Reverse Lighting
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Reverse Lighting
I have been thinking about getting a set of fog lights to mount under my bumper so when i put my truck in to reverse i could see a little better. I have 15% window tint, and i live in the woods so night time can make backing up a little difficult. I would like to hook them up so when i engage my truck into reverse they automaticly light up. I'm not really sure how to do this. Any tips or info. would be appreciated. My truck is an 06 Ranger automatic if it matters. Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
I'd suggest putting a relay back there (many fog light kits come with them), stealing power from the stock reverse wires to turn the relay on, then running a 12V wire to the relay to power the lights. So the relay will turn the lights on when the reverse lights are powered, but without draining a lot of current from the reverse circuit. Does that make sense?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 0
From: Slatington PA
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
I'd suggest putting a relay back there (many fog light kits come with them), stealing power from the stock reverse wires to turn the relay on, then running a 12V wire to the relay to power the lights. So the relay will turn the lights on when the reverse lights are powered, but without draining a lot of current from the reverse circuit. Does that make sense?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 3
From: Magnolia, TX
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
I'd suggest putting a relay back there (many fog light kits come with them), stealing power from the stock reverse wires to turn the relay on, then running a 12V wire to the relay to power the lights. So the relay will turn the lights on when the reverse lights are powered, but without draining a lot of current from the reverse circuit. Does that make sense?
+1
I do not recommend using the wiring for the existing backup lights to drive the new lights. Those wire gauges were not designed to drive current for additional lights, unless they are itty-bitty little things with just a few hundred milli-amps of current draw.
As RangerPilot states above, use the existing wires to control the relay but run a new wire (fused) from the battery to actually drive the lights.
Oh, I wanna do this to mine too. I have really dardk tint in the rear and I can't see a darn thing out the back wehn going in reverse.
Let us know what lights you end up using.
CMOS
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 0
i've seen these forever. they seem like an easy solution, just not sure how quality they are
http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts..../categoryid/26
http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts..../categoryid/26
