bed lights

Your on the right track. The positive wire from the LEDs goes to the switch. The negative wire from the LEDs can be grounded at the same place on the frame as the ground for the switch ( I just put one ground to the frame then Y'd it to go to the switch and LEDs. ). You can figure out which wire is positive or negative by grounding one wire and touch the other to a power source. If they don't light up try the opposite way and if the light up the positive us the one on the power source. You had the rest of the switch correct

 

I finally got around to doing the bed light mod. Sorry for the poor cell phone pic. Material used was 5050 waterproof LED strip lights, wire, insulation, zip ties, soldering iron, shrink wrap, toggle switch and in-line fuse. I plan on buying a hot glue gun today to double up the adhesive on the strip lighting. I'm really pleased with this mod.

 

i camped this past weekend in So. Colorado. I had never intended but the bed light provided enough light for my modest camp without battery drain concerns. Im totally stoked with the led bed lights.

 

I will be doing this soon Just put the orders in. Nice job too!

 

Subd for a Monday installation ....

 

Well my bed lights have gone downhill. The Velcro I used to mount them is failing I assume because of the holes in the bottom of the bed rails that let water in and it weakens the glue. Plus 100 degree heat weakens the glue big time. Soo they are saggin big time.






So I got 6 20 inch rigid LED bars with alum casing and mounting brackets. They are 5050 LEDs and there are 30 LEDs per light bar. All 6 were $50 shipped and by hard mounting a rigid bar with brackets they will
Never sag . Here is the link to what I bought on eBay. Message them for the 6 for $50 deal. I'm going to not use the connectors they have me. Instead ill just hard wire them to each other so I can space them perfectly. 2 per bed rail should be perfect.

http://bit.ly/13TumcZ

Pics





Here are the specs on the LED rails
1. 5050 SMD LED rigid strip waterproof
2. Lighting source: 30pcs×5050 SMD
3. Operating voltage: DC 12V
4. Dimension: L500mm*W12mm*H7mm
6. Power dissipation: 7.2W.
7. Color: White 6000-6500K.
8. Lifespan: 50000h-80000h
9. Two mounting brackets per LED rigid strip

 

Got them installed today. First I trimmed off all the ends and bared some wires so I could test them one by one and make sure they all work. Then connect together in a parallel circuit and make sure they all work. Check and check. Then removed the bed rails (4 screws per side rail 5 screws for front rail). Drilled and installed LED rail brackets. Installed LEDs. Then wired. Came out really nice and will never sag or fail! Only downside is having the self tapping screws stick up a little kn the bed rails. Much brighter then the old set up

 

Another stupid question... Did you guys come straight off the battery for the power. My GF and her daughter gave me a bunch of the strip stuff for Christmas and I'm finally getting around to have time for install. I want the power to be live always so I can just walk up and turn them on.

My thinking is pretty simple since I'm not an electronics guru. 12v to switch. switch to lights, lights to gnd. Sound right ? What am I missing ? I know fuse in the power supply, got that.

 

You got it all covered.

 

Question: Do the self tapping screws interfere with the bed cleats that attach to the railing and any other rail accessories?

 

How/where did you run all the wiring to get it to the battery?

 

You can still use the bed rail tie downs you just can't slide them. I go between a tonneau cover and a bestop soft topper and just leave all the hardware in the rails to secure them.

 

Daytime pics, so we can see the install more clearly ?