Technical AUXILIARY SPOT LIGHTS

[classiccarguy]

After-noon all , i am hoping someone might be able to help.
Got to the age now where driving at night with the standard 500 headlights is a pain.
Already up-rated the bulbs , so i thought i would fit two spot lights.
My question is can i use the feed / live wire to the headlights to trigger the spotlight relay,
or will that mess with the can-bus and put up a warning light.
Thanks in anticipation Mick......

 

[GettinBetter]

It would depend on the coil current of the relay you used. The CAN bus measures the current flow and it is expected to be within certain values.
IMO choosing a relay with a very low coil current (both closing and holding) will allow you to get away with it. If you look in the relay datasheet you will find the min closing current. That is what you will need to base it on, as it takes less current to hold the contacts closed, once closed.

You could also use this method to reduce the current further.
The Capacitor allows enough current to flow to close the contacts before it blocks DC flow, then the resistor allows just enough current to flow to keep the contacts closed.
Reduce Relay Current

 

[John202020]

Short answer yes you can, no canbus on the headlights

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

I would be most interested in where and how you plan to fit the lights.

 

[classiccarguy]

Thank you for the reply's , all very helpful.
GettinBetter i have found a 40 amp Panasonic relay which latches at 7.2 volts so that's good.
John2020202 i didn't realise that the Headlights where not on the canbus system that makes this much easier.
My main concern was putting up a warning light and upsetting the wife
Piccolo in Aus i am going to mount them either side of the chrome strip on the bumper.
I am going to reinforce the back of the bumper with ally plate and fiberglass.
Did the same for a LPG filler on the fiberglass skirt of our motor-home and it's rock solid.
Now just have to wait for more good weather as it's pouring down now.
Thanks again.
Mick..

 

[GettinBetter]

Cool, just a reminder, check the relay is for continuous operation....

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

I've wanted to fit driving lights for a long time and had in mind a pair of 5" stainless ones designed for the MINI (chrome never lasts, even over here!). I had in mind to fit them in about the same location but finding a bracket that allowed them to face forward on a curving surface defeated me - I'll be interested to see how you go about it.

Sadly my preferred option is impractical....

 

[classiccarguy]

Will check that the relay is correct , thanks for that.

 

[classiccarguy]

ROO BARS on a 500 love it , reckon the wife would have a fit
I have a pair of 5.6inch spots in mind that attach at the bottom and are able to adjust to about 100 degrees
and also rotate , when i get around to actually doing it i will post pics.

 

[d4zzl3r]

i'd interested too.