road of course but I imagine they would make people back off when they are right up your backside on the motorway.......

(I'll post the circuit if anyone wants it)

[Fidgits]

:D Oh yes please Geoffers

I could see a lot of fun with them...

[Fargo]

Sweeeeettt.

Just to clarify Re the relays,, i would fit these by locating the + feed to the appropriate light, break the cable and insert the relay connecting one end of the newly spliced + feed onto one terminal of the realy coil and the other end of the spliced + feed on the other terminal of the relay coil.. (just like inserting a basic SPST switch.

And then obviously hook up the demons as you described.

[ifraz]

Oh, if anyone is interested - this is what I mean't by my alternating fogs :

I only use them off road of course but I imagine they would make people back off when they are right up your backside on the motorway.......

(I'll post the circuit if anyone wants it)

Excellent...would love to try this one :D

[Geoffers]

I may be reading this wrong, but don't put the + from each light to the same relay. (It will act as a big resistor with just your sidelights on and try and light the main beam.)

+ that feeds each light goes to one side of the coil of each of the 2 relays. The second side of each coil goes to earth. (You can pick the light feeds from either side).

So...

The +sidelight light feed goes to one side of the coil on the normal open relay, and the other side of the coil to earth.

The +main light feed goes to one side of the coil on the normally closed relay, and the other side of the coil to earth.