How to connect several off-road lights to one switch

Off-road driving can be fun. However, if you are planning on driving at night, you will need an extra set of off-road lights for your vehicle. Two or three off-road lights in the front are more than enough for most vehicles. Or install them on the roof. In any case, the installation of fixtures is not so difficult. The wiring process is tricky, especially if you plan on turning on multiple lamps with a single switch. With that in mind, here's how to wire multiple off-road lights to a single switch.

As a rule, to install and connect several off-road lights to one switch, follow these steps.

• First, choose a good spot to mount your headlights on your car.
• Then install off-road lights.
• Disconnect the battery terminals.
• Run the wires from the headlights to the relay.
• Connect the battery and switch to the relay.
• Ground the relay, switch and light.
• Finally, connect the battery terminals and test the light.

That's all. Now your off-road lights are ready to use.

Things you need

You will need quite a few tools for this process. .

off road lights

First, you need to buy the right off-road lights for your vehicle. There are many brands and designs on the market. So, choose a few fixtures that best suit your needs. With some models, you will receive a wiring kit. For different brands of cars, you could custom-made off-road lights. For example, for Jeeps, there are special kits and installation instructions that are specific to your Jeep model.

Wiring

For off-road lights, you will need wires from 10 to 14 gauge. Depending on the number of lamps, the wire size may vary. When it comes to length, you will need at least 20 feet. Also, choose red for positive and green for ground wires. Choose more colors if needed, such as black, white, and yellow.

Tip: When you buy AWG wire, you get a larger diameter with smaller wire numbers. For example, 12 gauge wire has a larger diameter than 14 gauge wire.

Relay

The relay is one of the most useful elements in this wiring process. The relay usually has four or five contacts. Here are some details about these pins.

Pin number 30 connects to the battery. Pin 85 is ground. Connect 86 to a switched power supply. 87A and 87 refer to electrical components.

Keep in mind: The above method is the exact way to connect the relay. However, in this demo we are not using pin 87A. Also, buy a 30/40 amp relay for this wiring process.

Fuses

You can use these fuses to protect your vehicle's electrical devices. In this process, we must connect two points to a 12V DC battery. For both points, the safest option is to connect a fuse. Remember that we only connect fuses to devices that connect directly to the battery. Therefore, you need to get one fuse for the relay and one for the switch. Buy a 30 amp fuse on the relay. Depending on the amperage of the car relay switch, buy a second fuse (a 3 amp fuse is more than enough).

Switch

It must be a switch. We use this switch for all off road lights. So be sure to choose a quality switch.

Crimp connectors, wire stripper, screwdriver and drill

Use a crimp connector to connect the wires and a wire stripper. You will also need a screwdriver and a drill.

8-Step Guide to Connecting Multiple Off-Road Lights to One Switch

Step 1 - Determine a Good Location for Off-Road Lights

First of all, you need to choose a good spot for lighting. In this demo, I'm setting up two lights. For these two lights, the front bumper (just above the bumper) is the best place. However, depending on your requirements, you can choose any other location.

For example, the roof is a great place to install off-road lights.

Step 2 - Install the light

Place the headlights and mark the location of the screws.

Then drill holes for the first light source.

Install the first headlights.

Now repeat the same process for the other light source.

Then attach both headlights to the bumper.

Most off road lights come with an adjustable mounting plate. This way you can adjust the lighting angle according to your needs.

Step 3 - Disconnect the battery terminals

Disconnect the battery terminals before starting the wiring process. This is a mandatory security measure. So don't skip this step.

Step 4 - Connect the wiring harness to the headlights

Next, connect the wiring harness to the headlights. Sometimes you get a wiring kit with lights. Sometimes you won't. You will receive a relay, switch and wiring harness with a wiring kit.

If you only brought in the headlights, connect the wires coming from the headlights to a new wire and connect that connection to the relay. Use crimp connectors for this.

Step 5Pass the Wires Through the Firewall

The vehicle relay switch must be located inside the vehicle. Relays and fuses should be under the hood. So, in order to connect the switch to the relay, you will have to go through the firewall. In some car models, you can easily find a hole that goes to the dashboard from the firewall. So, find this place and run the switch wires inside the hood (except for the ground wire).

Keep in mind: If you cannot find such a hole, drill a new hole.

Step 6 - Start Wiring

Now you can start the wiring process. Follow the connection diagram above and complete the connection.

First, connect the wire coming from the two LEDs to pin 87 of the relay. Ground the other two remaining wires of the lamps. To ground them, connect them to the chassis.

Then connect the wire coming from the positive battery terminal to a 30 amp fuse. Then connect a fuse to terminal 30.

Now let's move on to the wiring of the switch. As you can see, the switch must be connected to a 12V DC battery and a relay. So, connect the wire from the positive battery terminal to the switch. Remember to use a 3 amp fuse. Then connect pin 86 to the switch. Finally, ground pin 85 and the switch.

Next, install the relay and fuse inside the hood. Find an easily accessible place for this.

When you run wires to the switch, you will have to run them through a firewall. This means that two wires must come out of the switch; one for the battery and one for the relay. The ground wire of the switch can be left inside the vehicle. Find a good grounding spot and ground the wire.

Tip: If you're having trouble finding a suitable grounding point, you can always use the negative battery terminal.

Step 7 - Recheck your connections

Now go back to where you installed the LED lights. Then check all connections again. For example, check crimp connectors, screw connections and mounted elements.

If necessary, use the heat shrink technique on all crimp connectors. It will protect the wires from moisture and abrasion. (1)

Step 8 - Check the off-road headlights

Finally, connect the battery terminals to the battery and test the light.

The best time to check newly installed lighting is at night. So, take a ride and test the strength and power of the off-road lights.

A few valuable tips

Off-road lights can be used as reversing lights. If your headlights aren't working, these backup lights can come in handy. So when buying, do not forget to choose a powerful set of fixtures.

Keep wiring away from any heat sources. This may damage the wires. Or choose wires with high-quality insulation.

If your lights come with a wiring kit, you won't have much of a problem. However, if you buy each part separately, be sure to buy quality parts. Also, always use red wires for positive connections and green wires for ground. Use white or black for other connections. Such a thing can come in handy during repairs.

Always follow the wiring diagram. For some, understanding the wiring diagram can be a little tricky. You may have to read some guides on this subject, but with more experience you will get better at it.

Summing up

Having an off-road lighting system can bring you many benefits. These headlights will give your car much-needed illumination and a stylish look. However, installing these lights is not the easiest task in the world. Don't get discouraged as it's a little tricky on the first try, it's not easy and persistence and patience are the key to doing a good job here. 

Take a look at some of our articles below.

• How to connect several lamps to one cord
• How to connect a chandelier with multiple bulbs
• Which wire is from the battery to the starter

Recommendations

(1) compression technique – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/

pii/0167865585900078

(2) humidity - https://www.infoplease.com/math-science/weather/weather-moisture-and-humidity

Video links

OFF-ROAD LIGHTS 8 TIPS YOU DIDN'T KNOW

How to install LED off-road spot/flood lights in your vehicle

How To Wire Off Road Lights And Add Extra Circuits

Difference Between 4 and 5 Pin Relay - Relays Explained