Whether you are going to connect a set of HID lights, heated
seats or a stereo in your UTV, there are a few things you should know before
trying to hook them up.
How much can you connect to your UTV?
Each UTV can handle different amounts of 12V load. The
charging system on UTVs is handled by a stator. A stator's output
varies by RPM of the engine. Higher RPM will produce more charging
output.
-
Yamaha Rhino 660 - 220 watts
-
Yamaha Rhino 700 EFI -
-
Polaris RZR - 500 watts @ 3000 RPM
-
Polaris Ranger - 250 watts
-
Arctic Cat Prowler -
-
Kawasaki Teryx - 24.2A X 14V = 338.8W
watts/amps=volts or volts x amps=watts
Can't I just tap into the factory wire for my headlights?
How much do typical accessories draw?
HID Lights - 35W is about 3 amps
Halogen Lights - 50W is about 4 amps and 100W is about 8
amps
Heated Seats - 3.7 amps each
Stereo -
GPS -
Do I need to use a relay?
Anytime you want to switch and accessory which draws
more current than is provided by an output of a switch, your should use
a relay.
How do relays work?
A relay allows a very low current signal to control a
very high current device. A relay can be triggered with an electrical
pulse as small as 150 milliamps. The switched output can be as high as
30 or 40 amps.
Typical 12V Relay
Pins:
- 30 is the common or input voltage to be switched.
- 87a is the normally closed connection. This terminal is hot when
the relay isn't energized, it is unpowered the relay is energized.
- 87 is the normally open connection. Powered only when the relay
is energized.
- 85 is connected to the ground of the triggering voltage.
- 86 is connected to the positive 12V of the triggering voltage.
Pins 86 and 85 trigger the internal switch to the relay.
Basically, if you put 12 volts on on pin and ground on the other you
will "throw the switch" inside the relay. Once the switch is triggered,
12V is sent from pin 30 to pin 87.
Pin 85a is normally closed, and will see power from pin
30 when the switch is not triggered. The accessories we'll be
looking at don't need 85a, so we won't cover it anymore.
Painless Wiring does make a general purpose auxiliary light
relay kit, but you have got to figure out how to make it all work right for
your particular application. They also sell fuse blocks. But the best product I
have found that is relatively inexpensive, and makes connecting lights to
switches a breeze is made by Autotrend.
In one simple package, I get two 2 relay controlled 30 amp outputs and 2
fused 12v outputs, along with two switches and pre-made wiring harness that
makes it all super simple.
