I have an '05 MCS with rear fog lamp specked to have the dash switch

I am installing the 4 dAriving lights in the bottom grill, like the Alta setup.
?????
1) Can I install 4 driving lights using one relay and one switch?

2) How do I use the rear fog lamp switch for either two or four driving lights?

3) What guage wire should be used?

Please send me links if anyone has or any help you think an old geezer may need

 

1. probably
2. probably can't. its not a real switch although GBMINI will know more. Its just a connection to the comp you dont want to mess with. Try looking it up in http://www.gbmini.net/mtblog/
3. That depended entirely on the wattage of your bulbs.



Then go read here http://danielsternlighting.com/tech/tech.html

A lot of this depends upon if your using 55 w bulbs (legal) or 100w or 130w (off road use).

 

Thanks a lot. I couldn't find what you were directing me to on the Navstar site. It is about Internationals.
Thanks again.

Any one else have suggestions? I will use 4) 55 watt bulbs.

 

220 watts total at 12 volts is about 18 amps. Use a 30 amp fuse and relay (you may actually need more, as the resistance when cold is less, and it may draw more current). For thirty amps, measure your cable diameter in millimeters, not guage! Sorry, I don't know what guage that would be, but you should be able to find the information on an electronics distributors site...

A ciruit breaker may make more sense than a fuse, and any relay should be controllable with pretty small 12V currents, you could even run a wire from your rear fog lights! (Or, it's realy......) Then they'll be switched by the cabin switch....

Matt

 

thanks-- By cutting the wire to the rear fog light and letting this wire control two relays and have a 30 amp fuse in each circut--could this work?///

 

The rear fogs themselves are controled via a realy. If you tap into that line (don't need to cut it completely) you can use that voltage (and the small current needed) to drive an additional realy. If you can find where the rear fog relay already is, there is a possability of just using a relay with more current capacity instead, then you can tap into the outputs of the relay to power the front lights. You need to make sure that the fuse that feeds the realy has the right capacity...

Also, if all of this is confusing, and you aren't familiar with electronics or it's concepts, work with someone who is, or get a copy of "the Art of Electronics" by Horawitz and Hill.

Matt

 

Oops, try http://www.rallylights.com/useful_in...ble_wiring.htm

My bad ... .wiring 101

 

And thanks again to you. I will try to find the relay. If anyone has a clue, it would be appreciated. With a high enough capacity relay, could I switch the four 55 watt lamps? With a fuse in each lamp circuit.
Jan

 

I finally have the 4 lights installed ans will cutt the wire to the rear fog and use that power to trip two relays for the front lights.
??? do you know the color or where the wire going to the rear fog could be found in the left kick panel. It sure would be easy to tap in there.
Thks

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ry.php?cat=769
These are photos from when I modded the rear light to get the rear fogs to turn on when the brakes are used. It's one of the two wires that the diode is connected to! Get a volt meter, and check each one as you turn the rear fogs on and off. Getting to the connector is easy, just open one of those rear hatch covers in the boot area, and reach in!

Good luck!

Matt

 

This is the wiring on my 2004 MCS

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...olor_codes.htm

and here is a similar way to attach the wires.

http://user.mc.net/~jdewey/MINI/Trai...MINI_wires.jpg

John

 

I finally got the four driving lights working. I took the hot wire that activates the rear fog light and ran it under the car up into the cavity under the drivers side windshield washer. There I split it and used it to switch two relays that activate the four lights. Actually a lot of wiring, but worth it. This way, I could use the "rear Fog" switch in the toggle panel to turn on the lights. I never could find the correct wire in the fuse box, hince the use of the hot lead in the rear of the car. I don't use the rear fog and only ordered it for the toggle switch . Info available if anyone wants it.

 

Sounds like a bit of work. If you're a masochist, take some photos and post a how to!

Matt

 

I will do that next week and maybe a diagram if I can figure out how to post one

 

Well, I put some photos in my gallery. but I am not smart enough to post them here. I also have a wiring diagram, but am not smart enough to get it to the gallery--anyone interested, I could email. or some kind sole could help me post the photos. It's hell getting old

 

See if this works

too small-sorry