Wiring spot lights for rear bumper?

[JGrefenstette]

i would like to put to 4"x6" spot lights under my rear bumper for additional back up lights and for work lights when im round the back of the truck at night. now i dont want to wire them to the tail lights though, cause i want to wire them to a switch on the dash. that way i can flip em on at my conviniece. maybe even for midnight tailgators

here is my question... how do i go about wiring this up?

simple? i hope?



hot wire from the battery positive to the switch, then run the wire from the switch to the lights, and put a ground to the switch then back to the lights?

i have no experience with vehicle wiring so any help would really be appreciated. do i need to run through any fuses or anything?

 

[KOG]

Use a breaker at the battery end of your wire. If your lights are 100W or less, you can use #12 wire and a 20 amp breaker. Be aware that using these things while on the road is highly illegal.

 

[JGrefenstette]

thanks kog for the wiring info. good to know. by the way, i was kidding about useing then on the road with my luck id flash em at an undercover trooper

 

[RDyson]

I installed a relay and tied into the backup light wire. They come on when I'm in reverse. I also mounted a switch above the bumper to manually turn them on if I want extra light for working on the trailer.



This also activates the back-up lights in the taillights for more light.



Randy

 

[RDHamill]

I would suggest that you use a relay. From the positive battery term. go to our breaker or fuse, then the relay. run nice heavy wire from the relay to your lights. Control the relay with your switch. I'd also recommend that you make certain your ground at the lights is in a location that will remain corrosion free.





www.4x4wire.com/tech/electrical/zj_lighting/schematic%205.jpg[/URL]



hope this link works.

good luck

 

[KOG]

Using a relay will allow you to save maybe 4 feet of 12 ga wire. Otherwise just use a 20 amp switch and it also works fine without having to wire a realy.

 

[WJones]

i wouldnt think about it as saving 4ft of wire but you'd only have to run one small wire though the firewall instead of two larger ones.

 

[KOG]

True, but there's not much trouble running the wires through the firewall.

 

[Allnew2Me]

Check this thread, it addresses most if not all of your concerns.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...scussions/173498-let-there-light-reverse.html