AUX switchs

[Wiredawg]

Ron,
How do you have your Reserved aux cameras hooked up? Do you have them tied into the stock screen or do you have a separate screen?

Thanks,
Matt

I'm recovering from surgery, so reserved means I'm going use them for these requirements.

From a schematic perspective, #4 will control voltage for a bigger relay for my air compressor. # 5 is going to power an aftermarket cargo camera and a frontal camera I'm mounting on my grill guard feeding to my Edge CST2 Monitor through an RCA A-B switch.

I have to check, but I think aux switches are fused at 20 amps.

I have to go back a document my schematics to keep the trucks configuration current and to verify my plan.

Cheers, Ron

 

[rashwor]

Good info. I needed this. My 2014 Hemi has these switches, but not the switch kit wiring that should have come with the truck. I want to use the switches for some lighting, so I will inquire about the missing parts of the kit to see what I can come up with.

 

[AH64ID]

Bubble bursting time! Lol my 2018 tradesman came with the bed lighting wiring. Was plug and play other than the sales code change to activate them. So is he talking about upfitter connections or the bed lighting connections or both? Or maybe neither. But there could be a chance he is seeing bed lighting connectors. I'm just saying it could be bed lighting is all.


Earl

Interesting.

What options do you have? I wonder if that's what delineates it? Maybe a build date?

Co-worker has a '18 Big Horn that doesn't have the wiring for it, another co-worker has a '17 Laramie with the wires, and another has a '16 SLT and it doesn't have them.

As far as the wires that the OP is talking about, they likely aren't the LED bed light wires. The LED bed light wires terminate with a connector, not dipped in plastic like he mentioned. The up-fitter wires terminate dipped in plastic.

 

[EZeis]

Interesting.

What options do you have? I wonder if that's what delineates it? Maybe a build date?

Co-worker has a '18 Big Horn that doesn't have the wiring for it, another co-worker has a '17 Laramie with the wires, and another has a '16 SLT and it doesn't have them.

As far as the wires that the OP is talking about, they likely aren't the LED bed light wires. The LED bed light wires terminate with a connector, not dipped in plastic like he mentioned. The up-fitter wires terminate dipped in plastic.

My options are
August of 2018 3500 SRW crew cab long bed tradesman 4wd
RV match walnut brown
Chrome appearance group
Auxiliary switches
Upfitter module
Trailer brake
5th wheel goose towing prep group
Popular equipment group
Cold weather group
HD snow plow prep group
Front and rear rubber floor mats
Aisin trans
Uconnect 3 with 5" touch screen radio
Auto level rear air suspension
Parksense rear park-assist

Add-ons
Mopar bed lights with switch
Mopar cab marker lights
Mopar bed step
Line-x premium spray in
Mopar SS wheel to wheel steps
Mopar HD rubber mud flaps
Geno's locking fuel and DEF caps
EZ Down tailgate assist
Centramatics
EGR smoke bug deflector (for rocks)
B&W OEM puck 5th wheel hitch

Earl

 

[AH64ID]

I wonder if it’s the rear park assist. The ones at work without the bed light wiring don’t have that option.

It’s standard on Laramie’s and it makes sense they share a harness.

 

[gsbrockman]

I have to check, but I think aux switches are fused at 20 amps.

Different switches are fused as labeled here, but the good thing is, the fuses can be be rearranged as needed without any issues.

 

[EZeis]

I wonder if it’s the rear park assist. The ones at work without the bed light wiring don’t have that option.

It’s standard on Laramie’s and it makes sense they share a harness.

Not sure. I know they make two kits. One without switch which includes the harness to the dash and one with switch but no harness if I recall correctly. My guess is trucks that have the switch option are prewired? Your 18 have the switch cavity in the bed? Or it could be the rear parksense.


Earl

 

[AH64ID]

Not sure. I know they make two kits. One without switch which includes the harness to the dash and one with switch but no harness. My guess is trucks that have the switch option are prewired? Your 18 have the switch cavity in the bed? Or it could be the rear parksense.


Earl

Every 18 I have seen has the switch cavity, with or without the wiring harness.

I didn’t realize there were 2 kits. I bought the LED lights and switch separate, and plan to use the extra wiring harness for LED lights in the bumper.

 

[Wiredawg]

Different switches are fused as labeled here, but the good thing is, the fuses can be be rearranged as needed without any issues.
View attachment 114158

Gary,
Thanks Brother for the info. My 2017 Ram is the FIRST truck I didn't install Painless Wiring panel in. THIS truck really does ROCK. And so does being a member of TDR.

Cheers, Ron

 

[EZeis]

Every 18 I have seen has the switch cavity, with or without the wiring harness.

I didn’t realize there were 2 kits. I bought the LED lights and switch separate, and plan to use the extra wiring harness for LED lights in the bumper.

Maybe the rear parksense is the key. Look at lower trim models with parksense option.

Yep, I screwed up and ordered the kit without the switch. I didn't research it enough. So I had to buy the switch separate. After I had the kit I found the kit with the switch. Dealer activated the sales code and it worked even without the bed switch. I got the switch later and installed it and it worked without any additional coding.


Earl

 

[AH64ID]

So I found this video today. If the truck has the AUX switch option there are 3 wires at the back. Rear Lights, Battery +, and Ignition. Those sounds like the 3 the OP was seeing.

