Connecting headlights via relay

If you need to connect additional lights or remove the load from the main light sources, a relay is used. The easiest way to install a four-pin option, since it can be bought at any auto shop, it is inexpensive and easy to install. The main thing is to understand the features of the work and connect the wires correctly to ensure the normal operation of the equipment.

What you need to connect headlights

First you need to prepare everything you need. Usually the same set is used:

1. New headlights with mounts so that you can put on the car when connected and fix it securely.
2. Relay for connecting light. The easiest way is to use the standard four-pin version with connectors numbered 85, 86, 87 and 30. They are sold in car dealerships and are used for fog lights, and for any other light source.
   Basic elements for connecting light.
3. Fuse in a special case for installation near the battery, rated at 15 A (or more, depending on the characteristics of the equipment).
4. Light on/off button.Either a regular version is used, or an additional one, which must be installed in a suitable place in the car interior.
5. Wires in the right quantity, sold in stores. The cross section will be prompted to you based on which headlights will be connected.
6. You will also need connectors, heat shrink, screwdrivers and other tools.

The fuse can also be placed in the standard fuse box, usually there is free space there. But this will complicate the work, since you will have to pull the wiring to the unit separately.

Scheme for connecting additional headlights through a relay

First of all, you need to study the connection diagram of the headlights through the relay, shown below. It is in this order that the wires should be connected, you can not confuse anything, since the light will not work.

It is this option that is easiest to implement, everything is simple and even inexperienced masters can do it.

The video explains very simply the connection of additional headlights.

Training

Since the additional headlights are most often switched on together with dimensions, you need to think about where it is better to connect to the on-board network. A panel backlight or any other convenient point will do. This will prevent the inclusion of headlights without dimensions, which is important for traffic rules.

It is also worth choosing a place for the location of the relay. Here we must proceed from convenience, as well as ensuring reliable fastening. The relay must not get wet. Most often it is placed under the instrument panel in the cabin or in a protected part of the engine compartment.

If there is free space in the relay block, you can install the element there.

It is necessary to think in advance where and how the wires will be laid. They should not stick out or hang in plain sight.It is better to attach them to the standard wiring and stretch them in such a way as to prevent damage during the operation of the machine.

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Work

To connect light through a relay, the easiest way is to break the process into separate steps and follow them in order:

1. The power cable is connected at the selected location. It is important to ensure reliable contact and protect the junction, for this use a ready-made terminal.
2. Power is pulled to the light switch. Here you will need a circuit, or you can find suitable contacts experimentally, since the design may differ in different models.
3. A wire runs from the button to the 85th relay contact. It is optimal to connect through the block, which can be bought in the kit. Then the connection will be reliable and durable.
   Designation of relay contacts.
4. Contact 87 is connected next, a wire should be laid from it to the battery power. A fuse cuts into it, it is advisable to put this element as close to the battery as possible.
5. Contact 86 can be brought to the car body and fixed, ensuring a good connection with the metal. And ideally, stretch the wire to the negative terminal of the battery, if this is not very difficult.
6. As for the additional headlights, most often there are two contacts. The negative should be fixed on the car body or brought to the negative terminal of the battery, there is not much difference. Plus, it connects to pin 30, you can stretch two wires or connect them next to the headlights and lead one core.

Related video: What gives an additional relay.

Connection errors

To avoid problems, you need to take into account the main mistakes and avoid them:

1. Bad connection connections.Do not twist and wrap them with electrical tape, this is a short-lived option.
   Connect the wires to the relay through the connector to ensure reliable contact.
2. Installing the relay in the wrong place. If it is not fixed and exposed to changes in humidity, it can quickly fail.
3. Use of thin wires. They will overload and heat up during operation, which will eventually lead to melting of the insulation. It is better to buy an option with a margin of safety.
4. The absence of a fuse in the system. With voltage drops and short circuits, the headlights will fail or the wiring may catch fire.

Connecting the headlights through a relay is not difficult, since everything you need is sold in car dealerships, and the circuit is very simple. The main thing is to ensure reliable contact of the connections and lay the wiring carefully so that it is not damaged during operation.