back up lights
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Member
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: boston
back up lights
Searched through couldnt find anything. Soo on I'll proceed. Installing some back up lights, because you cant see anything at night. i want to wire them into the truck, not by switch but by the reverse light system, im asumming i need a relay etc. just need to know the wire to splice to. or if theres a how to someone knows of. thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9
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From: Middletown, CT
Thisrsty -
I am in the same mode, I've finished installing the lights, ran two leads from the bumper area into the cab (one for new aux lights, one from the reverse lights), purchased a SPDT (on/off/on) swich at a marine supply store (20A 12VDC) so that I can wire lights to work when in reverse, off, or directly off of the battery (hooking up trailer/setting up campsite in the dark, etc.)
Plan on tying into the cigarette lighter positive wire for hot power for the third mode (off battery), just need to figure out how to pull the dashboard apart enough to access the wire. If alternate suggestions are out there I'd weclome them.
Definitely use a relay to activate the lights, especially if you are using 55W halogens like I installed. I know not much help other than to know there are others with the same question.
Scooter
I am in the same mode, I've finished installing the lights, ran two leads from the bumper area into the cab (one for new aux lights, one from the reverse lights), purchased a SPDT (on/off/on) swich at a marine supply store (20A 12VDC) so that I can wire lights to work when in reverse, off, or directly off of the battery (hooking up trailer/setting up campsite in the dark, etc.)
Plan on tying into the cigarette lighter positive wire for hot power for the third mode (off battery), just need to figure out how to pull the dashboard apart enough to access the wire. If alternate suggestions are out there I'd weclome them.
Definitely use a relay to activate the lights, especially if you are using 55W halogens like I installed. I know not much help other than to know there are others with the same question.
Scooter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont, Oklahoma
I recently did this myself. Tapped into the bolt where the power goes to the fuse box. Ran a wire with an inline fuse to a switch in the cab then ran the wire back to the lights mounted on the square tubing for the tow hitch.
Anyways here are some threads that might help here , here ,here , and here . That should give you all the info you need.
By the way I found these by clicking on search, then going down to advanced search and searching titles only.
Jonathan
Anyways here are some threads that might help here , here ,here , and here . That should give you all the info you need.
By the way I found these by clicking on search, then going down to advanced search and searching titles only.
Jonathan
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 164
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From: katrina's waste land
check out this f150online members site
plenty of ideas to steal
sorry MYST
http://users.cableaz.com/~kinzerford...150_Entry.html
plenty of ideas to steal
sorry MYST
http://users.cableaz.com/~kinzerford...150_Entry.html
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 39
From: Easton, Pa.
Mount a 30 amp sealed automotive relay in the rear up out of clear shot of water and mud.
Ground one side of the winding and connect the other side to the backup lite lead. This operates the relay every time your in reverse.
Run #10 wire of good quality, thru an inline fuse of 10 amps at the battery, then back along the frame and tie wrap it into place and connect to one power contact of the relay, the new lites to the other and you done. No switches unless you want more control for some reason.
This will handle at least 150 watts of lighting.
You cannot do this off the truck's backup wiring, alone.
Ground one side of the winding and connect the other side to the backup lite lead. This operates the relay every time your in reverse.
Run #10 wire of good quality, thru an inline fuse of 10 amps at the battery, then back along the frame and tie wrap it into place and connect to one power contact of the relay, the new lites to the other and you done. No switches unless you want more control for some reason.
This will handle at least 150 watts of lighting.
You cannot do this off the truck's backup wiring, alone.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Piedmont, Oklahoma
That's a good way too. I just wanted to be able to control them, so they're not wired into the stock backup lights in the tailight assembly.
Also with the way I have it hooked up, I can turn on the lights independently of the ignition being on. The fun part is actually mounting the lights. It's not as easy as just bolting them straight on.
I think it will also come in handy hooking up trailers at night.
Also with the way I have it hooked up, I can turn on the lights independently of the ignition being on. The fun part is actually mounting the lights. It's not as easy as just bolting them straight on.
I think it will also come in handy hooking up trailers at night.
Last edited by KDOTengineer; Jan 7, 2006 at 10:25 PM.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,511
Likes: 10
From: Under the flightpath of old ORD 22R
One dirt easy way.
Use the reversing circuit from the facotyr town harness if you have that installed. This will turn the lamps on when you put the truck into reverse, without putting the load on the reverse switch in the transmission.
I actually have some Truck Lite single LED backup lamps. These are the 4" round LED lamps, where one is for a backup lamp, they draw just short of 1 AMP per light head :
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...4080&anum=1916
I wired a SPDT switch to them, so one side feeds the pair from the reversing circuit in the tow harness, the other way, they feed from the marker lamps, so I can have them off, on with reverse, or on all the time.
I used the straight mounting plates for them and went up to the inner fender / box to screw them into place.:
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...8701&anum=1916
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...8702&anum=1916
Just another idea, but mine are not controlled from the cab of the truck, just an FYI
Use the reversing circuit from the facotyr town harness if you have that installed. This will turn the lamps on when you put the truck into reverse, without putting the load on the reverse switch in the transmission.
I actually have some Truck Lite single LED backup lamps. These are the 4" round LED lamps, where one is for a backup lamp, they draw just short of 1 AMP per light head :
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...4080&anum=1916
I wired a SPDT switch to them, so one side feeds the pair from the reversing circuit in the tow harness, the other way, they feed from the marker lamps, so I can have them off, on with reverse, or on all the time.
I used the straight mounting plates for them and went up to the inner fender / box to screw them into place.:
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...8701&anum=1916
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...8702&anum=1916
Just another idea, but mine are not controlled from the cab of the truck, just an FYI
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: boston
I went with just activated by the reverse, if i need them on ill just put the e brake on. SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE instation, the only issue i had was a bad ground, and that was easy to notice, and easier to fix, ill post up some pictures and stuff tomorrow, its dark and the battery on the camera is dead. Huge difference too.
thanks for all the suggestions and info guys.
thanks for all the suggestions and info guys.