I understood there to be more wires back there on pickups, but the video didn't discuss them. Either way, those are pretty cool to have.



Watched another video and the wires under the PDC are for the snowplow option, and on every 15+ truck (maybe 13, but the video made it sound like they were added in 15).


EDIT: Just realized TFucili posted it yesterday. I missed the video somehow on my phone.

 

[Chopperno1]

So I found this video today. If the truck has the AUX switch option there are 3 wires at the back. Rear Lights, Battery +, and Ignition. Those sounds like the 3 the OP was seeing.

I understood there to be more wires back there on pickups, but the video didn't discuss them. Either way, those are pretty cool to have.



Watched another video and the wires under the PDC are for the snowplow option, and on every 15+ truck (maybe 13, but the video made it sound like they were added in 15).


EDIT: Just realized TFucili posted it yesterday. I missed the video somehow on my phone.

So as far as the 3 wires are concerned mentioned in the video Rear light, Battery+, and Ignition are they controlled by the aux swithches? Or does rear light have power when in reverse, Battery + always hot, and ignition only hot when ignition is on??? What if anything are people using them for?

 

[TFucili]

They are part of the upfitter wiring, and are enabled by the jumper in the kit, but are not switched by the Aux Switches. I power a signal repeater for my aftermarket trailer TPMS from the key +.

 

[gtwitch]

Those are the wires that I was in question about, so now I will be back there with my VOM checking things out!! Thanks to all who commented here. I do have the in box LED lights which come on with the rear cab light and I really like this feature as I have put the Blackdiamond toneau cover on my truck.
gtwitch in wyoming

 

[JohnM45]

So those 3 wires discussed in that video (Rear Backup Light, Battery + and Ignition) are NOT hooked up to the Aux Switches inside. If someone wanted to hook up additional backup lights mounted on their bumper, they could tap onto that Rear Backup Light wire and the new lights would come on in Reverse?

Am I correct in saying that the ONLY way to hook anything into the the Auxiliary Switches would be to run your positive lead all the way to the front, under-the-hood Aux Switch Block plug? There is no wire connection point on the back of the truck that is associated with the in-cab Auxiliary Switches?

 

[Wiredawg]

So those 3 wires discussed in that video (Rear Backup Light, Battery + and Ignition) are NOT hooked up to the Aux Switches inside. If someone wanted to hook up additional backup lights mounted on their bumper, they could tap onto that Rear Backup Light wire and the new lights would come on in Reverse?

Am I correct in saying that the ONLY way to hook anything into the the Auxiliary Switches would be to run your positive lead all the way to the front, under-the-hood Aux Switch Block plug? There is no wire connection point on the back of the truck that is associated with the in-cab Auxiliary Switches?

Yep, pretty much so you have to run wires to the engine bay. It's pretty cool still.

My C&C CM bed has really bright backup LEDs in the headache rack and the back of the bed. I tapped them where I can turn them on anytime the truck is running and they reset off when I shut down and restart. Perfect for hitching in dark.

Cheers, Ron

 

[AH64ID]

The video didn’t say backup lights, it said rear lights. I took that to be tail light for powering a flatbed.... but that’s an assumption.


I have the harness leftover from my LED bedlights. I plan to run that from my aux switch distro connection to flush mounted LED lights in my bumper.

I don’t want aux backup lights tied to the reverse lights. There are plenty of reports of people being unhappy with that, and you can’t turn them on in P for added light on a trailer/work area.

 

[Wiredawg]

The video didn’t say backup lights, it said rear lights. I took that to be tail light for powering a flatbed.... but that’s an assumption.


I have the harness leftover from my LED bedlights. I plan to run that from my aux switch distro connection to flush mounted LED lights in my bumper.

I don’t want aux backup lights tied to the reverse lights. There are plenty of reports of people being unhappy with that, and you can’t turn them on in P for added light on a trailer/work area.

I don't have aux backup lights either. I ran switched battery to the EXISTING backup light in the bed. They just HAPPEN to work very well.

I did mount some LED auxiliary lights approx 45° angle on bed step right behind the rear wheels and plan to mount two more either side on the rear of the truck side steps approx 60°. These are nice for backing RV into camping slot at night. Now those ARE bright.

For you folks running wires to the back of the truck, I buy the small loom by 100' role that works nice to protect wiring.

LOTS of cool things to do with these auxiliary switches. On my former 09 Ram 4500, I found auxiliary switch console at an ambulance supply on line. Worked pretty good and were heavy duty switches.

Cheers, Ron

 

[JohnM45]

Thanks for the clarification on "rear" vs. "backup" lights as well as the confirmation regarding the Aux. Switches. It is definitely very cool to have the Aux Switch module. I plan to do some bumper mounts and tie them to an Aux Switch. I've seen some YouTube's on adding additional lights for when you are in Reverse, however, I would much rather tie them to a switch. I think you guys are right - having the option to use them in a variety of situations other than just being in Reverse gear would be huge.

 

[AH64ID]

I'm quite pleased I found a used '18 with AUX switches, and nearly every option I wanted (of the 3 it didn't have I've added 2, and the 3rd, bed liner, goes in next month).

I plan to use mine for

1) Rear LED Lights..latching
2) Air Compressor
3) Winch Solenoid
4) Future Growth
5) Rear LED lights...momentary, for quick flashes to say thank you, or GOMA!

I'm going to wait and see how the fogs with hi's is before I do a front LED setup.