Up Grade Fog and Backup Lights on Existing Wireing

[WM-300]

I am going to up grade the Dodge Fogs to Hella 500 Fogs and the Back up Lights to 12V seal beams built in the rear bumper.



Can the existing wireing for the fog lights support Hella 500 Fogs ? Can the existing wireing for the back up lights support 2 (2) 12volt sealed beams (4 inch) ? Should I pull the stock backup light bulbs to reduce some load on the wireing ?



Truck in question is a 2003 Ram 2500 4x4



Thanks

WM-300

 

[nickleinonen]

the stock wiring will not handle that load. use the stock wiring to activate a relay which has a fused lead from the battery to the upgraded lights...

 

[BSkinner]

What is the best way to tap into the stock wiring for the back up light installation? Cut into the wire at the trailer plug and add a wire with either butt connectors or solder and shrink wrap? Or, use "T" taps (which I think would be least desirable. )



Bob

 

[Prairie Dog]

I don't know what the wattage of your bulbs are but use the back-up lamp wire that goes to your trailer connector. I've had two 55 watt lights hooked up for more than a year now.

I would use the "tee's", they don't damage the wire and if you put a little silicone in them they are water tight.

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by Prairie Dog



I would use the "tee's", they don't damage the wire and if you put a little silicone in them they are water tight.

I was a little nervous about using the T-taps. I've worked on a couple of my friends flat beds doing wiring trouble shooting & re-wiring. The places where T-taps were used had corroded connections. (These connectors were superior to one I found. Two wires--twisted together and wrapped with masking tape & shoved into a junction box where it nicely shorted out against the box. I would have loved to talked to the guy who did that wiring job. )



Coating the connectors before closing should solve the corrosion problem. But, if work is ever needed in that area, I would imagine the connector would have to be cut out of the line as the connector would be impossible to get off.



Bob