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Backup light wiring question

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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 07:38 PM
  #1  
VTX1800rider's Avatar
VTX1800rider
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From: Dracut ma
Backup light wiring question

I know this has been asked many times and I've read many posts including this argument. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...ire-gauge.html
I just want to put on a set of 55 watt lights on my '06 by way of the trailer backup wire. Can I just wire it in with out any relay, fuse?
What gauge wire?
Any other worries with this?
I'm not sure if I like the white nights.
I'm not ashamed to say wiring/electrical on this truck is the not my strong suit although I did the rear I.D. lights without screwing anything up
 
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 07:40 PM
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rwilimo
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From: NJ
Should be fine, I have installed many light set's this way and never had a problem.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 07:52 PM
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From: Farms of Duplin County
I tapped mine into the reverse lights as well it won't hurt anything. There are better options but if you just need some better light when in reverse it will do the trick.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 08:03 PM
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VTX1800rider
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From: Dracut ma
Thanks for the quick replies. I'm just looking for simple backups. Another question or two.
When you wire them, do you splice the two powers together and then into the feed or wire the two power separately on the feed? i was wondering about the lights be equal in the amount of lighting.
If and when I find a backup camera I like, will the draw of the lights and the camera be too much on the backup circuit?
 
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 08:09 PM
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rwilimo
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From: NJ
You can wire it either way, it is the same thing in the end, they just get power from that wire. A backup camera takes almost nothing power wise, so no problem there. I always wire camera's to ignition, it will be more responsive this way and also you can view the camera when not in reverse. The screen should have a backup input wire.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 08:11 PM
  #6  
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Rugby3
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From: Farms of Duplin County
Originally Posted by VTX1800rider
Thanks for the quick replies. I'm just looking for simple backups. Another question or two.
When you wire them, do you splice the two powers together and then into the feed or wire the two power separately on the feed? i was wondering about the lights be equal in the amount of lighting.
If and when I find a backup camera I like, will the draw of the lights and the camera be too much on the backup circuit?

Yes the power wire from both lights will feed to the same wire. If you are planning on adding a camera I would recommend you just run a new power wire to the back properly fused and run both your extra back up lights and the camera when you get it. You can also wire it up with several options as shown in many of the threads about adding lights.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2010 | 09:20 PM
  #7  
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I see the picture in your sig has a trailer on the back of it. I'd suggest you wire in your auxiliary back up lights to a separate switch. I've got some real nice back up lights that are almost brighter than my headlights. I've got them on a switch. They work great in the dark unless I have a trailer behind me. Then the light bounces off the front of the trailer and it's even harder to see the back end of the trailer.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2010 | 08:29 PM
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From: Dracut ma
Put the lights on today. Wasn't quite sure where but started here on the bumper in front of the hitch. They are navigator 55wts from Advance Auto for a whole $15. I don't have upfitters yet so just wired into the trailer b/u's for now. It was one of those things where I don't really need them but had $20 to blow and was in the parts store.

 
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