Light Wiring Guide for Jeep Wranglers — Adding Auxiliary Lights

Planning Your Light Setup

Before buying lights, plan the total electrical load. LED light bars draw about 2 to 3 amps for a 20-inch bar and 5 to 8 amps for a 50-inch bar. Traditional halogen off-road lights draw significantly more — a pair of 100-watt halogen lights draws about 16 amps. Add up the total amperage of all lights and make sure your alternator and wiring can handle the load.

Choose the right light for the use. Wide-beam flood lights are best for trail riding and close-up work. Spot beams are best for high-speed desert driving where you need to see far ahead. Combination beam patterns offer both flood and spot in a single light bar. LED lights are the best choice for most Wrangler owners because of their low power draw, long life, and bright output.

Wiring Basics

Never wire auxiliary lights directly to the battery without a fuse or circuit breaker. A short circuit in an unprotected wire can cause a fire. Use a fuse rated for the total amperage of the lights plus a 20 percent safety margin. The fuse should be as close to the battery as possible. Use a relay to switch the high current of the lights with a low-current switch. The relay coil draws less than 1 amp, so you can use a small switch and thin wire for the control circuit.

Use the correct wire gauge for the current and length of the wire run. For a 50-inch LED light bar drawing 8 amps, 14-gauge wire is adequate for a run up to 15 feet. For two 100-watt halogen lights drawing 16 amps, 12-gauge wire is needed. Undersized wire causes voltage drop, which makes the lights dim and generates heat in the wire.

Switch and Control Options

An auxiliary switch panel mounts in the cabin and provides multiple switches for different light circuits. The factory has accessory switch locations that accept aftermarket switches. For a clean installation, use a switch panel that fits in the factory dash locations. For JL Wranglers, the factory auxiliary switch bank integrated into the center stack is the cleanest option — it provides four factory-quality switches pre-wired to the fuse box.

Wireless remote control systems eliminate the need to run switch wires through the firewall. The control module connects to the battery and the lights, and a wireless remote controls the lights. These systems are convenient and reduce installation complexity, but the remote can be lost or the signal can be unreliable in remote areas.

Bottom Line

Plan your auxiliary light installation carefully. Use relays, fuses, and the correct wire gauge for the load. LED lights are the best choice for most Wrangler owners. Use a proper switch panel or the JL's factory auxiliary switches for a clean installation. Fuse the main power wire at the battery and size the wire for the total load.

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