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Did a light install, what could I have done better?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Porch Dawg, Nov 12, 2024.

  1. Nov 12, 2024 at 6:07 AM
    #1
    Porch Dawg

    Porch Dawg [OP] New Member

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    I have 4 sets of lights installed on my 2017 4runner.
    1. 6-inch fog lights on the push bar.
    2. Ditch lights on the hood/hinge brackets.
    3. 2 lights on the right-hand side of the luggage rack.
    4. 2 lights on the left-hand side of the luggage rack.

    Each set of lights runs through its own relay, so I have a total of 4 relays. Each set of lights has its own switch, 4 switches. The positive/negative connection to the battery is 4 pos. and 4 neg. running to each of the 4 relays. The relays are the ones that came with the wiring harness. The switches are the ones that fit in the knockouts in the 4runner. I got them off Amazon I don't remember the brand but no drilling or cutting.

    What could I have done better??? What should I change when I go back to clean up the installation?

    Thanks for any advice.
     
  2. Nov 12, 2024 at 6:20 AM
    #2
    whippersnapper02

    whippersnapper02 New Member

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    Switchpros.
     
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  3. Nov 12, 2024 at 7:42 PM
    #3
    scottiezilla

    scottiezilla New Member

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    Really depends on how you want the lights to function? Always hot, on/acc only, coordination, so on n so forth

    cleaning up all the wiring going to the battery has a lot of avenues

    like @whippersnapper02 said, switchpros-the other fancy one-garmin-Amazon versions-homemade all have pros/cons

    but research auxiliary fuse blocks/alternate power source(kinda) switch/relay boxes

    there’s a ton of info on this site, how I was able to tackle mine, n easy walk-thrus on YouTube

    dial down how you want your operation
    Cause all we will have is opinions n advice
     
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  4. Nov 12, 2024 at 7:49 PM
    #4
    Superdave1.0

    Superdave1.0 New Member

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    Aux fuse box. Blue sea brand. Safer and cleaner than running all those wires straight to your battery.
     
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  5. Nov 12, 2024 at 8:07 PM
    #5
    kmeeg

    kmeeg New Member

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    I use oem style dash switches and regular relays.

    One time playing with water I damaged a relay. I didn't knew it was water damage until the standing water became white/green powder looking mineral thing and next time on a water splash that circuit light turned on dim without switch turned on. I had some extra relays at home so cleaning and replacing the relay was at no cost. But I was thinking to myself if I had an expensive system and it had any water damage the cost to fix could have hurt my pocket.
     
    Porch Dawg[OP] likes this.
  6. Nov 23, 2024 at 2:16 PM
    #6
    Thacrow

    Thacrow New Member

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    Without seeing a lot of pics of your setup it's hard to tell what you did and give and constructive criticism. All your statements are fairly and the work could have been done very well and very clean or completely the opposite.

    I am very curious about pics. Curious how you ran the wires to the roof. Your switch setup. Etc etc
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2024
    djwantke and Porch Dawg[OP] like this.
  7. Nov 23, 2024 at 5:29 PM
    #7
    djwantke

    djwantke New Member

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    dido

    sounds like you’re doing it good.
    I did similar lights, a very similar way.
    -like superdave said add a blue sea fuse box, and, add a blue sea breaker between that and battery.
    ^I added those two things off Amazon after recommendations from these good folks.

    goodluck!
     
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