For all you guys with aux lights (either reverse or forward facing) How did you get 12v power connected cleanly under the hood? I am looking to re-install my Hella Black Magics this coming weekend and finally hook up my reverse lights. I had always gotten my power from the battery, but I do not have a good way to connect the hot wires to the stud on the battery. The bolt has a small head, but when you unscrew the terminal from the battery, the size of the threaded part is huge! The ring terminals that came with the Hella's won't fit over the threads, and I can't find one for that guage of wiring that will. What should I do? I will have 2 sets of Hellas (4 lights) on my Randy Ellis light bar and I am going to put the reverse lights on the bumper. I would like to get all the hardware lined up as soon as possible. Should I be getting power from somewhere else? If so, where?

Thanks!

How about connecting to the power on the fuse compartment under the hood.

Brian

Ted,

I like the mini fuse taps that Auto Zone sales, I tapped into a fuse spot under the dash in the fuse box that has power all of the time to power my rear lights. They make a very clean install :)

Ted,

I like the mini fuse taps that Auto Zone sales, I tapped into a fuse spot under the dash in the fuse box that has power all of the time to power my rear lights. They make a very clean install :)
Yeah, I used the mini fuse taps for my guages, but I guess I am concerned about the draw (and this is where I get confused) Can I safely tap into the fuse box for 3 sets of lights. I know that it is just to open the relays, but is that where the draw stops? Or is it sucking current the whole time the relays are open and the lights are on? I realize the relay only turns them on, but I am wondering about the power source. The hella instrucitons say find a 12v source under the hood, (and I think the reference the battery in the drawings) so I was trying to do a neat/tidy/safe job.

The Hella driving lights are probally going to draw to much power for a fuse tap, but the reverse lights should be safe. Might want to pop off the fuse box cover under the hood and draw power for the Hella's to your relat from one of the studs in there.

What about using the stud that you use to jump start another vehicle?

What about using the stud that you use to jump start another vehicle?

That's what I was going to suggest for up front.

In the rear I used the trailer power and reverse light wires out of the 7 way for my reverse lights.

I wired them on a fuse and relay with a switch so I can turn them on manually anytime and they come on with the reverse lights of the trucks. Now I can turn on the reverse lights with a toggle in the bed and it fires both my PIIA's under the bumper and the truck's reverse lights.

For all you guys with aux lights (either reverse or forward facing) How did you get 12v power connected cleanly under the hood? I am looking to re-install my Hella Black Magics this coming weekend and finally hook up my reverse lights. I had always gotten my power from the battery, but I do not have a good way to connect the hot wires to the stud on the battery. The bolt has a small head, but when you unscrew the terminal from the battery, the size of the threaded part is huge! The ring terminals that came with the Hella's won't fit over the threads, and I can't find one for that gauge of wiring that will. What should I do? I will have 2 sets of Hellas (4 lights) on my Randy Ellis light bar and I am going to put the reverse lights on the bumper. I would like to get all the hardware lined up as soon as possible. Should I be getting power from somewhere else? If so, where?

Thanks!

I have connected all my lights with 30A fuse links to the stud located under the red plastic cap marked positive. A larger Sta-Con eye connector fits over the stud nicely. I used some wire loom and Tye wraps to run the power wire along the support bar and to the battery area where I mounted my relays. I was lucky and found some 12V/30A relays at Princess Auto. They came with rubber covers and L mounting brackets. A lot heavier duty then the ones that came with my lights.

I have connected all my lights with 30A fuse links to the stud located under the red plastic cap marked positive. A larger Sta-Con eye connector fits over the stud nicely. I used some wire loom and Tye wraps to run the power wire along the support bar and to the battery area where I mounted my relays. I was lucky and found some 12V/30A relays at Princess Auto. They came with rubber covers and L mounting brackets. A lot heavier duty then the ones that came with my lights.


I went to a auto stereo shop and bought some nice high end replacement terminals that screw into the batter... I attacheed a nice large gauge wire from there and went to a breaker i installed under the fuxe box.. I'm on the road now - but i'll see if i can get some pics of the install...

I hooked up my 12V compressor to that breaker - and a few other auxillary devices...

I ran the power for the light in my pickup cap from under the black plastic cover for the fuse/relay box on drivers fender. Very easy to hook to the hot 12v sutd under there.
Todd

I went to a auto stereo shop and bought some nice high end replacement terminals that screw into the batter... I attacheed a nice large gauge wire from there and went to a breaker i installed under the fuxe box.. I'm on the road now - but i'll see if i can get some pics of the install...

I hooked up my 12V compressor to that breaker - and a few other auxillary devices...

Any luck with the pics?