Originally Posted by Rover_Hokie

TRIARII,

I am not an expert and still have not wired my lights, but have all the parts to finally get it done. If I read one of your earlier post correctly it sounds like you are switching the power to the lights with the dash switch the way you described your efforts so far. In simple theory this would work as you create the flow of current and use the switch to switch the flow on or off, but the idea of the dash switch is to actually activate (switch) the relay not the lights directly. I prefer my relays under the hood to keep the heavy loads out from under the dash, but again, I am no expert.

The idea of the relay is that you tell the relay to let the power pass between the battery to the lights through the relay not through the dash switch. The dash switch simply tells the relay when to do its job to allow the current to flow and then not to flow, thus keeping the "heavy lifting" out of the dash and dash switch and allowing the heavy duty relay with the proper amp rating and fuse to handle the load that your light(s) will draw based on the specs on the light(s) installed. Wiring gauge to use to/from the relay would need to be heavier to carry the light(s) current draw, and the wire to the dash switch could be smaller wire, that is why I tend to like the idea of the relays under the hood closer to the battery.