Okay, here's the deal. I want to mount two of those round rubber tractor lights under my bumper for aux. back up lights.

I want them to always go on with my reverse lights, but I would also like to have a switch in the cab to turn them on manually if I wanted to use them as work lights, etc.

I think I have an idea for the basic wiring, but I would like some input and details in this matter.

I believe I could wire the lights straight into my reverse lights and that would solve that. Now to add a switch, I would have to tap into the wire that comes from the light itself and run that wire up to the battery or another constant power source (through the switch of course).

I'm not sure what kind of toggle switch or fuses I should be using, and if this is even the right way to do this. I'd hate to burn up a new truck for something stupid like this.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

You didn't say how big the lights are you are adding, but if they are big enough to do any good, they will probably take the back-up light circuit to the limit. The safest way, (and I saw this on Shadetree mechanic tv show also), is to add a relay to power the lights. You would run two wires up front, a heavy one to power the lights, and one for your manual switch. Then the relay would do the power switching.

 

Here's the general idea for high power back-up lamps.
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Franklin....Your awesome man! I guess I know who to refer my electrical questions too. Did you make that schematic too? Your awesome man. Thanks, you cleared up a lot for me.

You broke through my thick headed skull that thinks I should continue to tap everything in half #####. I see the way you refered is the right way that it should be done.

I hope you don't mind, but I'm wanting to understand this subject more than I do, so I'll ask a few more questions.

1. Is it okay to not go through the starter solonoid because I believe if I do, I won't be able to click them on for a few minutes without starting the truck up?

2. The light is just a normal rubber flood light (2 of them). I've had good luck with them in the past, they are cheap, but VERY durable. All I have for specs is that they are 3,000 candlepower each. They are part # DT-25 at www.awdirect.com if you want to take a look.

Okay, with knowing the size of the lights what gauge wire would you reccomend? Switch size?

And I am not at all familiar with relay's so if you can reccomend a size for that too it would be great.

I hope I'm not bothering you, but I'm eager to learn more about this.

I can splice, solder, and crimp, but I don't know about what exactly to use as far as relay's, wire, etc. The work is no problem as long as I have a ingredients list and a little direction!

Thanks Again!

 

I would think 12 or 14 gauge wire would be adequate.
The normal relay used for foglights would work too.


Dennis

78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

If you study it a little, you'll notice the connection point on the starter solenoid is the same as the battery connection. It will be hooked to the large stud where the battery cable hooks up. So you will have power at all times. If you look at your truck, you will notice other small wires coming from this point. This is where the factory taps the battery power for the whole wiring system.

I looked on the website you mentioned, and I think I figured out they are 35 watt lamps. This would mean they would draw together about 6 amps, which isn't too bad. What mil1ion said about wire guage would be fine. You should be able to find a relay anywhere. I have even seen them at Walmart and other stores. They are used for fog lamps and also for aux lighting people put on roll bars an such. They are usually rated at 30 amps. Since the manual switch will be triggering the relay only, it can be any size that is convenient because it will have almost no load on it.

 

Excellent....I got it now! Thanks a lot for all your help, your a great resource to this site!