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I'm in the process of purchasing a 20" LED Dual Light bar with DRL from Rough Country. The mount has arrived, the light bar is in transit.
Anyway, as I understand it the light bar comes with a 3 way switch to control the DRL and the Light bar itself and I was wondering if anyone had experience splitting the light bar to run off the upfitter switch, and have the DRL portion run when the vehicle is on?
I've googled and watched several You Tube videos but none quite get to what I'm looking for. They are either here's how to wire to start with the ignition, or here is how to wire to your upfitter switches. Nothing that really talks about splitting it out.
I figure worst case scenario I wire it all to the upfitter switch and leave the 3 way switch set for the full light bar and I skip using the DRL. Intermediate option is to run the 3 way switch into the cab and use it instead of the upfitter switches. Ideal is what I describe above if it is possible.
It would help if you listed your truck year and model.
Viewing your public profile, I see you have a 2014. You need to be very careful attaching anything to the lights on late model trucks. The lights are FET (field effect transistor) controlled) to vary the light output. If you attached to the circuit, you could possible blow the BCM. The BCM is not repairable and would need to be replaced and reprogrammed.Principles of Operation
The Body Control Module (BCM) controls the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) by using various inputs to determine whether or not the DRL should be illuminated. These inputs include:
Parking brake applied or released (manual transmission)
When the DRL is active, the BCM provides a pulse-width modulated voltage to the low beam headlamps. This illuminates the headlamps at a reduced intensity.
The BCM can be configured to turn the DRL on for this vehicle.
Thanks for the detailed response about the BCM, much appreciated. Yes, it is a 2014 F250 Diesel 4x4, 6.7 L.
I don't need the DRL on the light bar to be controlled with the DRL of the truck. Especially after your warning about the BCM.
I'm more interested in how I'd split it out for the DRL portion of the light bar to turn on/off when the truck does and wire the lights I'd use at night on the light bar to the upfitter switches.
According to the wiring instructions it's supposed to be wired off 2 relays with the supplied harness through the 3 way switch. Most likely there's 1 relay per light circuit. Cut the DRL wire at the switch and wire it through its own relay controlled by any key on hot 12V source, everything else should wire up the same but the supplied switch will only control the main light now.
Make sure aftermarket light laws aren't heavily enforced where you are, that bar isn't DOT approved. Around here, you won't get pulled over for having it, but if you get pulled over for something else, it could get tacked on as illegal equipment.
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Light Bar w/DRL question
