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Adding reverse light toggle switch 2015 f250 any issues?
Hi all.
I have added a reverse light toggle switch and an extra light on the back of 3 vehicles in my life. It has worked well. 06’ tundra, 2000 excursion, 06 Jeep Liberty.
I did not use any diodes or relays. Just put 12v to the reverse light wire in taillight housing and it worked. Very nice for hooking up trailers in the dark or loading or boat launch.
It seems to illuminate the R in the drive selection as I recall and activated the reverse camera on both the tundra and excursion. Ex has reverse video built into the radio unit and the screen is glitchy so it may get some ground loop issue somewhere but it works great. I added a red indicator in the dash so I know if the rear lights are on.
I’d like to add the same feature to my new to me 2015 f250 but I am concerned about the extra electronics in the dash and the super fancy computer stuff related to the 6r140. Is there anyone who has done this or experimented with using the OE backup lights as part of the rear illumination upgrade?
Does anyone know if there is a reverse light to wire tap into under the dash instead of running all the way to rear ? Where is it?
If your 1015 is like my 2008 it has a relay to power the backup lights in the battery junction box. That will prevent feedback into any electronics. The toggle switch you want to add will power up the backup lights, without feedback, and will power any thing else on that circuit. Other things on that circuit could be things like a parking assist module.
The late model vehicles use FET controls (transistors) to power the lights. Without using a diode to prevent feed back, I would be leery of flipping a toggle switch to power up the reverse lamps. See Schematic.
Thanks for the schematic. I see that something else is powered when it’s in reverse. The diode should be easy enough.
Is there any reference to the color wire and where I can pick it up in the battery fuse area??
Thanks a lot!!
Is there a reason you don’t want to just add some aux. work lights, totally independent of the reverse lights? That is the route I would go with these new vehicles with all their electronics, etc. on them.
Instead of a diode you could use a SPDT on-on switch for your toggle switch. Cut the BU-WH wire anywhere before it splits to go to the reverse lights. Connect the end of the wire that goes to the lights to the common (center terminal) of the switch. Connect the other cut end to either of the other terminals on the switch. Connect your power source to the remaining terminal. In one position of the switch you will have normal operation of the reverse lights. In the other position they will light from the added power source without feeding back into the FET.
Is there a reason you don’t want to just add some aux. work lights, totally independent of the reverse lights? That is the route I would go with these new vehicles with all their electronics, etc. on them.
i am going to add at least one led light up high on my contractor cap. I have a 36” tall cap so it’s quite high up. It’s really a nice convenience to have the light on every time backing up or hooking up or loading.
Its been extremely convenient on my previous vehicles to just use the factory reverse lights and add one additional led flood light. No relay required. Simple switch and splice.
And not having to turn on a separate switch every time I back up is worth the extra effort for me. I live in New York so it seems half my year is dark in the morning and dark at night and I have many trailers and there are always many vehicles on job sites.
Instead of a diode you could use a SPDT on-on switch for your toggle switch. Cut the BU-WH wire anywhere before it splits to go to the reverse lights. Connect the end of the wire that goes to the lights to the common (center terminal) of the switch. Connect the other cut end to either of the other terminals on the switch. Connect your power source to the remaining terminal. In one position of the switch you will have normal operation of the reverse lights. In the other position they will light from the added power source without feeding back into the FET.
thanks for the idea. I did not know that was a use for a spdt switch.
