LIGHT QUESTION (WATTS)

[minty]

if i have x3 55w spot lights on each side of my car dose that make the circuit 165w or still 55w :?

[Terranosaurus]

165w as long as you've got them in parrallel, if in series it would be a lot less and the lights would be really dim.

[minty]

? :?  confused me even more now, all lights are working and are very bright but we are fittng a new relay into grasshopper and we ent quite sure if its big enoth to cope as the relay is 160watts and if correct i think the lights are running at 165watts but we ent sure

[Evilgoat]

add up all the lights on the circuit, they should be wired in paralell then add 10% for safety sake and to deal with something called inrush current.

Relays are rarely rated in Watts though, in fact I cant say I've ever seen one rated that way.

[Big Rich]

Minty

I have a book explaning the wireing and amps, Volts and watts.

You welcome to borrow it mate.

Rich

[minty]

the relay ent in watts its upto a 160 watts per side?

[Evilgoat]

Not sure what you have there. Get someone local to check it for you, Its possible thats a flasher relay as they are often speced in watts

[minty]

thanks for that richie but i kent read a normal book so i dont hold much of a technical one unless it has lots of pictures in it  :oops:

[landroverkeith]

:lol:  lmao it has lots of wiring diagrams in it minty

[minty]

yes yes its a flasher relay but wot iz need to no will it be big enoth to cope with the lights per side ?

[Evilgoat]

Sorry if I've missed a trick here, but you want your spots to flash?

[landroverkeith]

well minty in my experiance and i have plenty...........

if theres a small fire in the engine bay its not enough.... lol but if the lights work then all is well  :roll:

[minty]

history lesson
its for grass hopper the santa pod security vehical it had x2 front spots that use to wig-wag and then it was decided it should have a roof bar with spots on then when that was done it was decided thay to should be add to the flashing wig wag  so ive spent the larst month cutting, weilding, wireing, curesing, and now the flipping relay whent pop because thay messed around with the switchs some im now struggerling to find one that will cope with wots needed

[Evilgoat]

you might struggle, they arent meant for that.

secondary realys may help though. Wire the relay in place of the lamps then wire the lamps through the realay. You may need a ballast resistor to make it flash right though.

[hrox]

give you a hint.    lights measured in watts.   relays measured in amps. so heres the math


3 x 55watt = 165watt
Voltage = 12v
Amps = watts \ voltage. so in this case 160 \ 12 = 12.75 amps

although from your 1st post does that mean you have 6 x 55watt spots in 2 sets of 3? if so then double the ampage so 25.5 amps.   most standard light wireing relays are 30a but its the wireing that will let you down and burn out.   would suggest 2 relays and 2 differnet runs of wire per side this way you can keep to 15amp cable which is cheaper than trying to find 30 amp cable.  you can wire the switch posative cable from the switch to both relays using just one amp cable as its about 1 amp that will be running across the swithch and therefore wont burn out.


hope that helps althougth reading it back dont really make much sence but then im half cut.   :)

[redhand]

Ya want one of these. http://www.sedgewall.co.uk/productSVP/altflasher.asp

[minty]

no this is wot i onner about http://www.amazon.com/Tridon-Electronic-Flasher-Terminal-headlights/dp/B00064LQK8 its already wire just need a bigger relay to x3 lights if poss or will have to drop down to x2 and x4 then i will have to get another x6 pin rocker swicth it never ends ](*,)

[minty]

give you a hint.    lights measured in watts.   relays measured in amps. so heres the math


3 x 55watt = 165watt
Voltage = 12v
Amps = watts \ voltage. so in this case 160 \ 12 = 12.75 amps

although from your 1st post does that mean you have 6 x 55watt spots in 2 sets of 3? if so then double the ampage so 25.5 amps.   most standard light wireing relays are 30a but its the wireing that will let you down and burn out.   would suggest 2 relays and 2 differnet runs of wire per side this way you can keep to 15amp cable which is cheaper than trying to find 30 amp cable.  you can wire the switch posative cable from the switch to both relays using just one amp cable as its about 1 amp that will be running across the swithch and therefore wont burn out.


hope that helps althougth reading it back dont really make much sence but then im half cut.   :)

 thanks for that it was as i susspected not a 55w line but 165w so unless i can get a bigger relay then i will split the systerm (there is one relay that will work x8 55w and x4 indecators all at the same time :shock: )