auxiliary switch - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

CamrySleepsOnU · 08-18-2003, 10:57 PM

I understand wires and switches but ratings don't make much sense to me. I have an auxiliary switch hooked up to my fogs and it gets REAL REAL REAL hot. I'm guessing i need a lower gauge switch? I know the lower the gauge means more electricity can flow... Anyway i think i'm assuming thats why its hot like... is there a such thing as a lower gauge switch?

***zoni*** · 08-18-2003, 11:15 PM

is there an LED on the switch? cause mine used to get really hot with an LED.

Luc · 08-18-2003, 11:27 PM

Usually, a relay should be wired in with the switch so that it supplies the current to the fog lights, and not the switch. Thus, your switch can run pretty hot.

Switches with LED lights should always have a resistor inline between the cathode and ground, so the LED will not get shorted out. Without it, the LED is more likely just to pass the current and will burn up (or out) quickly.

***zoni*** · 08-19-2003, 12:03 AM

EXACTLY! relay that motha!

i didnt relay mine, but i shoulda... anyways i did have a resistor in it for the led. i didnt relay it because i didnt have it in my car for too long anyways...

CamrySleepsOnU · 08-19-2003, 01:00 AM

how do u relay it?

***zoni*** · 08-19-2003, 01:05 AM

get an automotive relay from the autoparts store...
follow the instructions on the back...

connect 12 volt constant power input, output to the lights, ground, and power from the switch to the wires that they say to connect them to on the package, and you're all set.

88 LE · 08-19-2003, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CamrySleepsOnU
how do u relay it?

You need a 12V / 30A SPDT (single pole double throw) or SPST (single pole single throw) automotive relay. SPDT has 5 prongs (87, 87a, 85, 86, and 30) on it. SPST has 4 prongs on it (doesn't have 87a).

87: Wire to constant +12V

87a: Not used (no 87a on SPST)

85: +12V Trigger (parking light)

86: Ground

30: Output to foglights

85 and 86 can be swapped around if you want. Just don't wire both (ground and parking light wire) to the same prong.

The parking light wire (green) is at the bottom of the fuse box in a white connector.

I would also wire a SPST switch in between the parking light wire and relay so that you can turn the foglights on / off. If you have just the relay the foglights will come on whenever the parking lights are on.

CamrySleepsOnU · 08-19-2003, 07:19 PM

good advice... but i didn't want them coming on with runnign lights and that's more complicated than what i wanted... I jsut wired them to a higher rated (50 amp) switch. The old switch was only 10 amp. But thanks for the feed back.