Relay question

Harley51

When I was a younger person my Dad would said get away from the wheelbarrow causes you don’t know anything about machinery. As it turns out I know less about electricity but I’m learning, slowly.

I have a 2014 CC Precedent 48v that I’m going to install standard CC driving lights, two spotlights on the brush guard, a lightbar on the roof and a horn. I have installed a 48v to 12v voltage reducer and a Blue Sea fuse/ground box. Some of the items came with a wiring harness and some I’ll have to make my own. Some of the wiring harnesses have a relay. The voltage reducer will be controlled through the key switch. Given this, my question is when do I need a relay? For example, the standard CC driving lights wiring harness does not have a relay but the lightbar harness does.

BGW

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Redbeardcc

A relay is typically used when the load you’re trying to turn off/on draws more current (amps) than the switch controlling it can handle. The following example is totally made up but the concept and reason behind it is true:

A little dashboard switch is rated to handle 10 amps. Your switching a light that draws 5 amps. Works great! Now you’ve decided that that one light is not enough. You’re cart would look cooler with 10 lights spread around it. 10 lights at 5 amps each would now draw 50 amps through your 10 amp switch. Not so great! Switch melts! So to avoid this we use a relay. Use the little switch to energize the 2 amp relay coil, not a problem there, and wire the 10 lights thru the relays 75 amp contacts. Everything is happy with no magic white smoke!

Hope this helps.

Harley51

Thanks. Great explanation

theboss20

For the most part...if your lights are LED’s (which they should be) then relays won’t be needed.