Roof mounted spot lights

[chris.hunt22]

I have just fitted 4 Hella rectangular work lights to my roof rack bar (factory standard one that slots into the roof bars), they look really good and I have managed to get some side light bulb holders which I am going to fit to illuminate them dimmly when my lights are on side/dip and then wire the main bulbs up to the main beam, I have no real problems with the wiring/relays/fuses etc. but what is the best method to run the wires inside the car/engine comparment??

Quick wiring question also, obviousley the main beam will have to be on a relay with a seperate feed but will 4 x 5w side light bulbs run OK off the side light circuit or will this too need a seperate feed and relay?

[Terranosaurus]

You'd probably be OK running your side lights off the existing circuitry as you can take the feed to them direct out of the fuse box so there's no need additional loading on the existing wiring apart from the fuse box which is well supplied. Might need to uprate the fuse - 5 or 7.5 amp should be about right.

Make sure you fit a switch into the main roof light circuit. You don't want to running round with them on all the time with main beam - you'll draw unnecessary attention from plod.

[DiscoJim]

Personally I would use a relay for any additional lighting, I uprated my headlights and main beams to thicker cable and HD relays, the lights are much brighter now. The wiring on Disco's is not very heavy really.

Also, you may want to check the legality of having sidelights up top, just so you are sure they are OK.

[chris.hunt22]

I am not going to switch the roof lights, I am just going to send a feed to the relay from the full beam, on the question of legally having side lights on the roof many trucks have them fitted into spot lights so I can't see a problem (will find out first time I get stopped!!)

[Terranosaurus]

Didn't mean switch the side lights, they're position indicators. It's driving round with 4 55watt spotlights lit that will get you pulled.

[chris.hunt22]

They are 100 watt!!  They will only come on when the main beam (dazzle) is put on or if you flash someone, I might put a switch in between if they start arousing PC attention, I still need to know where everyone else who has them has routed their wiring??

[ChrisW]

Down the side of the snorkle!

If you don't have a snorkel (I didn't when I wired up some spotlights on a roofrack I used to have) I carefully drilled the rubber trim up the side of the screen (it has a sort of lip on it just right for a 4core flex to fit against) and used the holes to run ty-wraps through to hold the flex in place.

[ChrisW]

Technically 100W lamps are not legal for road use - I would fit an isolator switch 'just in case' - or even a two-way and centre off switch - wire the switch 'back to front' so that the centre contact supplies the relay with one input off the battery, one off main beam. You can then select between lights on, lights on with main beam or off.

[J.D.]

They are 100 watt!!  They will only come on when the main beam (dazzle) is put on or if you flash someone, I might put a switch in between if they start arousing PC attention, I still need to know where everyone else who has them has routed their wiring??

Down the side of the windscreen. Get hold of some suction cups from a DIY store - the ones with little hooks on them.

That way if the wires get caught in a tree laning, it pulls the suction cup off and doesn't wreck the wiring or the seals.

[chris.hunt22]

Job done!!  Will put some pics on when the Mud Club image resizer is back on and working!!  I have wired them up through 2 relays (they were only £7.00 each for the relay with fuse and holder) so I thought I might aswell do the side lights too, they work really well, the 5w bulbs come on when the lights are either on side light or dip beam and then when on full beam all the main roof lights also come on, I will fit an override switch to knock them off just incase I ever have to flash a police car through!!  I have run the cable down the o/s screen rubber gutter trim and secured it with Insulation tape, it will probably come off when wet so I might upgrade to gaffer tape (going off the good point about trees snagging!!).  I am also going to put a waterproof plug on the roof so I can remove the whole bar should I venture into a woody lane!!  Only problem....snapped the o/s headlight retaining plastic dome things removing the light  DOH!!!!   Excuse to get some td5 headlights now!!

[chris.hunt22]

Here are the pics, just bidding on td5 headlights and grille on eblag too!!