The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 6v spotlight wiring

When I install the spotlight on my 51 GMC truck, where does the spotlight lead wire go? Would it go on the same light switch terminal as the dome lamp, because essentially they are the same thing: a light controlled by a simple switch? Or does it go somewhere else?

justin squire,

I think you are going to want the spotlight wired, with a inline fuse, to a constant power source. This means it won't be switched with the key or anything...you can turn it on and spotlight deer or coons with the engine off..real quite like!

A device that isn't switched can be left on when you turn the key off and go in the house. I think that wouldn't be likely in the case of your spotlight, do you!

You will have to find a place on the ammeter, or somewhere else that has power all the time to attach it to. Don't forget the fuse!


Stuart

as usual,,,Automarc is right on again. at least in my opinion. you'd want it to come on whenever you want,key or no key.
as mentioned,,just be sure it has a fused hotwire. as far as "forgetting" and leaving it on,thats probably not too likely as you'd most likely be using it at nite.

The spotlight has a switch on it and I believe that it would go to a terminal on the light switch, which is does not go through the ignition switch, right? Can't the dome lamp be turned on without turning on the ignition switch? In another forum, someone said that in the accessory manual for a 54, it went to the bottom terminal of the three terminals on the end of the light switch. Is there anybody that currently has a spotlight wired in and knows where it goes?
Thanks

Justin, I have two spotlights on My truck, and
presently they go to the hotside of the amp meter,
but both are fused....each light has its own off/on switch.....BB

Justin - the spotlight will take a lot more juice than the dome light circuit/terminal is intended for, more like a headlight

Bill

The power can come from anywhere,it just depends on whether you want it to work with the key on or off.

I agree that it would be better not to have it switched through the ignition so you could use it without the engine running.

You should be able to test the posts on your headlight switch with a voltage tester, or a test light.

You'll want one that has voltage present even when the key is off.

Turn the key to the off position.

Find the post that still has voltage.(there may be more than one)

Disconnect the negative battery cable.

Run a wire from the post that was hot to a fuse, then to the spotlight.

Reconnect the negative cable, turn on your spotlight.

What kind of fuse would you use with the spotlight?

justin squire,

When doing add-on's like this, a handy item to use is the little in-line fuse holder that takes a glass fuse.

The package should indicate the maximum size fuse the holder is rated for. For a single light, I'm pretty sure that a 15 amp fuse would be MORE than adequate.

If you pick a fuse holder that is rated for 30 amps, and duplicate its wire size when you install your light, you can use any fuse smaller than 30 amps and you will be safe.

I'll bet there is a GM accessory install sheet for this item somewhere on this site.

This isn't rocket science, so don't get worried. A simple wire from, say, the ammeter through a simple little fuse to the spotlight and you are in business.

Stuart

I believe many of the accesories that were add ons not switched went through the headlight switch, that why it has a few extra posts on it. Thats how I wired mine to, found an info sheet for it somewhere, cant remember where it is now...

I love those little things. They work like a champ!

Check to see what the maximum draw in amps is on the spotlight (or do the math from the watts on the bulb) to figure out what size fuse would be "too small" and then choose your wiring size and fuse based upon that. (e.g. if it pulls 7 amps, wire and fuse for 10 amps)

Here is a chart of wire gauges and load in amps. Remember that the fuse is there to protect the wire, so buy a fuse that is the same rating as the wire -- or smaller.

Brendan, Great link. It's going to be really useful when I'm doing the harness in my truck.