Installing fog lamps in my dads car! Is it BAD to use the 12v power from the ignition? (when the key is on the wire=12v)

[WarDemon666]

My dad went to an electronics store and they gave him a relay so that when ever the ignition is on the fog lamps are available with power. (theres a switch for them, and they only turn on when the ignition is on, but I can shut them off)

So on the relay in back it says "126" and on top "49400" I think its an original chrysler relay, but anyways. Ive got a 30, 85, 87, and 86 that I can connect wires to, the middle one (87a) has no wire, the electronics guy said I didnt need it.

What he wrote down:

85 = high beam
87 = ignition
86 = switch to the 87/ignition
30 = positive for the fog lamps..

Instead of the high beams I tried putting a constant 12 volts for testing, same for ignition, the lamps never turn on...

Any ideas on how I could get this to work?


EDIT!!!

Everything is working now, but my dad still wants to know if its bad to use a switch on the 12v ignition wire....

EX:

When key is turned theres 12v in that wire, so I tap onto that wire and send it to the fog lamps.....


Is that hard on the wire? will I be likely to blow fuses??

Thanks!!

 

[WarDemon666]

UP. waiting for an answer so I can tell my dad!

 

[Brutuskend]

You want to use a relay that draws a little power from the switch and then opens and draws the main power straight from the battery.

Edit: Guess I should have actually READ the post....

 

[WarDemon666]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend
You want to use a relay that draws a little power from the switch and then opens and draws the main power straight from the battery.

Edit: Guess I should have actually READ the post....

hehe. Thanks for your post. Is it BAD to go directly from the ignition though?

 

[Brutuskend]

You want to sent the power from the switch to the relay.

 

[TwoBills]

Are you saying that you're running the hot from the ign. straight to the lamps, with a switch in between? No relay?

Not the best idea. Either wire the relay in or put an inline fuse on the hot wire.

 

[WarDemon666]

Originally posted by: TwoBills
Are you saying that you're running the hot from the ign. straight to the lamps, with a switch in between? No relay?

Not the best idea. Either wire the relay in or put an inline fuse on the hot wire.

Heres how we ended up doing it:

12v from the ignition going to relay, the biggest 12v power we could find in the dash (12 gauge I think) and used that to power the fog lights when the key is in...)


seems to be going well.

Thanks for the help