You can wire an aftermarket switch inside the vehicle that will trigger your relay.

One more important aspect of how to wire a light bar is the kind of switch you use. You’ll want to test that ground with a simple multimeter before making it permanent to ensure a strong contact. You can ground your wiring to the vehicle’s chassis, as long as it offers a clean connection between your circuit and bare metal. You’ll most likely be wiring your LED light bar relay’s power lead directly to the battery, but you won’t necessarily use the same battery’s negative terminal as your ground.

Make sure you choose a fuse that offers the correct amp rating for your lights’ power draw - if it’s rated too high, it won’t trip when needed. A fuse is cheap, and it will sacrifice itself before any power surges make their way to your lights or spread through the rest of your truck’s wiring. Putting a fuse between your relay and the battery will also protect your vehicle’s electrical system in case anything unexpected happens while your lights are on. They also typically offer a lower voltage drop and can be combined with a single control switch that will allow you to turn a number of lights on and off at the same time, making for cleaner installation. Relays are usually rated to handle a much higher load than switches, which means they won’t overheat or potentially fail while being used. Use a Relay Over a Simple SwitchĮven with the lower power draw of an LED, it’s still a better idea to use a relay instead of running full current through a simple switch. To easily wire a light bar at home, follow these four basic steps. With their lower power requirements and more compact sizes, modern LED light bars are easier to install than older halogen light designs. Learning how to wire a light bar onto your truck or SUV will help you enjoy safer nighttime driving and brighten up your off-roading adventures after the sun goes down.

Instaling LightBear