Lighting and Electrical Accessories

[Gerpoli]

Has anyone installed any lighting or other electrical accessories to a new truck yet? I need to install some amber led's for work and want to wire them to a stock switch. There are empty slots on the upper and lower rows of switches and I am thinking I can buy a hazard switch from the dealer and put it in an empty slot. Has anyone done something similar yet? Has anyone had the dash apart yet? I have been unable to find a FSM so far and don't want to just start pulling at things in the new truck. Thanks in advance for any help.

-Mike

 

[SOLER]

bump...

So, this post is a little old, but now that these trucks have been out for a while, has anyone done anything with these switches? Can the empty ones be replaced with a switch, or do you have to replace the whole row like I've seen for the C&C models? That is my first option... to put a switch in an empty spot... that would certainly be the cleanest install.



Second option... for those of you who have had the dash apart, is there room behind one of the empty switches to install a toggle switch? I would just drill a mounting hole in an empty spot, but there needs to be room behind it. And BTW, I'm installing three sets of lights, bright reverse lights, cargo lights on the headache rack, and bright lights on the front. So I'm going to put three switches all together.



Thanks



SOLER

 

[n7gxz]

I wanted to use the empty switch slots on my truck to do this by it can not be done. ALL of the switch and knobs in the new trucks are nothing more then a computer keyboard key that feed into the CANBus network. The upper and lower switch banks are a PC board and to add a swithc would require soldering a switch and supporting electrical components to the PC board and then also adding components to the TIPM (fuse box). When you activate a switch anywere in the truck it just sends a signal to the TIPM which then actually activates the item you're wanting.



Kevin

 

[mwilson]

You will have to build a free standing system using a Painless Wiring Block or something similar.

Had to do the same thing on the '06.



We have to wire the Big trucks the same way if they were not ordered with any spare switches from the factory. Get battery power and a keyed relay trip source from the truck and custom build it from there.



Mike.

 

[Brad7611]

I ordered and installed the 7 block fusebox from Painless, think I paid about $55 with shipping. Hardwire it into a battery and use a key only power wire to active the relay to turn everything on. As far as mister chrysler is concerned the only thing added is a little wire to activate they relay which doesn't draw enough to upset the TIPM. I have an air compressor and aftermarket lights ran through this box. I also have another 5 spots should I desire to hook up anything else. Hope this helps and fo what its worth very easy and cheap method to avoid the CANbus system.

 

[SOLER]

So here's where I'm at...



I have a headache rack with tail/stop/turn and reverse lights, all LED. Plus, I have utility lights on there. With the CANbus TIPM crap on there, am I going to run into problems wiring the LED lights to the truck circuits? My thought is that the LEDs won't draw enough to upset the TIPM, and the other ones will be ran to a relay, so not too much on the truck's circuits. This is how I plan to wire it:



1. LED tail/stop/turn lights, run on the truck's circuit.

2. LED reverse lights on the truck's circuit.

3. The utility lights will have two circuits. One on/off directly off the battery with a relay to save the cheap switch I'm going to use. They will also be wired to come on when in Rev. I plan to run the truck's reverse wire thru a relay, then to the lights. Will any of this trip the TIPM?



Anyone on here install a headache rack on these new trucks? Any problems with your setup?



Thanks



SOLER

 

[mwilson]

Here is my unsolicited opinion.....

I would go find a Reese fifth wheel wiring adaptor that plugs in behind the 7-way trailer plug socket. Make my connections to the headboard mounted lights that way. The trailer harness will then carry the lights.

http://www.reese-hitches.com/products/T_One_Connector_Wiring_Light_Kit,118381

That way the trucks harness is not molested and if you ever remove the headboard everything goes back to stock simply by removing the Reese adaptor.

Just a thought... .

Mike.

 

[Jwskj]

I'm right in the middle of adding a bunch of switches, relays, and fuses right now. The whole center console and vertical panel on the center stack is opened-up like it is in surgery.



I was amazed at how much room there is in there to mount all the stuff that you might need to. I'm adding a total of 10 switches, and 7 indicator lights for different functions, and there about 2 dozen relays to handle the necessary switching so that the factory wiring isn't affected. All of the wiring is handled on a bunch of industrial terminal blocks mounted on a DIN rail that I've mounted below the nav/radio.



If you're looking to add nice looking switches or LED indicators, try looking at Oznium http://www.oznium.com/switches



They have a nice selection, and the switches and indicators mount very nicely in the vertical and horizontal dash panels of the Gen 4 trucks.



I would be happy to share any of my knowledge if there is any interest.

 

[SOLER]

Jwskj, just add pics when you're done!!!



Just a heads up... Delcity.net has most of the same switches for half the price. I just ordered a bunch of wire and switches from them. Although, Oznium has a larger selection, but Delcity had all the ones I needed. But after looking at their website, I'm wishing I would have ordered this push-button. Oh well.



http://www.oznium.com/led-power-switch



SOLER