I recently put in some flush mount led pods in my rear bumper for reverse lights. I initially just put in a SPST relay and used the power from my factory wiring to switch it on and off. Well now Ive decided i would like to be able to turn them on and off with a switch, as well as have them come on when I put it in reverse. Can anyone give me a schematic or give some advice? It would be much appreciated!
I thought about doing this, but would i not have issues if i had the switch on when i shift into reverse? Im not great with this type of thing, but would that not send too much current through the lights as well as the wiring?
Could just throw another relay in the mix. When you throw the switch in the cab, it triggers the second relay to direct power from the battery instead of from the reverse circuit. That way you won't run a risk of backfeeding anything. There is probably a simpler way of doing it but this is what just popped in my head.
Here's an example of what I mean. I'm thinking of putting aux reverse lights on my truck and the switch in the cab is a good idea. Plus you can use them to flash the idiot behind you who has his brights on :twisted:
With that circuit you will only have the options of having the lights come on with the reverse lights or when you flip the switch. You won't be able to have them off completely, if that matters to you.
This is the same situation as I had, except I wanted it for a light bar: to be on automatically with high beams, and also have it wired to a switch that I could turn it on independently. This is the schematic Dmanj recommended:
Just change "light bar" to aux lights, and "high beams" to reverse light signal
That circuit is basically the same as the one on the previous page. It toggles between coming on with high beams or having an independent on. No permanent off, again if that matters to the OP.
Dmanj: He said that was your schematic (the second one). Also, to me, it seems that if the truck was not in reverse and the switch was OFF, then there would be no power to the light bar (it would be OFF).
Or are you suggesting that it be configured so that if the switch was off, it could not come on even when shifting into reverse?
That is my diagram. What I'm saying is that you won't have the option for them to stay off while the truck is in reverse. The lights will always come on when the truck is put in reverse.
OK, So, can you post a schematic of how it would be configured so that you can keep it from coming on in reverse? I am starting to understand these relay thingy's a bit more...I think?
Just put a switch in the line from the OEM reverse light wiring to the relay so you can turn it off entirely. That would be using a second switch is the only thing I guess. Or, there is another way to do it with a SPDT switch that wouldn't require another relay I believe.. Just a sec I'll draw that up.
*edit* here you go. No need to add another relay doing it this way. The SPDT switch is just selecting what source (if anything) triggers the relay you already have in place. I guess i used the wrong symbol for the switch as a SPDT switch would have a middle position that makes no connection to either terminal. Oh well, you get the idea.
Thank yall for the help, i went ahead and wired everything up.
I dont have a need for the permanent off, so i used the first schematic.
I already had a switch wired as i said before, so i pulled the switch load and ran it back to the back, then just reconfigured everything with test leads to make sure i didnt have any issues. Then tested and wired it up permanently.
The wires are a mess for right now, but after running the lights for a few weeks and ensuring no problems, I will clean everything up.
Anyways, pictures are below
That looks good. But I just thought of something. If you turn the lights on with the switch and forget to turn them off, I think you are looking at a dead battery. Or is the power source switched off the ignition?
One more question. How did you get the wires for the switch outside the cab?
Yeah, it would, but i will only use the switch on rare occasions (like flashing someone behind me that has their brights on) so it shouldnt be an issue. The main use for the lights is just when reversing, so they will come on when i shift into reverse, and go off when i shift out.
As for the switch, i ran the wires under my dash and through the firewall (see below) and ran the load along the back side of my front fender liner and along the frame rail to the desired location ( see below)
Make sure it's not a undercover cop flashing his high-beams at you (ask me how i know ) I have the same lights in my bumper and did just that...on came the red lights and over to the side of the road we went...cop turn out to be a good guy and just told me I should not do that as I could cause an accident he told me when I flip the lights on he could not see
anything but spots for a second or two...I would not want to cause even an idiot to have a crash...but that's just my story you all have to decide for yourselves.
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