Auxillary Backup lights
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Auxillary Backup lights
I have a 95 Bronco and was wondering has anyone installed any auxillary back up lights on an f150 or bronco (since the wiring will be the same) either attached to the hitch or rear bumper? Im looking to do this an was wondering how people wired them in as I dont want to buy one of those $60 kits that hook on, I just want some $10 lights and wire them myself and not fry anything.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,980
Likes: 2,735
From: Virginia
Auxillary Backup lights
That circuit is fused for 15 amps. It has the turnsignals and the back-lamps on it. I don't know the wattage of the existing turnsignal lamps and the back-up lamps, but lets be conservative and give them half of the capacity or 7.5 amps. That leaves you with 7.5 amps before the fuse blows.
7.5 amps multiplied by 12 volts equals 90 watts of power left.
What size lamps are you going to buy? Isn't 35 watts per lamp a common size for aux lighting? This would equal 70 watts of used power from the circuit.
70 watts divided by 12 volts equals 5.8 amps. This is what your backlamp switch would be required to pull plus the original back-up lamps. I think if you take out the original back-up lamp bulbs, you may be able to get away with just adding the lamps without putting too much strain on the system.
If you want to keep the original bulbs plus the new lamps, and or want to use larger wattage lamps, I would go with a relay system.
7.5 amps multiplied by 12 volts equals 90 watts of power left.
What size lamps are you going to buy? Isn't 35 watts per lamp a common size for aux lighting? This would equal 70 watts of used power from the circuit.
70 watts divided by 12 volts equals 5.8 amps. This is what your backlamp switch would be required to pull plus the original back-up lamps. I think if you take out the original back-up lamp bulbs, you may be able to get away with just adding the lamps without putting too much strain on the system.
If you want to keep the original bulbs plus the new lamps, and or want to use larger wattage lamps, I would go with a relay system.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
Auxillary Backup lights
I just put my second set on last week. The first set were out on the ends of the bumper and got ate alive by the salt/mud/sand spray off the rear tires. On mine I just tapped into the current reverse light circuit. I didn't think it would last very long this way but it has. I have had them on for about a year with no problems. Keep in mind a relay is the best way to do it. I have a 5 speed, so if I roast the b/u switch, it's pretty cheap. If you have an AODE or similar and you melt the MLPS, they are closer to $40-50.
I would reccomend using a relay fired by the OEM b/u lights to light up the new ones.
55w Hella Optilux 1300s
I would reccomend using a relay fired by the OEM b/u lights to light up the new ones.
55w Hella Optilux 1300s
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,980
Likes: 2,735
From: Virginia
Auxillary Backup lights
If you could pick up the back-up light switch wire up front, you could mount the relay on one of the front inner fenders. If you splice into the wire in the back near the taillights, that would work too, but the relay would be exposed to weather. You could get a little sealed plastic electrical box from Lowe's and put the relay inside I guess.
The circuit above will give you a full 30 amp circuit. That's 360 watts of power, so you could put some pretty big lights back there.
This is also similar to a circuit to feed a RV trailer or something like that. Same circuit, but instead of splicing the relay coil wire into the back-up lights, you can hook it to a accessory port on the fuse box and the circuit would come on with the ignition key. Or you could use this circuit to power fog lamps by hooking the relay coil wire up to a manual switch, and then to the low beam haedlight wire.
Last edited by Franklin2; Apr 9, 2003 at 07:27 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 1
From: Great NW
Auxillary Backup lights
I am just about to do this myself, as the '74 truck I am restoring has no backup lights at all (light sockets were cut out of the rear light harness). I am going to have a hitch installed this week and want to incorporate some nice 35w back up lights too.
Just to set the install-guy up for success, I spliced a lead into a 12v source, ran it to my backup light switch on my B&M Megashifter (backup switch is integral to the Megashifter), then ran the lead out to the wiring harness leading to the taillights. Install-guy will have to take it from there.
Question is, even though I won't be using high voltage backup lights, necessitating the use of a relay setup, is this wiring scheme going to fry something when actuated?
Just to set the install-guy up for success, I spliced a lead into a 12v source, ran it to my backup light switch on my B&M Megashifter (backup switch is integral to the Megashifter), then ran the lead out to the wiring harness leading to the taillights. Install-guy will have to take it from there.
Question is, even though I won't be using high voltage backup lights, necessitating the use of a relay setup, is this wiring scheme going to fry something when actuated?
Trending Topics
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,980
Likes: 2,735
From: Virginia
Auxillary Backup lights
As long as your 12 volt source is fused, you should be ok. It will blow if anything happens to your wiring.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 140
Likes: 5
From: Tucson
Auxillary Backup lights
My buddy just built me a custom tube bumper for the rear of my Bronco and he built it specifically to fit some nice aux lights I already had. The diagram you've shown is exactly the kind of wiring I'm looking for, but I keep getting screwed up on the exact pin numbering for the relays (30, 86, 87, etc.) Do you think you could post the pin numbering for the relay in the diagram as well?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 0
Auxillary Backup lights
Franklin, you seem to know your stuff so I'll ask ya'. I drilled a couple of 55w lights into my rear bumper and tied them to the reverse lights. As you might have imagined they all lit up but were not so bright. What does the relay do? I left the relay out, ran a new wire up to a distribution block that I had installed in the dash ,put in an in-line fuse and it works off a separate switch but I would like it to run on the reverse lights.Help?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 140
Likes: 5
From: Tucson
Auxillary Backup lights
I figured out what the pins were on the relay. It works freakin' awesome. To work with your existing setup, use the wires you used to power your 55w lights to trigger the relay and run a separate wire (fused) straight to the relay from the battery. This way you'll get all the wattage you need and still have the lights turn on when you hit reverse. All the relay does is exactly what it's name indicates: it relays a trigger to send some real juice to the accessory.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,980
Likes: 2,735
From: Virginia
Auxillary Backup lights
cwb,
As the previous poster said, the circuit in the diagram gives you a full 30 amp potential(360watts). If you notice, it starts at the battery, which is capable of supplying LOTS of current. You said you fed your lights off a dist block.
Does that block have good current potential?
Does it have a heavy wire running from the battery?
And any other devices you have on the dist block will take the total power capacity down little by little.
As the previous poster said, the circuit in the diagram gives you a full 30 amp potential(360watts). If you notice, it starts at the battery, which is capable of supplying LOTS of current. You said you fed your lights off a dist block.
Does that block have good current potential?
Does it have a heavy wire running from the battery?
And any other devices you have on the dist block will take the total power capacity down little by little.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Auxillary Backup lights
Originally posted by shaker666
Do you think you could post the pin numbering for the relay...?
Do you think you could post the pin numbering for the relay...?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post