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Help! Need a "hot wire"

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by danteisme, Oct 12, 2013.

  1. Oct 12, 2013 at 6:22 PM
    #1
    danteisme

    danteisme [OP] Well-Known Member

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    i have everything hooked up for my bed lights except for the switch. i dont want to have it so i have to have my marker lights on for the bed lights to work. can anyone point me in the direction for something that is hot without the truck being on or without the marker lights being on so i can finishing hooking up my otrattw switch?

    i dont want to run another lead from the battery just for this switch. its powered via relay from my aux. fuse box.
     
  2. Oct 12, 2013 at 6:25 PM
    #2
    nfs257

    nfs257 Well-Known Member

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    Most of the fuses under the dash work in the ignition...
     
  3. Oct 12, 2013 at 6:28 PM
    #3
    anders99

    anders99 The Sailing Member

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    What I did for some extra lighting was run a wire to the battery with an inline fuse to a switch. So if the truck is off I can still turn them on
     
  4. Oct 13, 2013 at 5:47 AM
    #4
    danteisme

    danteisme [OP] Well-Known Member

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    are any of them hot without the ignition on? my old chevy truck had cab lights that were switch activated. did not need the lights to be on or the truck to be on, key in, or anything. trying to duplicate that setup.
     
  5. Oct 13, 2013 at 5:48 AM
    #5
    danteisme

    danteisme [OP] Well-Known Member

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    if i had not run a relay and if i ran a simple 2 prong switch, that would work
     
  6. Oct 13, 2013 at 5:53 AM
    #6
    Gaunt596

    Gaunt596 Well-Known Member

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    im pretty sure the fuse box has some hot fuses, or if you poke around im sure theirs a wire or two you could tap, BUT IMO its cleaner and safer to keep all your wiring separate from the factory, this also makes it easier to fix if something in the factory wiring fails.
     
  7. Oct 13, 2013 at 12:59 PM
    #7
    joes06tacoma

    joes06tacoma Well-Known Member

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    LEER Shell with dome lights operated with 3 way switches, aux backup lights with relay and 3 position switch, modified wiring to compass/temp display and clock to include switch that disables dimming function (poor man's DRL solution), Scan Gauge 2
    Exactly what do you have installed already?

    Where is the relay located?

    Where is your switch located?

    Depending on where everything is located, it may be easier to switch the ground on the relay, which won't require another hot wire.

    The fuse in the interior block which powers the cigarette lighter and aux power outlet is hot all the time, even though those outlets are not. I have an ATM type add-a-circuit in that slot for my camper shell lights.
     
  8. Oct 13, 2013 at 1:18 PM
    #8
    robssol

    robssol If it ain't broke, leave it the eff alone!

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    There are spade terminals in the main fuse box that are always live. I used one of those for my bed lights. I used LEDs so no relay required. Fishing wires through the firewall is no fun, but may be necessary.
     
  9. Oct 13, 2013 at 4:03 PM
    #9
    oldguy128

    oldguy128 Well-Known Member

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    How many amps does your lights draw, if its over 2 amps which i assume it is, use a #10 wire to a fuse with more then rating of the lights, example if the lights draw 20 amps, use a 30 amps fuse, then have it go to to the wiper of a heavy duty relay, use this one its cheap and it should do it.

    http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...ory-relay/_/N-2659?itemIdentifier=203873_0_0_

    then wire one side of the coil to truck ground, the other side to any small switch which is wired to any point that is always hot in the cab fuse block run your lights one side to ground and the other to the open contact on the relay total cost $10.00 good luck do you need me to draw you a diagram? just ask

    Gary
     
  10. Oct 13, 2013 at 6:56 PM
    #10
    danteisme

    danteisme [OP] Well-Known Member

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    thanks everyone, got it.
     
  11. Oct 13, 2013 at 6:57 PM
    #11
    dan33900

    dan33900 Well-Known Member

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    You can always go to the battery wire in your trailer hitch plug.
     

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