Powering LED Whips - Relay/Fuse/Wiring Info

Woody's Garage Wiring Guide

Powering Your LED Whips

Should I Use a Relay and Fuse?

Your whips may work without them, but that doesn't necessarily mean that's how we'd wire our own machine. Here's our straightforward recommendation for switches, relays, fuses, and power converters.

The Quick Answer

With the exception of the Big Woody X, Woody's Lights whips can technically be powered directly through a properly rated rocker switch. Plenty of customers run them that way.

However, we recommend using both a relay and a fuse whenever possible. It's inexpensive protection for your wiring, switch, and machine.

Do I absolutely need a relay?

For most of our whips, no. They can operate directly from a suitable rocker switch.

Do you recommend one?

Yes. Better safe than sorry.

Why Do We Recommend a Relay?

A relay allows your rocker switch to control the lighting system without forcing the switch itself to carry the entire electrical load.

Instead of the rocker switch directly powering everything, the switch activates the relay and the relay handles the heavier power connection.

Think of the Relay as the Heavy-Duty Switch

Your rocker switch tells the relay when to turn on. The relay handles the electrical load going to the lighting system.

For many installations, powering the whips directly from a properly rated rocker switch will work just fine. We simply prefer the added protection and cleaner power path that a relay provides.

Why Do We Recommend a Fuse?

The fuse is there to protect the wiring if something goes wrong.

If a wire is damaged, pinched, or shorted, you want the fuse to open the circuit before the wiring has a chance to overheat.

It's a small and inexpensive part of the installation, which is why we recommend using one even when the lights themselves would operate without it.

Allen's Advice

Can most of our whips work without a relay and fuse? Yes.

Would I personally skip them to save a few dollars? No.

You've already invested plenty of money in your machine and your lighting. A relay and fuse are cheap insurance.

What Does My Whip Setup Need?

Not every Woody's Lights product is powered the same way. Some run directly from the machine's 12-volt system, while others use a power converter.

Whip Series	Relay	Recommended Fuse	Power Converter
Level 1 Cyclone	Recommended	10A	No — 12V
Level 2 Cyclone	Recommended	10A	Yes
Level 3 Cyclone	Recommended	10A	No — 12V
HD Cyclone	Recommended	10A	Yes
Big Woody	Recommended	10A	Yes
Big Woody X	Recommended	30A–40A	Yes — converts 12V to 24V

Important: The fuse sizes above are our general recommendations for typical Woody's Lights installations. If your wiring setup includes additional accessories or unusual cable runs, size the wiring and circuit protection appropriately for the total load.

Why Do Some Whips Need a Converter?

Some Woody's Lights products operate directly from your machine's 12-volt electrical system. Those systems do not need a voltage converter.

Other products use LEDs that require a different operating voltage, so a converter is installed between the machine's power source and the controller.

That's why the wiring path can look different depending on which Woody's Lights series you're installing.

Typical Wiring Paths

These are simplified examples to show how power generally flows through the system.

12-Volt Whips

For products that operate directly from 12 volts, such as Level 1 and Level 3 Cyclones:

Battery
↓
Fuse
↓
Relay
↓
Controller
↓
Whips

Whips Using a Converter

For Level 2, HD, Big Woody, and Big Woody X systems:

Battery
↓
Fuse
↓
Relay
↓
Converter
↓
Controller
↓
Whips

Where Does the Rocker Switch Go?

When a relay is used, the rocker switch controls the relay rather than carrying the full power load of the whips.

That allows you to choose a switch that fits the style and layout of your machine while the relay handles the main electrical load.

Do Woody's Lights Whips Include the Switch, Relay, and Fuse?

No. We do not include the rocker switch, relay, or fuse with our standard whip packages.

There are a huge number of switch styles available for different machines, dashboards, and personal preferences. Most riders want to choose the switch that best matches their own setup.

Rather than forcing everyone into the same switch style, we leave that choice up to you.

Common Questions

Can I wire my whips directly to a rocker switch?

Other than the Big Woody X, our whips can generally operate from a properly rated rocker switch. We still recommend using a relay and fuse whenever possible.

What size fuse should I use?

We generally recommend a 10A fuse for our standard whip systems. Big Woody X systems require substantially more power, so we recommend 30A–40A circuit protection for those installations.

Does Level 3 need a converter?

No. Level 3 Cyclones operate from 12 volts and do not require a voltage converter.

Which systems need a converter?

Level 2, HD, Big Woody, and Big Woody X systems use a converter. Big Woody X converts the machine's 12V supply to 24V.

Why don't you include a rocker switch?

There are too many switch styles and machine layouts for one switch to make sense for everyone. We prefer letting riders choose the style that fits their machine.

Is a relay required for the warranty?

The purpose of our relay recommendation is to promote a safe, reliable installation. If you have questions about your specific installation or warranty coverage, contact us before wiring the system.

Not Sure How to Wire Your Setup?

Tell us which Woody's Lights whips you're installing and what you ride. We're happy to point you in the right direction before you start cutting wires.

Ask Woody's Lights Back to Woody's Garage

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