Hi Friends,
I have a 2017 F350 Lariat and I need to run 12VDC in the bed area where my dogs travel crated under a cap. Can I safely tap the 12VDC switch for the OEM bed lights to get a always-hot 12VDC connection?
Thanks for your help.

 

No, the light switch for the bed lights is actually low power I believe 5 volts for the led's, My topper installer wanted to tap those wires for the led in the shell they had to run a wire all the way to the battery. You can use a volt meter to check but I believe all the trucks are the same.

 

How about the battery charge wire in the trailer plug?

 

Might that show up up on dash as trailer connected?

 

I think that signal is from detecting trailer brakes. Separate wire.

 

OP do you have up fitter switches?

 

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I do have the upfitter switches. Pick off one from the bundle and run it back to the bed?

Thanks again.

 

Here's what I posted on the Ford Raptor Forum...

I am looking at running wires from the Battery and Upfitter AUX location to the rear bumper (for lights I installed under the bumper) in the engine compartment inside Liquid Tight flexible conduit (1/2") secured to/above the frame rails to keep them up out of the way.

If I do this I'll likely branch a line off and run it up inside the Bed as I want to install a power panel (a plastic box with outlets, etc. installed in the cover) with a Blue Sea Systems power distribution block along with a couple of 12v outlets, a dual USB charger outlet, a 12v digital volt meter, and a switch or two.

Liquid Tight flexible conduit example:


Conduit connectors - screws into Liquid Tight and the threaded end would be secured to a plastic box:


Junction Box - I'll use the cover for the 12v and USB outlets and the switches:
Digital Volt meter:








Lots of panel mount products here: https://powerwerx.com/panel-mounts


Inside will be the wiring and the Blue Sea Systems panel:

https://www.graybar.com/store/en/gb/...c-junction-box

I'll likely use this type of Blue Sea Systems Fuse Block (probably this 6 circuit unit) which I'll put inside the plastic box:


I'll have to run a hot and ground to it as it has a negative bus.

The cover of the box will kind of look like this (but I won't use Powerwerx's black panel - I'll just drill the holes in the plastic box's cover:


I've done this before on my Jeep and really liked it a lot.

Powerwerx has numerous electrical products (as shown above) and they also sell the Blue Sea Systems line of products - a great product line. And they're local here in SoCal: https://powerwerx.com/dc-power-products

I'm also looking at if I need a switch panel to control anything in the bed remotely. I don't think so but I can either make my own or buy one. I do like the bluetooth enabled switch panels as you can control your accessories with your smart phone.

 

Use this. Ruff Tough Kennel Fan Round 7 Pin Power Cord with 4 Pin Trailer Connector. $24.99.

 

This is what I would do as well. That's what the Upfitter switches are for.

 

Thanks for this post. I was wondering about how to protect the wires running back to the bed. This sounds like a right and proper solution.

Where do you run the wires into the bed?

 

Wondering if the trailer connector is hot or does it require a connection to the trailer wiring to go hot?

 

I just did this very thing in my rig!

 

This is what I use when I need 12V in the truck bed.
Mike

 

Outstanding job Large !!!