KC Light Relay

I have a set of KC lights that were on my CJ when I gought it. The lights work if I touch them to 12 vts. However it has a relay That I don't have a diagram for. The KC website shows a hook up with a relay and with out.
The relay has 4 wires two large yellow that look like one was hot and the other went to the lights.
What I can't figure out is the two small lights one brown and one blue. Do they go to the switch?

 

Lights don't work with the relay and do without it. Am I going to burn something out with no relay?

 

You may burn out the switch contacts without a relay. Plus, it's better to make the high-current run of wire as short as possible, and the relay helps with that. This page has a pretty good description and wiring diagram http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/lightforce/

 

The relay is a switch designed to carry a heavier load then a normal switch can handle.

The two heavy wires will be your Light power supply one wire goes to the battery or fuse panel or solenoid or where ever you are getting your power from. The other to the lights. The lights will ground through their bases (make sure your mounting surface has a good ground)


OK now the fun part the other two terminals are what triggers the switch inside the relay to close. One wire goes to a power source through a switch (your new dash switch you want to use to turn your KC lights on and off with.

The other terminal goes to ground.

when you turn your dash switch on power goes through it to the relay casusing an electro magnet to close the contact on the HD interal switch which sends power to the lights from the lights power source. The current after passing through the electro magnet goes to ground completing that circuit.


I have included a very simple circuit drawing for you to use. you might also check online for a better drawing of a lighting relay circuit

here are a couple I found that will help you out.

http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/current_topic.html

http://www.rattlebars.com/mtz/foglites.html


Hope this help Radio shack has a very good cheap little 30 AMp relay I have used for a lot of things.

 

Great thread. This was just the info I needed to rewire my electric fan. Main power wire is getting hot enough to melt the inline fuse holder. I never really understood the way a relay works but this thread and links are great. Thanks guys.

 

I called KC lights and ended up ordering their whole instalation kit. The wires going to my lights were very light/ Too light for the load they are supposed to carry. I'm going to beef up the ground also.
This thread has lots of applications and is very helpful.
thanks