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Bed Lights

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Tullie D, Mar 22, 2019.

  1. Mar 22, 2019 at 5:21 AM
    #1
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    There are many ways to do bed lights. Here are mine.
    20190322_075253[1].jpg 20190316_163715[1].jpg


    They are rather inexpensive AuxBeam LED light strips from Amazon. They're tucked up under the tie down rail on each side, out of harms way. I did not use the harness that came with them. Instead I came up with my own, using a CH4x4 switch, a relay, fuse, etc. attached directly to the battery. I did not want or need to tie into the trucks OE wiring.

    All connections are soldered and covered with shrink tubing.

    Total cost approx $65, total. I couldn't justify to myself spending a lot of money on something that I will seldom use. BTW, they are incredibly BRIGHT !

    Edit: They are not connected directly to the battery now. See below for explanation.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2019
    Rd62 likes this.
  2. Mar 31, 2019 at 12:28 AM
    #2
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    OK, I learned a valuable lesson, and thought that I should share it...
    It is stupid easy to leave the bed lights turned on. Them being hidden under a tonneau makes them being on unnoticeable.
    Even though they're LEDS, they'll kill the battery in just a few hours.:(

    I need to rethink how I've got them powered.
     
    pinochle, Boghog1 and deadpocketss like this.
  3. Mar 31, 2019 at 6:48 AM
    #3
    buyobuyo

    buyobuyo Read The Fucking Manual

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    A thing or two...
    Simple fix would be to wire in a pin switch, so they're only on when the tailgate is open.
     
    jarebear74 likes this.
  4. Apr 1, 2019 at 5:59 PM
    #4
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I moved the power connection to an add-a-fuse. I chose the A/C fuse. Its only powered when the ignition switch is on. That will prevent me from killing the battery by forgetting to turn the lights off. I won't be using the lights very often anyway.

    I have an Extang Encore tonneau which can be opened from the front or rear, so the tailgate pin switch idea isn't ideal.
     
    VirusCage likes this.
  5. Apr 3, 2019 at 7:25 AM
    #5
    road2cycle

    road2cycle Well-Known Member

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    Another option if you want to be able to power them on with the truck off is to use a time delay relay which is hooked up to a constant power source. That way they will turn off after a set time duration. I’ve seen some from Hella and Wolstentech. I used the one from Wolstentech for my heated mirror install.
     
  6. Apr 3, 2019 at 7:27 AM
    #6
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That's an interesting idea. Thanks !
     
  7. Apr 6, 2019 at 6:47 PM
    #7
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I didn't exactly use a kit. I bought the items separately. Below are the details. NOTE: I have since changed from connecting directly to the battery. It's now powered by an add-a-fuse in the A/C position of the main under hood fuse panel. This keeps me from leaving them on over night and having a dead battery the next morning. :eek:
    Also, the LEDs in the switch are connected so that they both come on when the switch is on. (And ignition on, with fan running.) I may change this again in the future.

    Here's the parts I used:
    Switch
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSJ1WVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    [​IMG]
    Lights:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H857NLH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Relay Kit: (included 2 sets... I only used 1)
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0SATHE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    [​IMG]
    Here's how I wired mine:
    [​IMG]
    Here's the pigtail/relay socket details:

    [​IMG]
    Let me know if I can help. :thumbsup:

    Tullie D.
     
    Boghog1 likes this.
  8. May 15, 2019 at 11:29 PM
    #8
    MaukatoMakai4V6tacoma

    MaukatoMakai4V6tacoma Well-Known Member

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    I did something different.

    F13A83AC-1F4E-43F6-B1EC-83335EE5DD98.jpg

    00C170F5-E379-48A5-93E4-B5193B22AC99.jpg
     
    Joker56ace, obpmem and Tullie D[OP] like this.
  9. May 16, 2019 at 4:12 AM
    #9
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Looks good! :thumbsup:

    One of the reasons that I ran my wiring all the way to the back of the truck and made up my connections to the LED strips back there (as opposed to doing it at the front of the bed) was so it would be simpler to change over to something similar to what you did, if the el cheapo LED strips didn't work out like I wanted.

    So far, they have been fine. :fingerscrossed:

    For future reference, what lights did you use?
     
  10. May 16, 2019 at 8:22 AM
    #10
    MaukatoMakai4V6tacoma

    MaukatoMakai4V6tacoma Well-Known Member

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    I was going to go with the light strips too but just wanted to try something different. I did have to cut into the bed thou, not to much people would want to do that :sawzall:.The light are from fcklightbars and the spacer is from rigid industries.
     
  11. May 25, 2019 at 5:18 AM
    #11
    JustinL

    JustinL Well-Known Member

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    Awesome idea
    https://m.delcity.net/store/Time-De...MI5ZOQxtS24gIV0VuGCh2WYQAHEAQYASABEgKjL_D_BwE
     
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  12. Nov 26, 2019 at 3:26 AM
    #12
    2001Tacoma

    2001Tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for making this post,,,, I learned a bunch from it :)
     
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  13. Nov 26, 2019 at 8:15 AM
    #13
    vicali

    vicali Touch my camera through the fence

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    BD interior light on the bedside, addafuse to the interior panel constant 12v.
    I liked this one because it has a switch right on the light.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Apr 19, 2020 at 5:55 AM
    #14
    CoMo Taco

    CoMo Taco Well-Known Member

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    I plan on doing the same exact thing so thanks for the idea. Did you follow a how to I am not the best and figuring it out on my own haha. Just curious if there was a thread and or video you used as reference to do these. Maybe it was just that simple and im overthinking but thanks!
     
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  15. Apr 19, 2020 at 7:35 AM
    #15
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I just made it up as I went along. It IS pretty simple, at least the way I did it was.

    bJz4jrNG4FLqmSKgVBhmaRCNITE0xlJXUIJXK3rX_713dc77e2fa45c9435a3625977e55a6c6dfd343c.jpg
     
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  16. May 6, 2020 at 4:59 PM
    #16
    CoMo Taco

    CoMo Taco Well-Known Member

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    @ ANYONE I need help. I must be the worst DIY guy on this forum. I put the bed LED strip lights in my truck bed. I am not sure how to wire them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do not want to wire them into my cab. I am fine with leaving the button in the back of the bed and wiring them there. https://www.amazon.com/Auxbeam-Ligh...Auxbeam+Truck+bed+light&qid=1588809542&sr=8-1
    These are the strips I bought hand have on my Truck.
     
  17. May 6, 2020 at 5:39 PM
    #17
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Follow the directions that came with your lights.
     
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  18. May 6, 2020 at 9:41 PM
    #18
    slowlane

    slowlane Well-Known Member

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    Probably some useful info here.

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-waterproof-under-bed-rail-led-lights-3rd-gen.391380/
     
  19. May 11, 2020 at 6:34 PM
    #19
    CoMo Taco

    CoMo Taco Well-Known Member

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    Do you have any pictures of the wiring?
     
  20. May 11, 2020 at 10:00 PM
    #20
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Everything that I've got has been previouly covered.
     
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