Wiring auxillary back up lights

[CCiatteo]

I know this has been covered in the past, but I can't find a diagram on how to wire the lights and tapping into the factory reverse lights (white wire/green trace?) as a trigger and also having a full manual mode (truck off/key off) for hooking up a trailer, loading snowblower at night etc. On my 97 I did it the simple way, full manual mode with relay and a switch, but I can't tell you how many times i drove to work and made it half way there without realizing I had left them on.

Some diagrams are showing diodes (what rating on the diode?) to prevent back flow of power when in manual mode, others seem to be using a more complicated switch (dpdt?) and thus more wiring. Any help is appreciated. I'm fine with building the wiring harness etc., I just need a good diagram that I know won't hurt the truck's wiring. Ideally I'd like to rely on as little of the factory wiring and fused capacity as possible.

Thanks

 

[HHhuntitall]

Personally, I'd make it full manual, anyway. Just my preference for working at night. If you wire them through the TIPM, it will turn them off after a period of time.... usually just about the time you're handicapped and can't do anything about it, and really need them....

Another way would be to run the relay, a 4 or 5 pin, and use the manual output from your manual switch tap into the output of the heavy load side, directly feeding the lights. Then it will not back feed into the ECM when the circuit isn't hot. Tap the factory reverse switch feed to the relay trip circuit, and it still activates the relay, the in-cab switch just bypasses the relay when on.

 

[mwilson]

Chris, I'll make you a diagram tonight. I can do it, just takes me a bit.

Do you want them to work when in reverse or overridden only or do you want the ability to shut them off completely (Stealth Mode) as well??

Do you want a back lit switch? Do you want a back lit switch with an additional illuminated indicator light???

Do you want a disco ball to drop down from the headliner and spin for a reminder??? That might be a little harder.....

I'm going to do the same thing to the '06 when I get it out of storage so I have some plans....

 

[mwilson]

Here's one way to do it which isolates the TIPM completely when the over ride is active...

 

[CCiatteo]

Chris, I'll make you a diagram tonight. I can do it, just takes me a bit.

Do you want them to work when in reverse or overridden only or do you want the ability to shut them off completely (Stealth Mode) as well??

Do you want a back lit switch? Do you want a back lit switch with an additional illuminated indicator light???

Do you want a disco ball to drop down from the headliner and spin for a reminder??? That might be a little harder.....

I'm going to do the same thing to the '06 when I get it out of storage so I have some plans....

I would like to wire it like this:

ON (factory lights and auxilary lights come on, triggered by truck being shifted into reverse, keyed 12V), in this position there would no need for an indicator light/lighted switch, but if the switch had one that's fine too

OFF (factory lights only, trigger by truck being shifted into reverse) - this is the stock situation, no need for indicator lights/lighted switches

ON (auxiliary lights only, battery hot 12v) - in this position a lighted switch/indicator light definitely.

All battery circuits would be fused, relay(s) as needed.

No disco ball at this time........

Thanks

 

[mwilson]

Ok, I'll sketch a few out later on. Standard toggle or a Carling Style?

 

[CCiatteo]

Ok, I'll sketch a few out later on. Standard toggle or a Carling Style?


View attachment 94978

That's fine....I feel like I'm putting in a custom order.....a napkin sketch is plenty. Don't lose sleep over this.

 

[mwilson]

I think I got it, using one relay and one six pole on - off - on switch. Will try to get it on here tonight, if not will scan it in from work in the morning.

Good mental exercise for me....

 

[Bill Lins]

Do you want a disco ball to drop down from the headliner and spin for a reminder???

That should keep him from forgetting that they're on! :-laf

 

[PatrickMarshall]

On my O7', I used a three position switch with a full on, off, or on with backup lights. The toggle also had an LED light on the end so I could tell when it was on. Wired that to a set of old driving lights from a 99' Dodge which I drilled and mounted into the rear bumper. Worked great in those early mornings hitching up the trailer or loading up a car at night.

 

[mwilson]

Where he wants factory, factory with flood, and then flood only with key off I came up with two relays and a switch.

I'll post it in a minute so that it can be reviewed.......keeping factory only, then tying the factory with the floods when in reverse and then having the floods work independently was the challenge....

 

[mwilson]

Please review this, notice that there is a lot of eraser residue.......

I am ASSUMING that his add on floods are LED, they appear to be in the photo....if they are not then a heavier design will be needed...

 

[mwilson]

If nobody pokes any holes in it I will draw another showing all connections. Add a lighted switch as well.....

 

[HHhuntitall]

I might poke fun, but not holes, Mike.... I had thought of that with a 5 pole relay, but was avoiding the extra wire, until he wanted a three position switch.... then it's gonna have to be drawn out, and looks like you got it handled....

 

[CCiatteo]

I'm liking the looks of it and actually can understand it, which is a good thing. I like that there are no diodes and factory wiring is only being the used as the trigger for "auto" mode, yet is totally divorced electrically for the "key off" operation. Don't devote a ton of time to making the drawing sexy. I do autocad for a living (in a land surveying environment) so I can create a nice color drawing and turn it into a PDF or a JPEG for future use by others. I appreciate the time spent.

And yes, the auxiliary lights are LED units. I'll check the box for their rated draw and rated output. I was worried about mounting them, but the wiring is going to be the more time consuming part of the project for sure. Mounting them was a snap, took longer to "measure" it all up than to cut the mounting hole and drill the bolt holes.

Thanks

 

[mwilson]

Image deleted, Mikey made a boo-boo.....

 

[mwilson]

Chris, check this out.....

Page 1A-15, Part # VJD17NHB-00000 Type "L" switch

Page 1A-17 Part # 7830-3513 "Rear Flood" actuator...far right column, 2/3 of the way down...

http://www.westernstartrucks.com/_Assets/BodyBuilderBook/01Air-Elect_Feb2015.pdf

 

[ofelas]

I wired mine to the cargo lamp switch. Yes, thats a factory bumper.

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[CCiatteo]

Chris, check this out.....

Page 1A-15, Part # VJD17NHB-00000 Type "L" switch

Page 1A-17 Part # 7830-3513 "Rear Flood" actuator...far right column, 2/3 of the way down...

http://www.westernstartrucks.com/_Assets/BodyBuilderBook/01Air-Elect_Feb2015.pdf

I like those, but not sure how to go about getting a couple......

As an alternative:
DPDT 2 light switch
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/44326/Carling-Technologies-VJD1D66B-00000-000-2-Light-/

 

[mwilson]

I like those, but not sure how to go about getting a couple......

As an alternative:
DPDT 2 light switch
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/44326/Carling-Technologies-VJD1D66B-00000-000-2-Light-/

Very close match, it would work just fine.

The two numbers I posted are Western Star numbers, if you have a dealer nearby.

First one has a prefix of "CEL"

Second one has a prefix of "WWS"