Cheap Back Up light solution.

I was struggling with Backing up in the dark living on property because the stock back up lights suck on the first gens. I went down to the local Autoparts store (I hate Oreily's) in North Bend, Wa and pickup some cheap 55w driving lights drilled some 1/2inch holes in the bumper, Threaded them put the lights in (open up the housings and flip the drain holes) and wired them to the stock backup lights. My jeeper friend said rocks will probably kick up and break them but for 20 bucks i can live with that. Let me know if anyone does this or has any suggestions! Hope this is helpful never thought it was that easy!

 

Please tell me you used a relay and didn't just t-tap into the reverse circuit.

 

Lights didn't come with one so I didn't bother. Why would you suggest doing so?

 

You just added over 8 amp load to a 10 amp circuit you will blow a fuse. DO NOT install a bigger fuse you can start a fire. Lets assume your charging system puts out 13V A=W/V 2x55w in parallel 110w 110w/13V=8.46A

 

2nd gen^

 

My bad

 

What is the relay going to do to help/ avoid this problem?

 

2nd gen what? Im looking at a FSM for a 98 Tacoma v6 reverse lights run off the 10A GAUGE fuse that is also a source for all dash lights. its basic electrical principle

 

Only prevents you from running 9amps into the switch in your cab and let's you run new 16 gauge wires to those lights.

 

relay uses small amp draw from reverse lights to move a switch in relay to use larger wire you add to power spot lights. ill do a quick drawing

 

wrong it stops you from running that exra 9a through the fuse, relay and wiring that is only designed to handle 10a

 

Only if he ran new wires from the source to the lights.

 

lets just say its safer.

 

Use 14 Gauge wires from battery into relay, out of relay to splice before lights and relay ground. 18 will work from splice to lights or you can just keep going to lights with 14. The splice is important