Today I got my new Hella 700FF driving lights all wired up, and I'm really happy with them!
The install was pretty easy once I figured out what I had to do, in fact, I think the hardest part was trying to find a place to mount the relay! The only thing I have to change is where the ground for the lighted switch is connected, and considering this is the first time I've ever wired anything, the fact that that was the only mistake I made really says something about how simple it was.
I ended up just wiring them directly to the battery, and not to the headlights, so there isn't any safety net if I forget to turn them off right now. (switch is connected to battery for power instead of being spliced to the low beams or marker lights, which would force them to turn off when those lights are off). I will end up connecting them to the marker lights in the future when I replace the stock headlights with H4's.
They turned out plenty bright, and they have a good spread and reach. They are effectively high beams, so I wont be able to use them on the street all that much, but when I need them, or when I'm on deserted roads and trails, I will have more than enough light output to see whats ahead. The next upgrade I make to the lighting will be a pair of H4 headlight replacements. All this for just 75 bucks, gotta love
Amazon.com!
I mounted the lights on the front bumper in the pre-existing holes.
aafront with lights by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
I mounted the switch in the blank switch location to the left of the steering wheel so its next to the other light controls, and cant be messed with by passengers. I still need to go back and find a new ground for the light in the switch though, cause it doesn't come on right now,... simple fix though.
aaSwitch by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
Wires were routed through the rubber piece on the drivers side of the firewall.
aafirewall port by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
I mounted the relay on the radiator core support next to the intake, right above the drivers side headlight. It took me a while to find a location that worked with the length of the wires, and this one worked for most of them. I did have to extend the wire that goes to the battery though.
aaRelay2 by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
The bundled up black wire is extra from the wire that runs to the lights themselves. I left it long incase I ever want to relocate the lights in the future, like to a roof rack or something.
aaRelay by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
I connected the grounds coming from the lights to the cover/"skidplate" under the radiator.
aalight grounds2 by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
aalights grounds by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
With the stone guards on....
aaStone guards on by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
With the stone guards off...
aastone guards off by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
Normal low beams on.
aanormal headlights by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
Low beams plus Hella 700FF's on.
aahella lights by
Darrell Vaughn, on Flickr
