Electrical issue...maybe?

[clayton]

Sorry for double posting since I placed it in the More Questions thread I started awhile back but I feel that might be dead...
Anyway...
Since I am no electrician I will be a specific as possible.
Awhile back I did the wiring from info on Gadgets site...
The setup is as follows...
30amp relay...wired directly from battery
3 slot fuse block running off of the relay
On the 15amp fuse I ran some running lights...cheapy's from Wally World...
In turn I also tapped into the line adding an accessory outlet prior to the switch that controls the lights so that when the engine is on so is the accessory outlet.
The issue is when I plug in a GPS, the fuse in the GPS's charging cable blows...even when the engine is off and only the ignition is turned on.
So I pulled out the multimeter and here is what I have...
With the ignition on and the light switch off I get 12.5 volts
With the engine running I get 14.6 volts...
Now then here is the weird thing...as soon as I turn on the driving lights the accessory outlets current drops to some where around .025...
Now I moved to the fuse block itself...
With the engine off and the ignition switch off I read about .005 volts.
With the ignition switch on (no running engine) I read about 12.5
With the engine running I read 14.6 across all fuses.
So....what should I do?
Single out the lights from the accessory outlet? Maybe some back feed?
Might I have a bad relay or fuse block?
Any help would be great.
I also messenged Mac on this to get his input.
Thanks all

Also I have something to ask...so don't laugh
Could I have the polarity backwards on the accessory outlet?
I know in AC it does not matter so much but what about DC?

[Cajunrider]

Clayton, I think you should get around 14.6 volts with the engine running because of the charging system being activated. 12.5 v sounds about right coming from the battery with theengine not running. What is the wattage of your driving lights? Is it (2) 50w lights? That should only be about an 8 amp draw? It may be as you say, the relay may be bad or you have a loose connection somewhere in line. Is the ground good and tight against the frame?

[clayton]

Cajun
I am running 2, 55 watt driving lights.
As per the ground I found that if it was not grounded the lights wouldn't come on so I would have to "assume" the grounds are good.
I will however go over everything to make sure.
I will check the relay grounds as well as the light grounds which are attached to the bolt holding the ignition coils.
Thanks Cajun

[cactusjack]

Clayton,

Electrical issue YES!!

14v+ is normal while running and 12.5v is normal battery voltage.

If you are blowing fuses in your GPS power when you plug it in, you've got a short somewhere. That's why there's no voltage potential if you check the accessory socket with the driving lights on. Somewhere in your wiring, you have +12v going to ground. It is going to be in the accessory outlet circuit.

Having the polarity reversed to the accessory outlet is also a possibility. The GPS power plug sees it and blows the fuse instead of frying your GPS.

[Yellow Jacket]

I'm assuming your accessory socket is the "cigarette lighter" type? If so, the center contact at the bottom of the socket should be the "hot" or 12 vdc. The metal tubular shell should be the ground.

[clayton]

Yeap I had the polarity backwards...GPS is good to go now...
Thanks guys