Wiring offroad lights to high beams and whenever?

[slosurfer]

I have some Lightforce 170 Strikers on the way and I have some questions about wiring them up.

Is there a way to have them where they can be used with and controlled by my high beams, but also switched to where I can turn them on whenever? I know you can hook them up either way, but is there a way to do both?

After traveling home through the middle of nowhere coming back from Death Valley and the Mojave Desert, I could really use the extra lights and would need them to go off when I turn off the highbeams for oncoming traffic, but there could be other times on the trail where I may just want them on whenever. Any ideas?

[Good Times]

interesting thought. Though i've never done this I would think this is possible by using an OR Gate setup.

two ways:

1) Use of two OR Gate Transistors
2) Use of two Diode OR Gate

I would say the second one is an easier setup.



Source A would be the switch
Source B would be the high beam trigger

Again, I've never done this but I would this this would be the way to go.

Hopefully someone else would come up with some ideas too or have actual images of the work.

[slosurfer]

Thanks Lance, I will look into that. Basically what I would like would be a three way switch,

Off
On w/highbeams
On

I probably have a week before I even receive the lights, so I am trying to do my homework now.

[Good Times]

Hey Chris, I totally for about the 3 way switch.

by using that you should be totally fine. Just gotta make sure you figure out the wiring.

Let me think this thru and see if I can get some drawings for you.

[slosurfer]

Hey Chris, I totally for about the 3 way switch.

by using that you should be totally fine. Just gotta make sure you figure out the wiring.

Let me think this thru and see if I can get some drawings for you.

Cool, I thought that would work. I am so stoked to be getting some lights, and good ones at that. I also have their wiring harness kit coming as well. Hopefully that will help some in the confusion and I will just need to add a new 3way switch.

[Erich_870]

Slo,

Good question on the wiring. I'm interested to see how that would work too.

Who did you order the lights from? I'm in the market for 170's for this winter.

Erich

[slosurfer]

Erich, I actually got them from Nick-M over at YT for sale ad.

Sierra Expeditions has the 170's on sale right now
Lightforce 170's

They may even have some kind of free shipping deal, but maybe that was last month, I don't remember. They are great to deal with though. I will probably buy the locking nuts from them.

[Erich_870]

Thanks

I didn't even see that add. That's a great deal.

I'll probably go with Sierra Expeditions.

Erich

[Good Times]

Chris,

Here's the diagram:

[img width=600]http://www.chaosedition.com/photogallery/images/misc/multisource-switch.jpg[/img]

The round things on the right are the lights (sorry I forgot to label em).

It's really a simple configuration with or without out the Lightforce wiring looms. Easier if you have em though cuz you'll be using most of that anyway.

Basically you get the switch which will have 2 input sources:

1. 12v constant or accessory
2. high beam trigger

the switch will have a ground and the accessory line which will then go to the relay.

The relay will control the power transfer to the lights and will light up with the trigger from the switch is engaged.

This should work.

I believe the LF wiring loom will include everything. Basically swap out the switch with a the on/off/on switch and you're set. the diagram that the LF uses will be the same. All you have to do is splice the two input signals to the switch and you're set.

good luck!

[slosurfer]

Thank Lance! Now to go in search of a good switch. Then I get to wait around for the lights to come in the mail.