Easy way to power backup light

loosvelt · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:23 pm

Hey guys,

I am just looking for the easiest way to wire a backup light. Can I just splice into the standard backup lights so it goes on automatically, and then splice power off my wiring harness? Advice, I am not very wiring savy.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:48 pm

thats the way mine are with an in line fuse grounded down by the tail light

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

I did the same, the only problem is that if the lights are up high, they legally need a kill switch, but I didnt install one.

Stephen

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:28 pm

how high mines on the roof rack does that mean that they need a switch? If so wonder why, only come on in reverse...been in several states and nothing :wink:

RQuarte · **Posted:** Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:05 pm

I have mine wired on a separate switch so if i need them i have them. And i also like it so that if i need light behind my jeep or put light on something i can simply flip the switch instead of having to put it in reverse.

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:43 pm

RQuarte wrote:

I have mine wired on a separate switch so if i need them i have them. And i also like it so that if i need light behind my jeep or put light on something i can simply flip the switch instead of having to put it in reverse.

What type of switch did you use?
I'm looking for a low profile ON/OFF/ON switch

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:24 pm

Maximum Carnage wrote:

RQuarte wrote:

I have mine wired on a separate switch so if i need them i have them. And i also like it so that if i need light behind my jeep or put light on something i can simply flip the switch instead of having to put it in reverse.

What type of switch did you use?
I'm looking for a low profile ON/OFF/ON switch

Also where did you put the switch, in the front by the steering wheel or in the back somewhere?

I am putting some aux lighting in the back but I am not sure where to place the switch.

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

If you dont want the switches to be seen, I have put a few in that little crap holder in front of the shifter by the cig lighter. I mounted them top with an LED so I know if the switch is active.

Stephen

RQuarte · **Posted:** Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:57 pm

Maximum Carnage wrote:

RQuarte wrote:

I have mine wired on a separate switch so if i need them i have them. And i also like it so that if i need light behind my jeep or put light on something i can simply flip the switch instead of having to put it in reverse.

What type of switch did you use?
I'm looking for a low profile ON/OFF/ON switch

Theres a picture on my cardomain that shows the switch i used and where i put it.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:22 am

What kind of lights? What wattage? If they are too powerful, 55 watts, then you may need to run them through a relay and power them through a higher power source than just the back up light circuit. You could overload that circuit with lights like that so be careful.

It sounds complicated but not too bad. you can also add a kill switch to the relay so you can overide the lights and not have them come on with the OEM back-up lights.

RQuarte · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:28 am

WoodysKJ wrote:

What kind of lights? What wattage? If they are too powerful, 55 watts, then you may need to run them through a relay and power them through a higher power source than just the back up light circuit. You could overload that circuit with lights like that so be careful.

It sounds complicated but not too bad. you can also add a kill switch to the relay so you can overide the lights and not have them come on with the OEM back-up lights.

My lights are ran straight from the battery with a fuse somewhere in the middle. :lol:

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:33 am

RQuarte wrote:

WoodysKJ wrote:

What kind of lights? What wattage? If they are too powerful, 55 watts, then you may need to run them through a relay and power them through a higher power source than just the back up light circuit. You could overload that circuit with lights like that so be careful.

It sounds complicated but not too bad. you can also add a kill switch to the relay so you can overide the lights and not have them come on with the OEM back-up lights.

My lights are ran straight from the battery with a fuse somewhere in the middle. :lol:

Are they off a kill switch so you can use them anytime not just in reverse or relayed to come on when shiting into R?

That is what I am talking about. use the battery power so not to overload the bac-up light circuit.

03kjsport · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:49 am

nice looking rig ryan. i like your floor mats.

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:58 am

RQuarte wrote:

Maximum Carnage wrote:

RQuarte wrote:

I have mine wired on a separate switch so if i need them i have them. And i also like it so that if i need light behind my jeep or put light on something i can simply flip the switch instead of having to put it in reverse.

What type of switch did you use?
I'm looking for a low profile ON/OFF/ON switch

Theres a picture on my cardomain that shows the switch i used and where i put it.

Where did you get those switches? Those are awesome

RQuarte · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:38 pm

WoodysKJ wrote:

RQuarte wrote:

WoodysKJ wrote:

What kind of lights? What wattage? If they are too powerful, 55 watts, then you may need to run them through a relay and power them through a higher power source than just the back up light circuit. You could overload that circuit with lights like that so be careful.

It sounds complicated but not too bad. you can also add a kill switch to the relay so you can overide the lights and not have them come on with the OEM back-up lights.

My lights are ran straight from the battery with a fuse somewhere in the middle. :lol:

Are they off a kill switch so you can use them anytime not just in reverse or relayed to come on when shiting into R?

That is what I am talking about. use the battery power so not to overload the bac-up light circuit.

Yes.

RQuarte wrote:

I have mine wired on a separate switch so if i need them i have them. And i also like it so that if i need light behind my jeep or put light on something i can simply flip the switch instead of having to put it in reverse.

RQuarte · **Posted:** Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:39 pm

MiniDevil wrote:

RQuarte wrote:

Maximum Carnage wrote:

RQuarte wrote:

I have mine wired on a separate switch so if i need them i have them. And i also like it so that if i need light behind my jeep or put light on something i can simply flip the switch instead of having to put it in reverse.

What type of switch did you use?
I'm looking for a low profile ON/OFF/ON switch

Theres a picture on my cardomain that shows the switch i used and where i put it.

Where did you get those switches? Those are awesome

Pepboys.

Easy way to power backup light

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