adding aux backup lights 06 f 150

I am wanting to add some back up lights to my truck....I found out the other day that it really sucks trying to backup a trailer up while dark and raining!!


I don't want to have them come on with the backup lights all the time, only with a switch that I will install for them.


This was how I was thinking of wiring them up.....12v from battery or 12v source....inline fuse.....on/off switch with indication light.....to lights at hitch.....and ground where necessary...

Sound about right?

I don't think I will need a relay has I only have one trigger(the switch) right?


Thanks for your help!

Josh

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that will work. Just be sure to put your fuse close to the battery

Your diagram is correct and would allow for the lights to be on whenever the switch is on. However if you allow those lights to be on by just a switch, you may leave them on inadvertently and kill the battery. If you want them to only turn on when in reverse a relay could be used triggered by the reverse lights, or even a relay triggered by ignition so the lights only come on when the ignition is on. Something like this:

Pin 85: Ground
Pin 86: Ignition
Pin 30: From fused constant battery connection
Pin 87: Positive to switch input

As jeffwhiteman stated, keep the supply fuse as close to the battery as possible. There are a lot of possibilities and different configurations you could use, this is just a quick suggestion.

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Installer, IT support, and FFL. I need less hobbies.

Twelvoltz wrote:

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Your diagram is correct and would allow for the lights to be on whenever the switch is on. However if you allow those lights to be on by just a switch, you may leave them on inadvertently and kill the battery. If you want them to only turn on when in reverse a relay could be used triggered by the reverse lights, or even a relay triggered by ignition so the lights only come on when the ignition is on. Something like this:

Pin 85: Ground
Pin 86: Ignition
Pin 30: From fused constant battery connection
Pin 87: Positive to switch input

As jeffwhiteman stated, keep the supply fuse as close to the battery as possible. There are a lot of possibilities and different configurations you could use, this is just a quick suggestion.

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Ok thanks,

One more....What gauge wire should I run?...I was thinking 16...the lights are 55w each.

Josh

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16 gauge would probably work out all right.

Also, I would advise that you connect 86 of the relay as diagrammed by Twelvoltz to your truck's existing backup light circuit...that way you don't accidentally hit the toggle switch while driving forward and blind the driver behind you. The existing lights are obviously ignition switched as it is so there wouldn't be a chance of leaving your aux lights on and killing the battery.

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C Renner's Auto Electronix
My service is cheap, quick, and good - pick any two

chriswallace187 wrote:

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16 gauge would probably work out all right.

Also, I would advise that you connect 86 of the relay as diagrammed by Twelvoltz to your truck's existing backup light circuit...that way you don't accidentally hit the toggle switch while driving forward and blind the driver behind you. The existing lights are obviously ignition switched as it is so there wouldn't be a chance of leaving your aux lights on and killing the battery.

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Thanks...16 gauge looks like it will work.

Theres one thing about hooking up to the back up light wire...

1-I don't want them coming on during the day every time I back up, or during the night when I don't need them/ want them on.

2-I wanted the switch also so I could have them on with the truck in park, as for hooking up trailers and needing extra light behind the truck while dark



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would this be the right way for the relay then?

85-ground
30-fused 12v from battery
87-aux lights
86-12v from ignition to switch to 86   Right?

Thanks Again!


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Yes that will work...also you could use an illuminated switch if you wanted to(one that lights up when switched on); you'd just have to run the 3rd terminal of the switch to ground.

Another alternative would be using 12 volts from the parking lights instead of the ignition to go to the switch and terminal 86.

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C Renner's Auto Electronix
My service is cheap, quick, and good - pick any two

chriswallace187 wrote:

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Yes that will work...also you could use an illuminated switch if you wanted to(one that lights up when switched on); you'd just have to run the 3rd terminal of the switch to ground.

Another alternative would be using 12 volts from the parking lights instead of the ignition to go to the switch and terminal 86.

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Thank you, yes i will be using a illuminated switch also.

Thanks again for the help everyone!

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One last question....Got the lights in the other day and they came with a 15A fuse along with 16g wire.......I have both 16g & 14g laying around....

Run the 14g...bigger is better

Run the 16g....what the lights came with(

(The wire that came with it is not long enough so I will have to make it longer anyway....)

which should I use?


Thanks Again!

Josh

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I'd suggest using the 16 gauge if you're extending the wire by less than 50%...if you're extending by more than that use the 14 gauge.

However if you're only extending wires going to the switch or 85,86 on the relay, you can use any gauge for them; only the actual wires that power the lights will have significant current draw.

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C Renner's Auto Electronix
My service is cheap, quick, and good - pick any two

chriswallace187 wrote:

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I'd suggest using the 16 gauge if you're extending the wire by less than 50%...if you're extending by more than that use the 14 gauge.

However if you're only extending wires going to the switch or 85,86 on the relay, you can use any gauge for them; only the actual wires that power the lights will have significant current draw.

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Thanks...14g it is.

One more, The 12v that I am getting for the switch under the steering column is hot with key on only right?

(
12volts      lt. GREEN/ purple (20A)       +       ignition harness )


Thanks
Josh

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No that wire there is the constant 12v feed to the ignition switch. You want to use the blue/lt. green wire in the same harness.

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C Renner's Auto Electronix
My service is cheap, quick, and good - pick any two