help on realy contacts

i a newbie at this stuff so this is gonna sound kind of dumb, but here it goes. do i always need to use the contacts on the relay or can i just wire it up with a fused power source and not use the contacts?

doh what was i smokin when i wrote that!!!!!!???????????? geez forgive me guys. i feel incredibly stoooooooooooooooopid right now!!!!

Not really a stupid Q... Only if you failed to realize your mistake, and then, not asking prior to hooking up your circuit. Then, that would have been stupid. We all learn at our own pace, and through personal hands on experience. Take what you know, and ask questions on the things you do not. That is part of the learning process. Regards EVIL Teken . . .