Wiring & fusing, Led fusing considerations, Warning – Code 3 DuoBeam II User Manual
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Wiring & Fusing
Larger wires and tight connections will provide longer service life for components. For high
current wires it is highly recommended that terminal blocks or soldered connections be used
with shrink tubing to protect the connections. Do not use insulation displacement connectors
(e.g. 3M
®
Scotchlock type connectors). Route wiring using grommets and sealant when pass-
ing through compartment walls. Minimize the number of splices to reduce voltage drop. High
ambient temperatures (e.g. underhood) will significantly reduce the current carrying capacity of
wires, fuses, and circuit breakers. Use "SXL" type wire in engine compartment. All wiring should
conform to the minimum wire size and other recommendations of the manufacturer and be pro-
tected from moving parts and hot surfaces. Looms, grommets, cable ties, and similar installation
hardware should be used to anchor and protect all wiring. Fuses or circuit breakers should be
located as close to the power takeoff points as possible and properly sized to protect the wiring
and devices. Particular attention should be paid to the location and method of making electrical
connections and splices to protect these points from corrosion and loss of conductivity. Ground
terminations should only be made to substantial chassis components, preferably directly to the
vehicle battery. The user should install a fuse sized to approximately 125% of the maximum Amp
capacity in the supply line to protect against short circuits. For example, a 30 Amp fuse should
carry a maximum of 24 Amps. DO NOT USE 1/4" DIAMETER GLASS FUSES AS THEY ARE
NOT SUITABLE FOR CONTINUOUS DUTY IN SIZES ABOVE 15 AMPS. Circuit breakers are
very sensitive to high temperatures and will "false trip" when mounted in hot environments or
operated close to their capacity.
One of two cable types will be installed in the DuoBeam:
2 conductor
•
(1 red & 1 black) - This cable is used when the light heads have an integrated flasher
installed. The light heads flash independently. The red conductor should be connected to power
(+12VDC) via a switch or controller of some kind and the black conductor should be connected to
ground.
7 conductor
•
- This cable is used when there is a central controller installed. All TriCore
TM
models
and most multi-color models will employ a CC. These models will require a somewhat more sophis-
ticated method of control (switchbox or siren with lighting controls) as more options are available.
Further explanation can be found starting on Page 6 of this manual.
LED Fusing Considerations
Although the average current draw per LED module is very low, the instantaneous peak current to a mod-
ule can be higher during low voltage conditions. To avoid prematurely blowing of ATO style fuses or tripping
breakers it is recommended the following rule-of-thumb be used to size fuses or breakers. This is especially
important in light bars with many LED modules running off a single fused source. It is always best to have
20-25% head room in calculating for fusing. Please use the values below to calculate fuse values for Duo-
Beam installation.
For PriZm II
TM
lightheads:
REF8 - 1.0 x (number of lightheads being fused)
REF12 - 1.5 x (number of lightheads being fused)
Example:
DuoBeam with (4) REF12 lightheads - 4*1.5A = 6A minimum
For Torus
TM
lightheads:
TRS6 - 1.0 x (number of lightheads being fused)
For TriCore
TM
lightheads:
TC6 - 2.0 x (number of lightheads being fused)
Warning!
!