So I just recently got a pair of KC off roading lights and mounted them to my windshield. I hooked them up and they turned off and on perfectly while sitting in the garage. Later that evening I was driving down the road and thought I would try them out. Turned them on and it killed my engine. The lights stayed on but everything else went out. When I pulled over I turned the lights off and the engine fired right back up. The lights work just fine when the engine is not running, but everytime the engine is running the lights will kill it. Does this mean I need a larger alternator? Everything on my YJ is stock.
Do I need a larger alternator to run off road lights?
cdywhitney24
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So I just recently got a pair of KC off roading lights and mounted them to my windshield. I hooked them up and they turned off and on perfectly while sitting in the garage. Later that evening I was driving down the road and thought I would try them out. Turned them on and it killed my engine. The lights stayed on but everything else went out. When I pulled over I turned the lights off and the engine fired right back up. The lights work just fine when the engine is not running, but everytime the engine is running the lights will kill it. Does this mean I need a larger alternator? Everything on my YJ is stock.
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Yea somethings not right there. I run two pairs of kc 130w daylighters in addition to my headlights. 1 pair of lights definately wont kill the engine. Lights dont affect the engine. They may overload the alternator, blow a fuse, or melt some wire, but not kill the engine. Are you sure thats the issue?
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I have no idea what the problem is. I followed the instructions and hooked them up exactly how it told me too. The lights are KC 130 watt each. I was talking with some people and they said that they may be sucking out all the power just to turn them on while I am driving and that I may need a larger alternator. Any other ideas on why I cant get it all to work. I see all these other jeeps with multiple sets of lights and winches and am just curious how they get all that to work because I cant even get one set of lights to work.
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If you have them wired through the ignition wire for a hot wire, that could do it. You may have a lighted switch wired wrong and shorting the ignition. Does your engine just cut off immediately? If it does check the above suggestions.
I have six 130W lights and an amp. All running at idle with no issues. You likely either have a short on the light side of the circuit. A dieing battery or you have a battery/alternator wire issue.
You are using a relay and fuse in the light circuit, correct??
http://support.kchilites.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach§ion=attach&attach_id=8
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If the engine started right back up after you turned the lights off than your battery still had power. It's not a battery drain issue. Re- check your wiring or have someone look at it.
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I will have to check my wiring again. I have looked it over many times now. I just put in a brand new battery and my alternator tested good when I took it in. By
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By the sound of it it sounds like I did something wrong. Thank you guys for all your help.
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I've got no problems running 55w HID spotlights and 55w Halogen driving lights with my headlights.
I would go back through and double check every single connection you added onto your Jeep. When wiring up lights like this, it's best to create their own power supply (and NOT tie into other power supplies) by hooking directly into the positive terminal on the battery.
I would go back through and double check every single connection you added onto your Jeep. When wiring up lights like this, it's best to create their own power supply (and NOT tie into other power supplies) by hooking directly into the positive terminal on the battery.
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I'm not sure what I am doing wrong. I am going to pay a guy I know 40 bucks to have him hook them up right. I just want to make sure though. I should have no problem running these lights with the stock alternator I have and my new battery right?
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If hooked up properly, correct.
We have three lights on a bumper bar and five on a roof bar. Will we need a bigger battery or another alternater? I have a 2013 JK Wrangler Sport with 3.6 L V6 24-Valve VVT engine. I don't know what other info yall might need as I'm asking for my husband. I have a 600 Amp Maintenance free battery. The lights are Rugged Ridge 100w. Any help would be greatly appreciated. (I didn't know if I could post on this one or if I should create a new thread)
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Where are you getting 800w? He's running 260w in lights, with a low output of 14v while running he's burning 18ish amps. Stock alt will handle that additional load easily. But you should be running that load through a relay and not just the switch, which odds are you are doing.
But anyways an over drain is easy to see, everything will gradually dim, the jeep wont just die and leave the lighs running.
But anyways an over drain is easy to see, everything will gradually dim, the jeep wont just die and leave the lighs running.
I don't know? He has eight 100W lights added and worst case a 12v battery.
Also the thread is from Jan 31 2012. Hardly close to decades old.
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