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Auto Electronics/Auxillary Driving Light Wiring

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Expert: Antonio Ibarra Jr. - 3/20/2011


Question
QUESTION: Evening Antoinio:

I do a lot of back country night driving and am thinking about installing a set of PIAA driving lights. (You can see the driving light wiring diagram here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/). I understand that these lights are typically wired to the high beam (only) however there are times when I would like them to augment my low beams.

Legal issues aside, if I wire both the high beam and the low beam together to go to the solenoid; so that the lights will go on when I am using my high or low beams on my 2001 Chrysler Town & Country.

(Whenever I don't want the lights to come on at all, I will use the supplied rocker switch to turn the set off)(I already know which wire(s) in my vehicle control the high and low beams)

The crux of my query concerns whether or not, during the millisecond it will take for the solenoid to potentially go on or off (or not) am I likely to fry anything? Will this sort of wiring setup work or not?

Thanks In Advance!

Paul

ANSWER: Hello Paul,

I have reviewed your vehicles wiring diagrams, (2001 Town and Country), however i am confused as to what vehicle these PIAA lights will be going into?

Your link is for TOYOTA 4Runner and then you state your putting them in a Chrysler T&C.

In order for me to assist you better, please clarify for me what type of vehicle these lights will be going into, so that i can ensure i have the correct diagrams and that my answer will be specific to your application.


Thank you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The lights will ONLY be installed on my 2001 Chrysler Town and Country.

Answer
Hello Paul,

In regards to your response, I recommend wiring them directly to a switch and not tapping into the wiring for your headlights, the reason is that the solenoid, like most other solenoids is designed to handle a specific output load, and adding these lights to it could potentially damage and or overload the circuit and the solenoid.

Using the rocker switch is the safest way to wire this, and ensures that you will be able to use them regardless of what other lights are on.

I hope this helps.

Please keep me informed of your progress.

Thank you, Good Luck.

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Antonio Ibarra Jr.

Expertise

I am here to answer any questions regarding Automotive Electrical. Specifically automotive aftermarket products and their application, installation, diagnosis and repair. I am also able to assist with ANY and ALL qeustions relating to EMERGENCY VEHICLES, to include POLICE, FIRE and EMS Vehicles, their components, order options, equipment, maintenance, upfitting of aftermarket equipment and more.

Experience

I have 10 Years of automotive & aftermarket industry experience, both working as a technician and now running my own business, selling, servicing, repairing and installing automotive aftermarket equipment into personal vehicles as well as emergency vehicles. I am a licensed Master Automotive Electrical Technician (ASE Certified), I am also Certified by the Emergency Vehicle Technician Certification Commission as an Emergency Vehicle Master Technician. I am Certified by Motorola as a Master two-way radio repair technician for low band, high band, VHF, UHF, HAM radios and CB radios. I am a Certified Master Emergency Vehicle equipment and component service and repair technician. I am a Certified Master computer components and interfacing/networking service and repair technician. Licensed Master fabrication specialist. Whelen accredited and certified Master Emergency Vehicle Systems Repair Technician

Organizations
ASE, EVTCC, GSDCC, Installernet, and others.

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Education/Credentials
ASE Certified, EVTCC Certified, EVOCC Certified, CEVO II Police, Fire and EMS Certified, DOT certified, NTSB Certified, FEMA Certified, NYS DMV Certified automotive Inspector and Master Emergency Vehicle Inspector. I am the owner of one of THREE businesses in the Tri-state area licensed by the DOT and NYS DMV to certify Emergency Vehicles for street use. I am Motorola Certified, Whelen Certified, Dell Certified, Panasonic, Gateway, and Mobile Computing Systems Certified, Kenwood Certified and Yeasau Certified. I have 10 Years Industry Specific Experience. I also Run my own business in the automotive aftermarket industry.

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Multiple Commercial, Municipal and private Customers. Multiple Governmental Customers and Contracts in multiple states.

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