adding halogen fog lights to top of cart

[agtree]

I just joined , enjoying reading and this may have been covered but here goes. i bought a 2002 gas yamaha cart to run around farm and take grandkids for rides(plus run up to shop and barn) No lights so i added a set of 12v halogen fog lights, mounted them on top of cart. they are really bright light up the whole pasture but cart quits running after 2-4 minutes with lights on, discovered blown 10 amp fuse. replaced but did it again. i hooked on/off light switch wire up to positive battery terminal and negative(white wire on lights) grounded to frame of cart. What did i do wrong and what can i do to prevent blown fuses but use the lights? thanks agtree

 

[gornoman]

Is the fuse that is blowing dedicated to the lighting circuit only, or is it a general cart fuse?

 

[agtree]

the fuse is between the solenoid and the motor i think. i removed a plastic box cover just behind the batttery and what appears to be a solenoid or voltage regulator, a small round object the size of a can of vienna sausages has 2 bolts on top with 1/2 in nuts and 2 small nuts 5/16 holding wires down. anyway , the fuse was between that object and the starter motor best i can tell. it has blown twice. the wire that came with the lights(harbor freight ) is pretty small size, i wonder if i should get some large gauge wire and try that? thanks for any help. agtree

 

[agtree]

i forgot to answer the question, it is a general cart fuse. it is not the fuse in line with the lights wiring.

 

[gornoman]

Try running a direct ground to the battery from the lights. This should isolate the current path to the lighting circuit and solve your issue.

 

[WALKNTALL]

Gorno is right. Don't put anymore load on the ignition circuit than you have to. You can also try a generic 12V relay for even a safer circuit, you can load those babies up to 30amps and not worry about the load.

Frank

 

[agtree]

thanks for advice. i ran a direct line from white wires on fog lights to negative battery terminal. put a 10 amp fuse between + battery connection and switch. went from other side of switch to black wires on lights. also remove the small gauge wire that came with the el cheapo harbor freight 55 watt halogen lights(7.99) and use a heavy multiwire copper probably a 12/14 ga, I'll trythem out again tongiht iin the pasture. if someone tell me how , i will try and post a picture with the digital camera. thanks agtree

 

[HotRodCarts]

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[Supertwins]

I have a 97' G16 and when I installed a light kit mine did the same thing. I posted on a different forum and got the reply- that the battery is low or going out and the alternator is over working to charge the battery and the fuse was blowing and when I would replace it the fuse holder was extremely warm also. It was suggested to make sure the battery is fully charged and go with a 30amp auto reset fuse and this would cure the problem. I have made sure the battery is fully charged and have not blown a 15amp fuse yet. Also i will replace my battery with a marine deep cycle battery because I will be adding more later.