Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Justink on July 13, 2010, 01:34:13 PM
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So I have recently hooked up 2 100 watt driving lights into my headlights. Whenever I put my high beams on ater a few minutes my lights sart to blink out. If I switch it to low beams, it is good again. What could be causing this?
Ground is good (right to battery)
Is my power wire not big enough not allowing enough current? (14 gauge)
Thanks
Justin
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If I'm reading this right, definitely sounds like it's overloaded:
For just the two new lights:
2 x 100W = 200W
P = VA (power = volts * amps)
or
A = P/V
Voltage is ~12V (well, in a perfect system...)
200W / 12V = 16A
As per a few sites I've read, depending on the insulation on the cable 14AWG can handle 15 - 20 amps (I even read 25 amps, for the high end).
So you're slightly over the limit on the lower end of the scale, with just the two new lights. Based on the fact you say it works fine with just the driving lights, I'm guessing your gauge wire is fine for that (so it can probably safely handle up to 20amps give or take). Add in your brights though, and you're pulling too much current through the wire.
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did you run it through a relay or something like that. if you are using the power from the main headlight then you are likely overloading it.
I would say run a relay with power right from the battery, and then get a switch and you could run it along side using the headlight as a switch so you could have it so you can turn it off if you wanted to, but it would only turn on if you have your headlights on.
really good for not draining your battery,
that or have it run to something as a switch that will not have power, and there for turn off when you do not have the key in the acc or on position.
i hope that makes sense .
steve
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did you run it through a relay or something like that. if you are using the power from the main headlight then you are likely overloading it.
I would say run a relay with power right from the battery, and then get a switch and you could run it along side using the headlight as a switch so you could have it so you can turn it off if you wanted to, but it would only turn on if you have your headlights on.
really good for not draining your battery,
that or have it run to something as a switch that will not have power, and there for turn off when you do not have the key in the acc or on position.
i hope that makes sense .
steve
Makes perfect sense ;D, installed a continous solenoid? So as I am pulling power directly freom my battery, but it only turns on if my high beams are on, no problems so far.
Thanks for clariifying black aura ;D
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glad to hear. :)