GEN 2 Light bar blew my Aux 1 fuse??

[ElRaptor]

So I’ve got a ~41 inch LED light bar with an operating voltage: of DC 10 30V , hooked up to my front bumper wired to my Aux 1 with 12 gauge cabling.

After about 45 minutes of continuous use, it will blow my auxiliary relay 15 amp fuse.

Any reason this might be happening AND how I can fix it?
I apologize in advance if this is a dumb question, I’m trying to educate myself here!

 

[smurfslayer]

well, assuming there’s not a short, it’s a safe bet you’re close to or exceeding the 15a available. Put in a relay, wire to the battery and switch off the up fitter.

I think up fitter 1 is 15a anyway. whatever, you should probably wire in a relay.

 

[ElRaptor]

I really don’t believe there’s a short in my wiring. (See attached photos of pos. and my ground).

You say wire in a relay. I’m not too sure how one would do that or how it works. excuse the ignorance on my end.

 

[Megabass]

You run the aux switch to the coil of a relay that can handle the power draw of the light. When you hit the switch the coil of the relay is the only load on the aux switch and the relay handles the amp draw of the light.

 

[ElRaptor]

Anyone care to post a YouTube video or something? I haven’t a clue what the coil of a relay is.

I know how to wire and crimp, but no idea what all this nomenclature is.. perhaps a picture of what needs to be done? Part number of relay?

 

[Dakotablues]

Anyone care to post a YouTube video or something? I haven’t a clue what the coil of a relay is.

I know how to wire and crimp, but no idea what all this nomenclature is.. perhaps a picture of what needs to be done? Part number of relay?

No expert here, but to maybe help you think of it, imagine the relay as the new On/Off switch that can handle more power than your current circuit with the 15 amp limitation of the uplifter switch. You will take power directly from the battery with a new wire gauged for the size of the fuse (that will be next in the line), and the relay, that comes next. The uplifter wire then connects to the relay as well. It's limited job becomes telling the relay to basically turn On or Off. That is a low amperage requirement by design of the relay.

Hope this might make some sense. Others here can definitely explain it better and correct me where needed. It's definitely the way you should go (i.e., incorporate a relay and inline fuse heavy enough so that your max draw of that light bar (whatever it's stated at) is only about 80% of the stated coverage of the fuse and relay you add.

Good luck - you'll get it.

 

[dsfife]

I had this same issue, so Ford put a 15amp fuse in the aux 1 slot, your light bar needs a 30 amp fuse just put one of those in and it fixes it.

 

[ElRaptor]

Replacing my 15amp fuse with a 30amp fuse in my under hood fuse box will fix this issue?

Anyone care to chime in and confirm this?

 

[Dane]

Replacing my 15amp fuse with a 30amp fuse in my under hood fuse box will fix this issue?

Anyone care to chime in and confirm this?

Bad idea. The rest of that wiring isn't rated for 30amps.

Do the relay, it's easy. It's nowhere near as scary as it sounds. The relay is just a switch between your battery and the light. Your 15amp wire will in effect flip that switch instead of providing power directly to the light.

How many amps is that light bar?

 

[ElRaptor]

Does anyone know where I can purchase these 15 amp fuses from other than the dealer? Perhaps a part number?

It’s the fuse that goes to the Aux 1 switch.