Build or Buy: Wire Harness

[MeHere!]

Trying to decide on whether it more economic to build wire harnesses rather than buying? Nilight has pretty decent deals on Amazon...

I have a couple pods a 20" bar and a 50" bar

 

[artster63]

I was just looking at Nilight last night. I like the ready made ease of install, but I got frustrated when I found a light bar @765W, supposedly, and could only find pre-assembled harnesses for 12Ga, which is like 450 or 500 watt max. I guess I'll have to build my own with 10Ga.

 

[M Rose]

Trying to decide on whether it more economic to build wire harnesses rather than buying? Nilight has pretty decent deals on Amazon...

I have a couple pods a 20" bar and a 50" bar

Personally I like building my own, that way they are to my specs and the wires run where I want them to. All the prefabricated harnesses I have ever used have either been too long or too short for what I had in mind. Then like @artster63 said, wrong gauge of wires.

 

[MeHere!]

Personally I like building my own, that way they are to my specs and the wires run where I want them to. All the prefabricated harnesses I have ever used have either been too long or too short for what I had in mind. Then like @artster63 said, wrong gauge of wires.

That's the way I'm leaning, there may be a couple other things I need harnesses for...

 

[smritte]

When I build my looms, I commonly add in a couple of extra wires for when I add on something later. Saves time. I do the same when building fuse/relay panels.

 

[Boort]

Trying to decide on whether it more economic to build wire harnesses rather than buying? Nilight has pretty decent deals on Amazon...
I have a couple pods a 20" bar and a 50" bar

I've done both. My problem has been finding quality pre-built harnesses. Used to be you could find places that sold kits with all of the parts needed for a relay harness and you supplied the wires of the gauge / length needed for the application. Worked really well and often included high quality parts for less than I could track them down and buy them separately. I think DanielSternLighting still sells kits this way.

Boort

 

[Boostpowered]

If its for a light bar just buy it its much easier and cheaper you can get em on amazon like 14 bucks, if wiring a full custom loom for vehicle do it yourself or find someone experienced if you can wire. If not go to painless and tell em what you need.

 

[MeHere!]

If its for a light bar just buy it its much easier and cheaper you can get em on amazon like 14 bucks, if wiring a full custom loom for vehicle do it yourself or find someone experienced if you can wire. If not go to painless and tell em what you need.

If I had just the one bar I probably would but have 4 and maybe two more pods

 

[Boostpowered]

If I had just the one bar I probably would but have 4 and maybe two more pods

How many watts/amps are you drawing most of the harnesses are 40a 480 watt id recommend puting each bar on a dedicated harness but if they are small bars you can do 2 per harness and make your own splitter put all the pods on 1 harness. I run my lights on 40a remote harnesses. Your probably not going to get a light bar that pulls more than 400watts and if it does it will come with the required harness, my 60" 3 row light bar on my ranger bumper only pulls 250w. Most of the led lights out there are way overrated when they tell you a high wattage thats what they are equivalent too not what they are gonna draw.

 

[MeHere!]

How many watts/amps are you drawing most of the harnesses are 40a 480 watt id recommend puting each bar on a dedicated harness but if they are small bars you can do 2 per harness and make your own splitter put all the pods on 1 harness. I run my lights on 40a remote harnesses. Your probably not going to get a light bar that pulls more than 400watts and if it does it will come with the required harness, my 60" 3 row light bar on my ranger bumper only pulls 250w. Most of the led lights out there are way overrated when they tell you a high wattage thats what they are equivalent too not what they are gonna draw.

Good to know!!! I just got my quote for sq metal tubing to build my roof rack...spring can't come fast enough!! thinking of mounting two pods to the rear of the rack, maybe a swivel base so can use at campsite at the rear or on the sides

The pods are 18W and the 20" is 126W, cannot recall the 50"