Need help from the wiring pros

[Big Block 88]

Installing some new off road lights on one of our deuces, they are 24 volt generator systems.

I have 3 lights mounted all have 24 volt bulbs and I want them off of one switch, I thought I had it correct by running the positive from 1 battery and the negative from the other to the switch in the cab, then from the switch I just ran a negative and a positive forward to light and and daisy chained them. the lights do come on but they are dim, I did not have time to do a voltage test. but something has to be wrong these lights should be very bright and they are not.

I hope I explained this good enough... I hate wiring

 

[Vrabel]

dont know what "daisey chained" means. do you have all the hots together and all the grounds together? or linked together like xmas lights? if linked,no good. too much resistance.

 

[Big Block 88]

ahhh that could be it, so I need to wire all the positives together and negative together and soldier together the wires running from the switch.

The way they ar now the all join the hot wire from switch individually, what wiring idiots call daisy chained

 

[Big Block 88]

but from the batteries to the switch I need the positive from one battery and the negative from the other battery?

 

[Big Block 88]

????

 

[jrkrace]

Start from scratch...test the battery voltage, then test each light separately to the battery directly. If all goes well, tie all the negs together on a good solid ground, like the battery itself, then use a good relay on the positives controlled by the switch..any idea on how many watts the lights throw out?

 

[duratothemax]

It sounds like you have the lights wired in series....they need to be wired in parallel.

Ben

 

[Big Block 88]

Not sure on the watts i will look later. As for the relay, all I have done in the past is wire straight to switch, is that bad?

If its possible do u think someone could draw a quick diagram? I have looked and searchdd all over the interweb and i cany find anything for mulitple 24 volt lights on a single switch

 

[x MadMAX DIESEL]

I really don't know I'm just asking. But wouldn't you have to run them in a series to get 24 volts outta the 12 battery

 

[Big Block 88]

Its a 24 volt truck. Twin 12 volt batteries. There isnt a single electronic in it that is 12 volt

So if my thinking is correct i can grab the positive of one battery and the negative of the other and have 24 volts. Same way i jump start or 24 volt trucks and tractors...

 

[x MadMAX DIESEL]

It's still running on a 12 bolt system. Yes you can grab and + an - to make a series and have 24v.

 

[Chevy1925]

i feel like your over complicating this.

put a DVOM on the postive post of one battery and the other lead on a good ground on the body. ill bet you see 24v if in fact the whole truck is 24v.

jumping a rig is a little different as you already have posted

just because the voltage is 24v doesnt mean it should be wired differently specially if the whole truck is wired that way. you should be able to just wire it as if you are wiring it for 12v. run positive to the switch, then positive out of it to the lights. ground each light to the body and hit the switch. if these are high amp lights, id run a relay instead of all the power through the switch. the ground your running with is not needed unless you want to ONLY use it for a ground on the lights. this isnt like housing wiring with different legs of power. its still simple stuff. just dont hook the ground of the lights back to the same ground on the battery you are pulling the power from

also make sure your switch is rated for 24v as well as the relay if you get one.

 

[Big Block 88]

i feel like your over complicating this.

put a DVOM on the postive post of one battery and the other lead on a good ground on the body. ill bet you see 24v if in fact the whole truck is 24v.

jumping a rig is a little different as you already have posted

just because the voltage is 24v doesnt mean it should be wired differently specially if the whole truck is wired that way. you should be able to just wire it as if you are wiring it for 12v. run positive to the switch, then positive out of it to the lights. ground each light to the body and hit the switch. if these are high amp lights, id run a relay instead of all the power through the switch. the ground your running with is not needed unless you want to ONLY use it for a ground on the lights. this isnt like housing wiring with different legs of power. its still simple stuff. just dont hook the ground of the lights back to the same ground on the battery you are pulling the power from

also make sure your switch is rated for 24v as well as the relay if you get one.

Awsome explanation man, thank you. I had them wired directly to a 24v rated switch and after roughly 2 hours of testing and tinkering the switch just fell apart.

What kind of relay are we talking about? Any particular one that i need to use and another kind i should avoid? What side of the switch does the relay go on?

 

[Big Block 88]

It's still running on a 12 bolt system. Yes you can grab and + an - to make a series and have 24v.

Working on a deuce and a half not a dmax. The deuce is true 24 volt

 

[Lonnie]

I'll text you a schematic.

You will need a 24v relay & a fuse for the appropriate total amperage of all 3 lights combined.

 

[Big Block 88]

you are the shit Lonnie, thank you again man.