Auto Electronics: Auxillary Driving Light Wiring

Question
QUESTION: Evening Antoinio:

I do a lot of back country night driving and am thinking about installing a set of PIAA driving lights. (You can see the driving light wiring diagram here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/). I understand that these lights are typically wired to the high beam (only) however there are times when I would like them to augment my low beams.

Legal issues aside, if I wire both the high beam and the low beam together to go to the solenoid; so that the lights will go on when I am using my high or low beams on my 2001 Chrysler Town & Country.

(Whenever I don't want the lights to come on at all, I will use the supplied rocker switch to turn the set off)(I already know which wire(s) in my vehicle control the high and low beams)

The crux of my query concerns whether or not, during the millisecond it will take for the solenoid to potentially go on or off (or not) am I likely to fry anything? Will this sort of wiring setup work or not?

Thanks In Advance!

Paul

ANSWER: Hello Paul,

I have reviewed your vehicles wiring diagrams, (2001 Town and Country), however i am confused as to what vehicle these PIAA lights will be going into?

Your link is for TOYOTA 4Runner and then you state your putting them in a Chrysler T&C.

In order for me to assist you better, please clarify for me what type of vehicle these lights will be going into, so that i can ensure i have the correct diagrams and that my answer will be specific to your application.


Thank you.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The lights will ONLY be installed on my 2001 Chrysler Town and Country.

Answer
Hello Paul,

In regards to your response, I recommend wiring them directly to a switch and not tapping into the wiring for your headlights, the reason is that the solenoid, like most other solenoids is designed to handle a specific output load, and adding these lights to it could potentially damage and or overload the circuit and the solenoid.

Using the rocker switch is the safest way to wire this, and ensures that you will be able to use them regardless of what other lights are on.

I hope this helps.

Please keep me informed of your progress.

Thank you, Good Luck.