Adding aux reverse lights....wire colors, relays...
 

Wiring auxilery reverse lamps. Going to obviously run a relay, and tap into the stock reverse wire to switch them on, and use a switch in the cab as well.

So I should use a 5-prong relay right? And use 87 and the middle one for the switch.

I believe it's the black/pink wire i need to splice into for my '01....correct?

Where should I actually make the splice?? I'd like to splice into it somewhere under/behind the dash or in engine bay or in the cab...don't want to route that wire from the taillights to the engine compartment.

I think i need a 5a fuse between the relay and my splice into point, right?

Thanks for any help.

Shane

Not really able to help in any way.. I personally havent bothered looking into the wiring for this..

But I can say I want to do this as well eventually.. perhaps put 2 small spread pattern LED's right under the bumper.. using some of those slim amber lights, and switchign the housing to a clear lense and switchign the color odf LED's... perfect for backing out of a crappy trail at night :-0)

4-Prong relay will be fine

85 - Ground
86 - From reverse light circuit and your switch
30 - Fused power from battery
87 - Out to your lights

On a 5-Prong relay, you would have an 87a terminal. 87a is the opposite of 87. 87a will have continuity with 30 while the relay is switched OFF.

On your 01, you can easily access the factory reverse light wire (black/pink) where the harness drops down from the dash to the left side of the transmission tunnel.

Thanks guys!!

Here’s a circuit that will allow you to use Aux back-up lights in conjunction with the factory back-up lights and also allow independent control via a switch on the dash. All you need is 1 SPDT or SPDT relay(term 87a not used), 1 N4004 Diode, 1 SPST switch, 2 inline fuses (1 for the power supply to the lights and one for the switch) (all available from radio shack).



http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...80_69_full.jpg

Thanks JJ

Whats the diode for?

The diode acts as a one-way valve allowing power to only flow in one direction. In this case it stops power from flowing back to the factory reverse lights when you turn on the dash switch. However, it will allow power to flow to the relay when you put your truck in reverse.

So is the diode the rectangle between the 87 and the switch in the diagram? What happens if you don't have that in there?

Its the rectangular looking thing with a black stripe between terminal 86 and the factory reverse light switch. Without it, power would flow to both the factory reverse lights and relay (Aux lights) when you turn the dash switch on. The idea is to only turn on the Aux reverse lights with the dash switch.

Ah that makes a lot of sense then, learn something new every day.