extra reverse light wiring Q

I haven't done this before and would like to tap my existing reverse lights so that another set lights up along with them

I was thinking of placing a relay between the existing reverse wire and my reverse wire like in this diagram..




curious is this would work safely or is there is anything that I would need to change.

~Bry

 

That would work. Only thing I would suggest is placing a fuse between the battery and relay as close as possibly to the battery.

 

You might want to put a switch in the circuit, too. That way every time you go into reverse you aren't putting lights in someone's face unless you have the switch on and want to.

 

do you remember the equation I use for the size of the fuse that I would use? (I will probably just add this onto my aux fuse box)

also is there anyway I can protect my current wiring if I tap it like that? I'm more worried about frying my wiring harness then anything.

 

I'm actually not sure how I would add a switch into that diagram

 

Just put a simple toggle switch somewhere on the positive lead of the extra light(s), not the ground. You'll have to run wiring somewhere through to the cab, like through a grommet under the cab. A pain, but would be worth it and it should only add the cost of 2 lengths of small gauge wire and a cheap switch you could mount wherever.

 

alright thats actually easier then I thought it would be

thanks for the responses.

If anyone has any other info or idea please feel free to add more

 

Hope it works out. Post up pics and a write-up if and when you do this.

 

How many watts are the lights you are adding? Use wire size accordingly as well. As far as protecting the factory harness. Add another fuse between the factory harness and the relay.

 

theyre these lights

http://www.superbrightleds.com/more...owered-oval-reverse-led-truck-lamp/1193/1759/

9-14.8Vdc with an 295mA which im going to guess is milliamps meaning they are .295A ?

not very good with electric stuff so trying to learn as i go and not screw up as i do

 

Not trying to hijack but was thinking of using switch back LEDs in the rear turn signals. Tap into the reverse light and when the trucks in reverse, extra light without an extra light. Idea got back burnered cause I'd have to get another tail lamp harness to cannibalize the brake bulb holder and modify the tabs to fit in the turn signal opening. Just food for thought. It'd be pretty clean looking without anything extra hanging off the truck.

 

That's not a lot of draw amp wise, you may be able to wire those straight into the reverse circuit, I'd bet if you swapped the existing bulbs for LEDs (which lowers your amp draw on the circuit), you would have enough to run a pair of those without any relay at all.

 

its not highjacking at all, I have the extra reverse lights in a bumper that I am installing end of the month so its going to look flush as it is. I am just trying to find the best way to wire everything.

 

it's all math dude, find the fuse for the reverse lights, whatever your amp draw on the existing bulbs is, say 10 watts = 1.6 amps (10 (watts), X 2 (bulbs) = 20 (watts), 20 divided by 12 (volts of your system) = 1.66 amps draw), if you have a 5 amp fuse, two of those LEDs is about 2/3 of an amp, in which case you do not need a relay.

 

yes .295 amps, and watts=volts times amps so they're about 3.5 watt lights

 

how would i find the wattage of my existing reverse bulbs? and that math actually makes figure it out alot easier

 

Lets say that I actually fall below the amp/wattage that I need to put a relay in. Would I be able to just tap the hot wire for the trailer hitch if I have the tow package?

 

pretty sure its a 921 bulb this site http://www.run-n-lites.com/bulbspec.asp shows it at 17.9 watts

 

thanks, going to check that fuse tomorrow morning and see what I have to work with

 

I just went and looked at my fuses, maybe someone else knows this answer, I did not see a fuse specific to the revers lights, but did see a fuse for all the tail lights, I still think if you installed LEDs into the main bulbs, it would lower your draw enough to accomodate you extra lights.

I don't think there is a hot lead for the reverse light in the trailer harness, I could be wrong though