relay power

rover4x4

Well-known member
What is preferred power source for relays? Considering gutting my auxiliary lighting wiring adding a blue sea fuse box and relocating relays to seat box. Currently everything is stuffed in the dash and has been fine until recently... IIRC I tapped into the cigarette lighter circuit to power the relays on and off from "factory" switches. My current setup has been trouble free for nearly a decade but it needs to be cleaned up a bit and I am finally getting around to replacing that binnacle mount....
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
The cleanest way to wire in accessories is to get the power from an auxiliary fuse box. I think the factory dealer add-on lights got their power from the alternator with an inline fuse and relay mounted on the fender.
 

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
Not to be overly condescending, but if you are asking these questions, then you need to do more research before you do any wiring and catch your ride on fire.
The genesis of all the power sources on your vehicle should come from a brown wire connected to the starter solenoid where the (+) cable connects from the battery and alternator.
This is the 30 terminal of any 12V relay.
Fuses are not always a good thing.
Not everything is fused or connected like you might think.
Incorrectly connecting can result in fires and or inoperative electrical connections.
Be careful if you are not 100% positive that the connections you make are sound and well thought out.
Please note, being over confident about the flow of electrons is NOT A SUBSTITUTE for connecting things properly.
 

ghoregon

Active member
Not to be overly condescending, but if you are asking these questions, then you need to do more research before you do any wiring and catch your ride on fire.
The genesis of all the power sources on your vehicle should come from a brown wire connected to the starter solenoid where the (+) cable connects from the battery and alternator.
This is the 30 terminal of any 12V relay.
Fuses are not always a good thing.
Not everything is fused or connected like you might think.
Incorrectly connecting can result in fires and or inoperative electrical connections.
Be careful if you are not 100% positive that the connections you make are sound and well thought out.
Please note, being over confident about the flow of electrons is NOT A SUBSTITUTE for connecting things properly.

Maybe I am missing something, but doesn't this question qualify as research? I mean what better way to learn than to ask those that have done what you are trying to do yourself? I am in a similar position as OP and consider these posts an important part of researching and understanding what to do, and more importantly, not do.
 

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
Research is definitely all about asking questions. Your goal has to be to do it right the first time. Even if that means ultimately giving your truck to someone else to do the actual work.

On any brand car adding circuits is best done away from the factory wiring harness. Give the new circuits their own fuse or breaker box connected directly to the battery. Also a fan of never putting heavy wattage through switches. Use a relay especially when adding lighting etc where the combined/total current draw is high. Whats the point of adding an accessory if the switch overheats and fails?
 

rover4x4

Well-known member
Not to be overly condescending, but if you are asking these questions, then you need to do more research before you do any wiring and catch your ride on fire.
The genesis of all the power sources on your vehicle should come from a brown wire connected to the starter solenoid where the (+) cable connects from the battery and alternator.
This is the 30 terminal of any 12V relay.
Fuses are not always a good thing.
Not everything is fused or connected like you might think.
Incorrectly connecting can result in fires and or inoperative electrical connections.
Be careful if you are not 100% positive that the connections you make are sound and well thought out.
Please note, being over confident about the flow of electrons is NOT A SUBSTITUTE for connecting things properly.

this is pretty obvious

Perhaps I didnt use enough words in my initial post..

I would obviously be sourcing the power for the fuse block from the battery hence my moving things to the seat box and running new wiring etc.


My QUESTION was in regards to what SWITCHED circuit people are using to actually trigger relays, as you know it requires very little power to close a relay. The relay handles the load, kinda like when everyone installs the aftermarket headlight loom to divert power from the stalk switch to relays.
 
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