Driving Light Problem

I HAD NEW DRIVING LIGHTS INSTALL I DECEIDED TO HAVE THEM WIRED SO THEY GO ON ALL THE TIME WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON ON MY FIRST NIGHT TEST RUN ALL WAS WELL UNTIL I HIT THE HIGH BEAMS ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT DO YOU THINK IT IS JUST THE FUSE OR A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE??? THANKS DAN

Fuse, definitely. Those lights pull a lot of amperage. Have you checked the fuse?---Jack

You definately need to add new wiring for the driving lamps with a relay for direct battery power to them. They should not just be pigtailed into the stock wiring. You are lucky the fuse blew like it was designed to - next step wpuld have been melted wiring. Check wattage of your driving lamps - 80 or 100W? Stock headlamps are like 55W. Circuit diagrams have been posted here - or you can buy a prewired kit.

Also, there are laws that restrict driving lights to operating only when the main lights are on low beam. They are supposed to go off when the headlights are on high beam. It's unlikely, however, that anyone will ever check that.

Please don't have them on all the time. Lots of folks do that, not knowing that they are as bright as high beams, and often poorly aimed so that they blind oncoming traffic.

Lane, and all,... I purchased some Hella lights from the Doctor last year and have yet to install them. On reviewing the wiring instructions I saw that there was a wire from the relay to the high beam wire. I did not know why this was necessary and I would like to install them without without splicing into existing wire. I always try to avoid cutting a perfectly good wire if I don't have to, or even removing or knicking the insulation. These lights have their own fuse and if I understand you correctly, I don't have to mess with any other wiring to make these work alone with the manual rocker switch provided. Sorry for the hijack, but it's the same subject. Thanks, Al

Alan - Technically you could wire them directly (via accessory so not on when car is off and with a relay for battery direct power) - but legally (DMS laws probably vary) you have run them with at least the running lights on. Sounds like yours were meant to come on only when high beams on.

Listen to Wolfgang--you need a fused relay. When properly wired this will protect your driving light system and provide seperation from your regular light system so you wouldn't have the problem you had.
Without a relay-one short or other problem and you will lose everything on that circuit. "MOST" states require that the lights
extinguish when the high beams are on.

THANKS TO ALL I TALKED WITH KIRK AT VINTAGE HE EXPLAINED THE DRIVING LIGHS MUST BE ON THEIR OWN SWITCH WITH A RELAY I WILL HAVE THE SWITCH AND RELAY INSTALLED THIS WEEK SE YA DAN

I't would be best to add a separate lead with a fuse back to a main un fused power supply and let theheadlights supply the power to trip the relay for the add-ons.

I HAD THE DRIVING LIGHTS REWIRED USING A RELAY FROM THE BATTERY TO A SWITCH UNDER THE DASH. WE ALSO CONNECTED TO THE IGNITION SO WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE LIGHTS GO ON AMD OFF WITH THE KEY,WORKS GREAT