Driving lights wiring...do they HAVE to go through the headlights?

[jtm703]

Just bought a set of Hella 500 driving lights. Wiring diagram shows them being wired through the headlights (high beam/low beam options).

Do they HAVE to be wired with the headlights, or can I just run them through the battery, relay, then to the switch? (To come on whether the headlights are on or not.)

Anyone know a good place for the wires to come through the firewall on a TJ?

Thanks for any input.

 

[SteelHeadz]

It's actually better to wire up the aux. lamps separate from the factory circuit and definitely make sure a relay is installed on the load side of the switch. The wires can easily be routed through the bulkhead on the driverside firewall. If you have an automatic trans, there should be a body plug of some sort that covers the hole for the placement of the clutch master if it was a manual trans.. I would drill a hole there and use a rubber grommet to protect the wire.

 

[JPNinPA]

The wiring diagram shows relay control to be set by the high beams, so the driving lights come on with the high beams. Correct?? This is the wiring needed to pass some state inspections. Aux lights are not be turned on by themselves or with the low beams. And Fog lights can not be on with the High beams.

 

[jtm703]

Yeah, JPM, they give you the option to wire into the low beams or high beams. They don't have those sort of inspections here in Augusta, so I'm not worried about that. I just think it'd be simpler to wire straight from the battery to the relay then the switch. Just didn't know if they would work if I bypassed the headlights. Wiring up my winch was much simpler than these stupid things.

Mikey, thanks for the info about the firewall. I will look this afternoon.

 

[jtm703]

Found the plug you were talking about, Steel. I was a few inches below the brake master cylinder. Since it was rubber, I just drilled a hole through the center and used it as a grommet. And I ended up wiring the lights to the 20 amp fuse for the cigarette lighter instead of the headlights. I have 2 outlets on the dash, but I wired it through the one that's only on when the ignition is on. This way, I can't accidentally leave them on, but I can use them separate from the headlights. Drilling a hole in the dash for the switch was painful, but it looks fairly stock. Also, getting the wires to the switch was a bit of a challenge...not a lot of space to work under the radio.

As always, thanks for the input.

Joe