Add Offroad Lights - Safe Amp Draw?

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Lint Radley - 12 Jun 2006 16:27 GMT

Hello,

I'm going to be adding some off road driving lights to my 2003 Dodge Ram
2500 Cummins Diesel (has two batteries). My question is, how much extra
power is it safe to draw from the stock electrical system? Each light is
130 watts @ 12 volts, so by my calculation that's a little under 11 amps
each.

The only electrical add on at the moment is a backup camera, which draws
less than 1.5 amps. Otherwise, completely stock electrically.

Thanks so much,

-Lint Radley

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Tom Lawrence - 12 Jun 2006 18:13 GMT

> power is it safe to draw from the stock electrical system? Each light is
> 130 watts @ 12 volts, so by my calculation that's a little under 11 amps
> each.

As long as you put them on their own fused circuit (30A inline) directly off
the battery, and switch them with a relay, this is no problem at all. Use
the proper gauge wire, so you don't cause a voltage drop to the lights, and
overheat the wiring - 12 gauge from the battery to the relay, and relay to
the lights should be fine.

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Lint Radley - 12 Jun 2006 18:22 GMT

Cool, thanks for the response. I already planned a relay and fuse, so
I'm glad to hear that. The gauge I hadn't looked up yet though planned to.

-Lint

>> power is it safe to draw from the stock electrical system? Each light is
>> 130 watts @ 12 volts, so by my calculation that's a little under 11 amps
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> overheat the wiring - 12 gauge from the battery to the relay, and relay to
> the lights should be fine.

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