Okay im a adding a cheap set of LED back up lights and im going to go the path of wiring them into the 7 way towing harness instead of running a relay and a power wire from the battery.

Going the 7 way for a couple reasons 1) Im dont feel like running a power wire from front to back and wire looming the whole thing 2) the inline fuse for these lights is only 5 amps so they are drawing very little power.

Now for the assistance, i have a general idea of how to accomplish this but after doing a search on the internet of various forums and reading all the post of how people did things kinda has me a bit confused.

So, is it just as simple as splicing the LED power wire with the center (#7) wire coming out of the plug and then the ground wire to the chassis, and maybe a relay into power box under the hood (if ford didn't add one with my truck, haven't looked yet) or is there additional step, like adding a additional wire to a constant 12v source?
Asking the last part mainly cause of the wiring directions on the white night system (not using this system just a reference). sees like they have a built in relay, which would explain that, but idk.
http://www.whitenight.com/wiringsteps.htm

so any info would be valued

then again. might just run a power wire from the battery to a relay after all, wouldn't have to touch a tow plug that is currently working. lol

edit: not going to run a switch either, just have them turn on automatically when the truck is in reverse is all im wanting.

 

I did it similar way, but I added a toggle at the rear of the truck too so I could turn the lights on when not in reverse for hooking up trailers. Used a toggle with 3 positions but also used a relay (which I recomend) I didnt run any wires from the front, just used the power off the trailer harness.

All you need is a standard 30a bosch style relay and trigger the relay with the reverse wire.

pin 30 gets 12V source from trailer harness
pin 87 will go to your lights (posative)
pin 85 gets the voltage from your reverse lights (this is what triggers the relay)
pin 86 gets ground
And of course your lights will need to be grounded too.

 

LED's are polarity sensitive and that's the only critical bit to the install. You can parallel the LEDs into the backup lamps or do as you describe and wire them into the plug. IT will be 12v to the backup wire and any ground.

You don't need to run a relay, but it's not a bad idea. The relay can use the power from the AUX wire to run the new lamps, and you can add a switch to activate the lamps independent of the backup lights.

 

thanks!!!!!!
that confirmed how i was going to originally set this up just saw all types of way people were doing and just got a bit mixed up. Better ask now before i go to work and break something. lol

yeah these lights are just cheap ones from wally world, but it was first time i saw 12 LED driving lights (also had 4 led oval lights and 6 led rectangle too) so thought i would give them a try for back up lights for only 21 bucks. so dont know how good they will be or how long they will last but i'll be give them a try.

going the way 06silvercrew explained it (well minus the switch for now, i'll end up adding one later most likely). like using relays just a extra safty step worth the 5 bucks.

 

Then real simply.

if your using a bosch style relay,
85 to ground
86 to backup lights

30 to new lamps
87 to power source (AUX or new wire from battery)

Ground the lamps and you're good. Then later on, you can use a 12v source to either trip the relay or supply power to 87a to run the lights on demand.

 

Thanks ReAX

Already have the supplies so I'll start this tomorrow and have some pics up by tomorrow night, hopefully..

 

I,m installing some backup lights to mine too. I,m still unsure where I want to mount them, at the bottom ends of the bumper where there's a hole or move them in close and drill, i'll check it out more tomorrow. Got mine from Wally's too but mine are halogen. Subscribing to this thread, good luck on the install. A big hello to yaa ReAX, been awhile...

 

If you install them with a switch in the cab you can use them when hooking up a trailer or something .

 

yeah that is the way i had it in my previous truck just dont feel like setting a area in the truck for another switch right now, i eventually will most likely, plus that'll give me another reason to work on the truck at a later date.

as for hooking up trailers, got a spot light and a couple maglites for that job. lol

 

If they're just LED's, no need for a relay, LED's dont draw hardly any current. If you're running Halogen backup lights, they draw ALOT more current than LED's and will require a relay. For 12v constant to the relay, you can tap into the trailer charge wire in the trailer harness, this will be switched with the ignition and has a 20amp fuse which is plenty for a couple halogens. Again, for the OP, for a couple LED's, I'd just tap the backup light wire and ground to the frame. That circuit is intended to power incandescent backup lights on a trailer, so it's plenty sufficient to power LED's without a relay.

 

Okay got the job done this afternoon about the time i put the wires in wire loom a thunderstorm popped up so i haven't placed the lights fully level just yet. I'll get a shot of the light output either tonight if i get time or tomorrow night for sure.


i like them!!! dont think there will be alot of light output but anything over stock is all that matters, plus led's are just cool











edit: have them placed on the hitch with a 2" piece of double sided tape and then two zip ties per light (they're very light weight)

thanks wizardsr for the advice also!

 

Nice Job, thanks for posting the pictures.

 

As long as they are cool, that's all that matters.