Wiring Questions:

Does the white wire have to be connected?
Yes, the white wire has to be connected to a 12-volt source.

This circuit allows the switch to activate the relay, which draws power from the battery to the lights. If you do not want your KC's to be activated with your High or Low beam lights, then you can use your fuse box or your battery as an alternative
12-volt source.

What is the Amp draw of my KC lights?
Amp draw is a simple mathematical calculation. Divide the total number of watts by the system's volts. For example, a 100-watt bulb in a 12-volt system will draw 8.3 amps.
(100w / 12v = 8.3a)

What is the purpose of using a relay?
Using a relay keeps the high current portion of the circuit away from the switch and pulls the current directly from the battery to your KC's. The relay also allows you to tie your lights into a secondary 12-volt circuit such as your high/low beams or ignition.

Identify Your KC Lights:

How do I identify which lights I have?
Most all of our lights have the letters KC and a 4-digit number on the Lens, which can be used to identify which type of light you have. By comparing the shape and size of your light to the light Series pictured in the  Replacement Parts section of our web site, you can select the matching Series and find the 4-digit Lens number in the chart to determine which light you may have and the replacement parts available for that light.

Types of Lighting:

What are the different types of auxiliary lights and what is the difference between the types of light patterns?
We basically have 4 different types of light patterns:
Driving lights - Flood lights - Fog lights - and Long Range lights. Most of the long range fall into the category of Off Road Lights ( over 55 watts ) Rally lights come as long range or driving lights. KC Daylighters are available in the whole range above.

Light Guide
Lamp Applications / Types of Lighting

A well-equipped vehicle will sport three types of lighting. KC HiLiTES Fog Lights throw a wide, low beam to get under extreme weather conditions. Our Driving Lightsare a must-have improvement over stock headlights, burning brighter and penetrating farther through the night. KC HiLiTES Long Range Lights (for off road applications) complete the performance lighting picture, throwing high intensity light that projects up to 1 and 1/2 miles.

 Flood Lights produce vertical as well as horizontal light to illuminate a broad area directly in front of the light source. These lights are great for lighting up a work area or for use as auxiliary back up lights.

The standard headlamps that come on cars and trucks provide adequate illumination under ideal circumstances. When weather conditions worsen or when driving on long open stretches of rural interstate highways, auxiliary lighting is needed. There are 3 basic types of auxiliary lighting; Fog, Driving, and Long Range. The illustration below gives a relative comparison of the beam patterns as seen from above.

 Your original equipment headlights are good for a lot of conditions, master of none.

Bulbs/Wattage: Measured in watts; higher wattage means brighter light. (except for HID metal-halide systems which project the brightest beam available at relatively low wattage.)

The vacuum sealed beam was the traditional automotive light source for many years. For many applications such as marine, it remains popular due in part to its complete atmospheric sealing which keeps water and condensation away from the interior of the light. Bulb life is typically less than a Halogen or HID light source and the Color temperature is approximately 2700° K.

QUARTZ HALOGEN

A very widely used light source due to its relatively low bulb cost, good bulb life and whiter light temperature of approximately 3000° K.

HID - HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE

This exciting automotive technology uses mercury and xenon gases to create and maintain a light source. These two gasses are ignited by applying 30,000 volts of current (provided by a Ballast) to two electrodes within a glass tube about the size of a green pea. HID lighting is extremely durable and draws much less power than traditional sources. KC HID's produce a whiter light source that is more than three times more powerful than a halogen source and attain a color temperature of 4200° K (actual daylight is around 5500° K).

Lens: Most critical in determining clarity, focus, and beam pattern of any light. Plastic lens are common in low power lights; glass lens are required for high-power lights.

Amber or Clear? Clear lens pass more light to let you see better. Amber lens provide more contrast and let the other drivers see you sooner. Amber is more easily seen in fog or snow.

Housing: Casing which contains the bulb and lens. Can be made of ABS plastic, aluminum, chromed steel or stainless steel. Some housings have "shock mounting" for severe conditions.