unit505

Here's a good helper for your relay wiring.

Mista_Breeze

Would I need a separate relay for each switch or would one be enough to wire, say, 3 switches to? For my CB, Streamlight, and dash lights. And if I'm not mistaken you're saying that the devices would be wired straight to the relay?

I'm sorry, I'm confused..

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

You don't need relays, just on high draw items like the exterior lights. One relay per item which is why you don't want to waste them on things that don't need relays.

unit505

X2.....fuses for the cb, stream light....yes. relays....No. Like Sean said, exterior lighting, heavy draw items like amps, yes. Your stream light needs a constant charge if it has an auto charge function that cuts power when charged. You CB, depending on legal/or not, high end type sometimes recommend a constant power source and really need to be cut on and off with the power switch. Using ignition triggered power can damage some CB boards and kill memory batteries.

Mista_Breeze

The Streamlight charges as long as there is powerto it, no cut off. And it's a fairly cheap CB. I would still turn it on and off with the power on the CB as well but I don't want to have to fumble around for a cord every time I want to use it nor do I want ANY drain on my battery. So fuses for all of that. I wouldn't need any relay at the moment but I will when I install the exterior lights. Should I still power it directly from the battery?

unit505

My personal rule using anything over a set of 55w lights is to use a relay for each set of lights. I have a relay on my stereo amp, but not needed. It has a sensor wire that connects to most aftermarket stereos. My stock radio did not turn the amp on so I installed a relay. My new JVC turns the amp on automatically so the relay isn't necessary.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

Amps have an internal relay. That's why it has constant battery hot and the switch wire.

Mista_Breeze

If I am just hooking up switches to what I have listed would I need to run power directly from the battery still??

unit505

My stereo amp was staying on with just the 12v power wire. Of course, it's 20 years old and is in it's 4th vehicle. It does have the source wire which had to be on a 12v switched source until I bought my JVC with the amp source wire that shuts it on and off with the head unit. I think I paid $50 for it back in '92 or '93. I have no idea how newer amps work.

mr7confused

Like Sean said, they have an internal relay, and use the "thin blue wire" to tell the amplifier to turn on. Personally, I installed a switch in line with this wire because if I'm just chilling around my truck with the engine off, I'd like to save the battery and the life of the amp. Also I turn the switch off if I'm quickly moving my truck to another parking spot or something where I don't want the amp to turn on for no reason. (the stereo stays set to ON all the time)

If I'm going to power anything that could benefit from full voltage, (lights, amps, radios, etc) I will run right to the battery or at least a power distribution point. For a CB, you need to go right to the battery as the battery helps soften any electrical activity within your truck's wiring, that could disturb the transmit and receive functions of the radio. Less interference.
Lights? if they're meant to illuminate anything (as opposed to an indication light or flashing light) they would benefit heavily from a relay. I even have relays on my LED bars up front. Less chance of anything kinking off the power.