Tapping into high beams...

[02RangerXLT]

On a 2002 Ranger with a 4.0, what is the easiest way (preferably via fuse or relay) to tap into my high beam wires to turn an off road light relay on and off?

Owners manual doesn't list anything specific, only low beams or "headlamps" and I only want them to be able to turn on and off at the same time as the high beams...

Thanks

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

check the wire that gets voltage when u get the highs on with a volt meter, tap into that with an inline fuse according to the load ur activating and then a relay.
wire the relay to a 12v source/battery) and the out put to the lights u want.

 

[2004xlmiller]

i tapped into mine for my hellas. just found out which one was the high beam wire right out of the headlight, traced it back a lil bit and spliced it. really easy. and now my hellas come on with my high beams, but are also switched by themselves.

 

[02RangerXLT]

check the wire that gets voltage when u get the highs on with a volt meter, tap into that with an inline fuse according to the load ur activating and then a relay.
wire the relay to a 12v source/battery) and the out put to the lights u want.

My lights are already wired and everything, the relay has a manual switch though... I didn't really want to tap into the headlight wire itself but if that's my only option I guess that's what I'll have to do.

 

[2004xlmiller]

just make sure its clean, tape it up and you can make it look factory.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

My lights are already wired and everything, the relay has a manual switch though... I didn't really want to tap into the headlight wire itself but if that's my only option I guess that's what I'll have to do.

the small load of the relay coil wont harm your system.
I guess its the only way.

 

[adsm08]

That's how I'd do it. Tap the wire, maybe near the high switch.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I usually tap in right at the headlight itself. Bare the wire, twist in your trigger wire, solder it in and wrap it up.

 

[shane96ranger]

Did your truck have have factory fog lights? Or is it wired for fog lights? IMHO, it would be easier to get the trigger coming out of the headlight switch and into the factory fog lamp switch harness. You can tap into it right next to the stereo.

EDIT: Wait, I'm over thinking this - sorry I didn't get much sleep last night. I would intercept the signal coming out of the fog light switch because it is already wired as such. And easily accessible behind the radio bezel.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Did your truck have have factory fog lights? Or is it wired for fog lights? IMHO, it would be easier to get the trigger coming out of the headlight switch and into the factory fog lamp switch harness. You can tap into it right next to the stereo.

EDIT: Wait, I'm over thinking this - sorry I didn't get much sleep last night. I would intercept the signal coming out of the fog light switch because it is already wired as such. And easily accessible behind the radio bezel.

Wait, you're saying wire them into the fog lights? Or is there a wire behind that switch that will kill the fogs when you hit the high beams?

 

[02RangerXLT]

the small load of the relay coil wont harm your system.
I guess its the only way.

That's not why I don't wanna splice it, I simply don't want to splice it in case I f*ck something up, which is common with me....

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

That's not why I don't wanna splice it, I simply don't want to splice it in case I f*ck something up, which is common with me....

Do some wiring diagram search, and find your wire, if ur not sure just peel a tiny bit and test it with the volt meter.
once ur good peel it a bit more, like 1". separate the threads, and separate in 2 parts the threads from your new wire, splice it by crossing the wires between them ( trucks wiring and the new wire) that way ull have a secure splicing. then get some water and temp resistant electric tape and cover it tight.

black one, first from right to left.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

That's not why I don't wanna splice it, I simply don't want to splice it in case I f*ck something up, which is common with me....

Do some wiring diagram search, and find your wire, if ur not sure just peel a tiny bit and test it with the volt meter.
once ur good peel it a bit more, like 1". separate the threads, and separate in 2 parts the threads from your new wire, splice it by crossing the wires between them ( trucks wiring and the new wire) that way ull have a secure splicing. then get some water and temp resistant electric tape and cover it tight.

black one, first from right to left.

or the last one from the right side column

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Do NOT just twist them together.....solder it....

 

[shane96ranger]

When I got my Ranger, it didn't have fog lights so I got the volt meter out to see what I needed. I wish I still had my truck, and I'd go figure it out with the volt meter for you now.

What I recall was, mine had the input coming into the fog light switch. And when I kicked on the high beams, that 12 volts disappeared. You can get a cheap volt meter for about 5 dollars at Harbor Freight if you don't have one to test which wire it was.


You may find this page useful. This guy used a factory switch for his auxiliary lights.

http://www.mysporttrac.com/mysportt...ToFordOEMSwitch/PIAAswitchtoFordOEMswitch.htm



Also, I use these all the time and love them: