led bumper backup lights wiring help!!

hey guys. Since they don't make a wiring harness long enough for some flush mount rear bumper lights, should i just get the dual output wiring harness I want and use new wires to extend it? if so, what size/type of wire should i use? Thanks for your help

 

If you know the wattage of the lights, divide that number by 12 (volts) to determine how many amps they will draw. Choosing the correct wire size is dependent on how many amps the wire can safely carry for the length of wire. There are other factors but that is the main one.

Here is a chart for wire size capacities.

 

Do you want them as strictly reverse lights? I wired mine directly to the reverse lights in my tail lights they work great and they pull so much less than the regulat bulbs so a relay and all that isn't necessary

 

22-24 gauge wire will be plenty for led lights. Wire the red wires from the led lights to the red/black tracer wire and the black led wires to any good ground.

 

I just connected them to the stock reverse lights .

I used 14 gauge wire because I have quite a bit and it handles most 12 VDC needs for me

 

Yeah if you just want em as reverse lights just splice em into the existing wires.

If you want em run independent with a switch and certain harness youre lookin at, just extend those wires just like you mentioned. Use the same guage wire as is supplied with the harness, itll prolly be 16 or 18 GA. Itll say what GA it is on the wires themselves when u get the harness.

I personally use 14 GA like Wyoming09 does on about everything i do since i have a shit load of it myself.(well now im second guessing myself it may be 16GA) but reguardless as long as youre not using a teeny tiny GA wire it wont be a problem what size ya use really... a good rule is just to not use a smaller size than whats already used in the harness.

 

What type of lights do you have in mind - incandenscent, halogen, or led? And most important, what brand are you thinking about that you can mount flush into the rear bumper?

 

I would like for my Rigid Dually flush rear bumper mount LED's to operate when the factory back up lights are engaged and also use the supplied harness to operates them independently. I don't see a problem with double feeding them. Any cautions our suggestions are welcomed.

 

Since the thread you've posted in here is over 2 years old, you might get more assistance if you start your own.

There's not a problem doing an 'either or' wiring scheme, as long as you know how to isolate the circuits so one doesn't back feed the other. Which an unplanned double feed will do.

 

I don’t know how I would isolate the circuits. Would a inline diode do?

 

There is a whole forum that is just lighting. Some cruising around there might help you out.

Like this thread https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/adding-a-second-switch-to-my-lights.511246/#post-16083193

 

You could always wire them with a harness to a relay, and use the wire that feeds the stock backup lights to trigger the relay, then wire a switch that will do the same thing. This is what Im planning to do. I have some flush mount led lights wired to the stock wiring harness at the moment, but would like to switch everything on when parked.

 

That sounds great. I would need to draw a diagram. I can’t do it in my head. Are your lights a big help when backing?

 

So just use the switch that the lights came with like the one that turns on the stock ones connected to the same relay. Where can I get the appropriate relay? Will it have some sort of a housing? Thanks for your reply.

 

12 volt constant duty relay as you do plan to leave this on more then a few seconds at a time.

if your planning to use these lights without the ignition switch on and truck in reverse then your going to have power direct from a constant 12vdc supply

 

The provided harness goes directly to the battery with a 15 amp fuse and switch inline. Thanks

 

Yes, I have a camper shell, and my back window is tinted as well. But I think a backup cam is going to help a bit more.

I will get some pics and a diagram when I get around to finishing the wiring.

 

I’m considering a cam too. I was returning my neighbors trailer that required me to back it up his 200’ driveway. I’ve never taken the time to learn to use mirrors when backing trailers. Your pictures and diagram will be awesome. Thanks