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Installing ditch lights on Aux 1

Glisch

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I'm looking to install a pair of ditch lights this weekend. I've seen several videos / forum posts where they get wired to various aux switches, but never to switch 1. As I do not have anything else wired, I'd prefer them to be on aux 1 if feasible, but don't think I really understand if there's an issue with that. I've seen that Aux 1 is 5a while Aux 2 is 15a. Does everyone skip aux 1 simply because 5a is too low?

These are the ditch lights I am installing https://www.bajadesigns.com/product...ght-pod-pair-universal/?vid=161156&sku=497803 and the spec sheet shows it uses 3a, which is well under the 5a from aux 1? Or does that just mean they will work, but will be dimmer than if installed on the 15a aux 2?

Appreciate any feedback on this, have tried searching through the forum but haven't found what I need on this.
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mtinoco

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I have a set of DD sc2 2.0 sport with 0 issues waiting on my pros to come in not sure where they stack up against the bajas in terms of Amps used
 

YukonRanger

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I have run a set of 2 Diode SS3 max's s off aux 1, this is technically 6 AMPs (one amp over) and it held.

The wire gauge is the same, so figured it would hold. Had it wired that way for about a month.

Would it hold long term? No idea
Was it actually receiving Full power 3A each pod? No idea.

In the end I moved to AUX 6 just to be safe as I added a bunch more lights.
 
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Glisch

Glisch

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Thanks for the replies. I really don't understand electrical things.

Looking up the specs for the lights @mtinoco mentions, they are a bit over 1.1a. But then the lights @YukonRanger mention specify the specs are PER pod at 3a each. So when amps are mentioned, are they generally for each individual light?

If the amps are per pod, then yeah, I don't want to risk being over the max amp available on the switch. To be safe I will use aux 6 since it's also easily available.

Not that I am going to do this, but can someone explain if simply changing the 5a fuse from aux 1 to a 7.5a or 15a fuse similar to aux 2-3 is "safe"? All 3 have 1.5mm wire according to this chart. Or are the individual relays only designed for the specific amp limit on the chart? I just want to understand this limitation a bit better.

Ford Ranger Installing ditch lights on Aux 1 aux_switches
 

YukonRanger

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Not that I am going to do this, but can someone explain if simply changing the 5a fuse from aux 1 to a 7.5a or 15a fuse similar to aux 2-3 is "safe"? All 3 have 1.5mm wire according to this chart. Or are the individual relays only designed for the specific amp limit on the chart? I just want to understand this limitation a bit better.

aux_switches.webp

My pods were 3A each, so definitely 2 x 1.1A will hold no problem on AUX 1

All the butt connections are wired as 1.5mm so like you I also thought about swapping to a larger fuse\relay But I have no idea if the whole circuit is wired to support that much current and figured it was a risk of starting a fire so not worth it.

My gut feeling is that ford wired the whole AUX system to support 100A max then split the load into branches totalling 95A with 5A extra leeway.

It is probably certified for all 6 circuits to simultaneously pull max draw, so it's possible if you moved AUX1 to 25A and AUX6 to 5A, it might still be safe. But I said to myself screw it just use Aux 6 and forget it.

One nice thing about AUX 6 is that AUX 5 is another big circuit so you can run a large array on both then turn em off\on at the same time with a single flick.
 
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DennisRRHam

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I wired my ditch lights to Aux 5. It's fused for 25 amps.
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