20.00 bed lights

Going to try this .. let me see if I have it figured out. Just tap off of the battery + side, run a wire (im assuming 16 AWG should be decent enough) back to the bed. Connect wire to one end of the light, and connect the other end of the light to a wire and run that to the other side of the bed (and eventually to one side of the second light). Connect the second side of the second light to my switch, and the other side of the switch to a ground? or does it need to go to the - of the battery?

Did you guys use any inline fuses or anything? should we use a 10 or 15 A fuse?

see attached schematic. Thanks.

Edit: After walking out to my truck for lunch, I realized I am already 1/2 done. I can just tap off the hot 10 gauge wire I have running from my battery to my hitch for the powerwinch. Agree?

 

anyone?

 

Yes! Run and inline fuse. If you don't you run the risk of a surge and blowing the lights along with lighting a fire!

 

Do you need a relay to run a switch? or can I wire it without it?

 

What Amp fuse? 15?

 

This is awesome. I may hafta do this.

 

It is recommended to run the switch to the relay and use the relay to do the actual powering because the relay usually can handle more amps then the switch

Um it depends on how many Watts the lights you are using run...

It is extemely helpful at night

 

Using the lights in the OP. I think 15 A should be more then enough. I should also be able to use a switch rated 15 A DC without worrying about a relay, correct?

 

15A sounds about right. You should be able to but if you are running too close to 15A I would recommend a relay. I'm not sure what Watt the OP lights are

 

i wonder if any one ever used those empty spaces for speakers instead.. like outdoors/waterproof speakers?? nothing fancy..

 

I believe they are 55 W each .. so running them in series would be 110 W @ 12 V DC.

 

Yep should be fine

 

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but if you wire the lights per the schematic in post #41, each lamp only sees 6 volts?

 

That's a great point. I was in such a rush writing that that I didn't think back to my basic EE class's. Should I wire them in parallel after the switch? Any thoughts??

 

what the hell are those pockets for?

 

Run them in parallel. P=IE so I = P/E or 110/12 , less than 10 Amps so a 15 amp fuse would be good.

 

Whoops I didn't even look at the picture. Yep running them in parallel would be best

 

i ended up doing this (but with 1 light so far). I ended up breaking some little tabs off of the cubby when pulling it out, so I had to rivet them back in. Any ideas how to get them out?
I have seen people say they are easy, but these were pretty stubborn. Not sure if they changed them for the 2011 or not.

 

Steven,
Great job. What was your secret to remove the bed pockets for wiring and mounting?
Thanks,
Mike R

 

From the bottom edge, lift up, pull out.