Backup lights. . . ? Help
 

I got some driving lights that I would like to install on the back of my truck to use as backup lights they are very small and very bright. They are 55w lights and my question is is there any way I can just splice them into my reverse lights or do they need more power. I need something back there because I have dark tinted windows and a camper shell that is also tinted and at night it is very hard for me to back up in any dark areas.

Thanks for the help all!

Ory

I have a set of driving lights spliced into my rev lights and it works just fine. Mine are 55 watts as well.

Perfect that is what I needed to know. Do I need to put an in line fuse in or anything like that or are they good to go?

Do you really want those on everytime you back up?
Personally, I would put a switch inline on a seperate circuit with a relay.

I ran a switch for mine... Comes into handy if your pulling someone out of the mud at night... or if your hooking a trailer at night...

I wouldnt tie it into the reverse lights, as you might pull too much power...

55w @ 12v is 4.5 amps. This is quite a bit more power on that circuit. Keep in mind that the designers at Ford did design for a bit more power in the circuit then needed, but this is really pushing it. I'd run a relay and a separate power wire rather then chance melting wires (or worse).

you wouldnt need a relay for 2-55w lights. I run my 2-150w lights with out a relay and have no problems.

I didnt run a relay for my 55 watt lights, but its not very smart to run 150 watt lights without one.. My KC's have one...

x2
But tie the switch feed to the backup lights.
Just like a broken tail light , cops love to give tickets for any white light shineing from the rear of a vehicle.

The back-up light fuse is only rated at 10 amps. The back-up bulbs pull 3.72 amps on there own. If you add a set of 55w lights they draw 7.58 amps. Total current draw would be 11.3 amps exceeding the rating of the stock fuse and wiring (The stock bulbs are rated at 27w @ 1.86 amps each. Aux lights rated at 55w @ 3.79 amps each at 14.5 operating volts).

If you want to add the 55w lights I would strongly recommend running a separate fused power feed with a relay to them.

Why not just run a relay? Its only a couple more bucks that could possibly save you money in the long run from a big problem.

The lights came with a relay and I do understand what all of you are saying with that iw could cause a lot of problems down the road and after looking at what everyone has said I think I will take the time to run the switch. I will use them most of the time when I am backing up but having a switch isnt to big of a deal so if in the long run it will be the best way to go then I will take the time now for sure.

Thanks all

Ory, I'm guessing you didn't see this sticky at the top?

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=53994

I'd trigger the relay from the reverse lights power and add a switch in that line to turn the aux lights (relay) off if you don't need them. See the third diagram, but lower the fuse rating for YOUR lights.

Or if you want them to come on with the back-up lights and be able to turn them on independently with a switch you could wire them up like this.


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

55 watt driving lights are too much for the stock reverse light circuit. Doing this without a relay is asking for trouble.

Yet. You will.

True. Not only are the fuse size and wire gauge questionable, there's also the reverse light switch at the trans.

For manual trucks, there is a simple switch screwed into the side of the transmission. The reverse light switch in automatic trucks is part of the Transmission Range Sensor. I don't know how much a manual switch costs but the TRS on the auto is pricey. It can be damaged by adding aux reverse lights without a relay.

I didnt see this before but it looks like it will help. I think I am going to try and get them on and wired up in the next day or so. Ill post pictures.

You got a under the hood or in cab wire to splice into the reverse lights?? Maybe that cube of wires under the driver seat, under the cab??

I'd love to have my aux reverse lights come one when i go in reverse, and have the ability to switch them on whenever I want.

Thanks.

You'll need the following parts:

1. One SPST or SPDT relay
2. One SPST switch of your choice
3. One 5 amp inline fuse
4. One 1N4001 Diode (Radio Shack # 276-1101)
5. Wire 18 ga.

On Manual Trans you can tap the reverse switch at the tranny. Theres two wires, one VT/OG and one BK/PK. You'll want to tap the BK/PK wire at or near the switch. Run that wire over to the drivers side and up through the rubber plug into the cab and along the door sill and up to the dash (your choice as to where you want to put the relay & switch). Now you want to solder onto the end of that wire the diode ensuring the silver band on the diode is facing torwards the relay. Solder on another section of wire to the other end of the diode and connect it to terminal 86 of the relay. Next run a properly fused power feed for your Aux lights to terminal 87. Connect the wiring coming from your Aux lights to terminal 30. Now connect terminal 85 to ground.

Next install your override switch on dash and run a power feed either from IGN or BAT (your choice if you want the lights to be able to switched on any time or only with the key on). Ensure you put a 5 amp inline fuse close to where you tap the power. Run the other end to your switch. Run the other wire coming off the switch to terminal 86 on the relay.

Once you have this all hook up you should be able to turn on the Aux lights with the dash switch or whenever you put the vehicle in reverse with the key on they should also come on.

If you'd like to keep them from coming on with the reverse lights you could install a second switch on the dash and run the wire coming from terminal 85 of the relay to this switch and the other wire from the switch to ground.

If you only want one switch on the dash to do both functions you can sub a single three position DPDT rocker switch and use one side (position) for the Aux light control and the other side (position) for the ground cut out, i.e., rocker switch up = lights on, rocker switch in center = operates with reverse switch on tranny, rocker switch down Aux lights off.

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