When you find yourself deep in the wilderness after a successful day of off-roading, you need more than just stock headlights to guide your way back to solid pavement. Off-road lights are available in many shapes and sizes and include roof-mounted light bars, bumper-mounted spotlights, grille-mounted lights, etc. In this blog, we will guide you through the process of wiring your new lights, so they are ready to be utilized at a moment’s notice.
What You Will Need
The lights you purchased may come with a wiring kit that includes some of these parts below. Depending on what was included, you may need to add or subtract from this list:
- Wiring
- Relay
- Switch
- Fuses
- Connectors
- Zip Ties
- Power Drill
- Ratchet and sockets
How to wire multiple off-road lights to one switch
1) Disconnect Your Battery
Whenever working with electricity, it is best to limit the possibility of electric shock, fire, or damage to your new equipment. Start by disconnecting your battery so your installation can be conducted safely.
2) Measure Twice Cut Once
When you have gathered all the gear you need for your off-road lighting, it will be important to stage your setup before drilling any holes. This will help you measure the length of your wiring, develop a plan where the wiring needs to be run and allows you to test your lights before the installation is completed. Find the location you want for your lights and make sure the placement is exact. When staging your lighting, it is important to look at where the manufacturer ran the wiring and follow it as closely as possible. Wiring shouldn’t be pinched or placed on a heat source.
3) Install your Switch
When installing your switch, it is important to pick a location that is easily accessible to the driver’s side of the vehicle. We recommend somewhere on the center console, under the radio, or on the dash where it won’t be in the way but will be easily accessible. Make sure to select a switch that will be able to host all the lights you plan on installing. Choose a location you are comfortable drilling into. You will need this hole to install the wiring. Once your location is chosen, and your hole is drilled, run your wiring through this hole. One wire will run to the battery’s positive terminal to supply power to the switch, and the other will go to the light to provide the power needed to illuminate them.
4) Mount and Wire the Relay and Main Fuse
When choosing a location for your fuse, it should reside as close to your battery as possible. This will provide a safety net in case anything goes wrong. Blowing a fuse is a much better outcome than having your wires overheating, melting parts, and starting fires. Your relay can be a little further away from your battery but should still remain close in a central location as it will need to tie into your negative battery terminal, lights, main fuse, and switch.
5) Mount and Connect Your Lights
Now that your switch, relay, and fuse are installed, it’s time to connect your lights. In this step, we will mount your lights to your desired location using the hardware included in your kit. Once mounted, connect the wire from your switch to the lights. If your kit came with connectors, use those. If not, strip half an inch of bare wire from the end using wire strippers. Crimp the connector to the end of the wire with pliers, so it holds tight and has no room to wiggle. Attach the ground wire to a bare metal location under the dash or hood and set it in place with a screw or utilize an existing location.
6) Tie Up Loose Ends
When everything is set in place and ready to go, it is worth checking to ensure everything is securely in place and wires aren’t hanging in places where they will overheat, get pinched, or become tangled. We recommend using zip ties to keep everything clean and consolidated.
7) Test and Aim Your Lights
Once everything is in place, reconnect your battery and test your lights out! If everything is illuminated at the flip of your switch, you successfully installed your offroad lights! With your lights on, walk about 20 feet away to see what direction your light is pointing. Adjust your angle to the desired position and get ready to hit the trails with your new off-road lights.
Looking for New Lights for Your Off-Road Vehicle?
Toytec is here to help with a great selection of light bars, LED lights, off-road lighting, and other off-road lighting essentials. We offer lights from brands Baja Designs, Rigid Industries, ARB, Spyder, and more, so you can find the perfect option for your off-road adventures. For a safer and more enjoyable off-roading experience, shop our selection of off-road lighting today!
If you are in Denver, stop by our store. We offer professional installation services that are hassle-free and time-saving. Our team completes installation quickly so you can get back on the dirt enjoying what you love most!
