I'm not too savvy when it comes to electrical. So I need some help with this. I want to ad some back up lights since the stock ones are garbage. I have found the lights I want, but do not know which way to wire them. I only want them to come on when I put it in reverse. So, would I be ok just tapping into the stock wiring for back up lights, or should I run new wiring from the battery? I wouldn't think that these would draw too much, but I also don't want to overload the stock wiring. Thanks.

Amazon.com: (2) White 2" Round 9 LED Mini Reverse Backup Lights: Automotive

 

I stuck two 55w halogens back there without issue so you'd think a couple of measly led lights wouldn't overload. Mine are switched, on with reverse, off, on. I've got a relay and vampire tap....I don't know much about leds, isn't it more complicated somehow?
Edit: Diagram pulled for possible flaw, thanks.

 

since there led and draw very little power tapping them into the stock reverse wires should be ok

 

I put some narrow beam 1156 LED bulbs into my '85 backup light sockets:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/LEDs/7.html

They work quite a bit better than stock since it is really the poor stock "reflector" that is the main issue. Since the LEDs have built in reflectors and also since they are aligned in narrow beam configuration, the light is concentrated into the area directly behind the truck instead of scattered all over:



- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...l#BackupLights

 

In regards to the diagram a few posts above. Always check switches that you steal out of vehicles... they often don't work the way you would assume. Just pull out a multimeter, switch to ohms, and figure out what does what. Before you fry something on your vehicle by accident.

 

if u really want alot of light a pair of these would be more than overkill

http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED-B...16710-1-2.html

 

Ya I don't need quite that much! I just want to add those two lights so its easier to see when I back into spots. I figured that just tapping into the existing wires would be ok, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't going to burn anything up. Plus that saves me from running a power wire from the battery all the way back to a relay.

 

Having a set mounted along the side, towards the front of your running boards, mounted backwards helps a lot too.
Personally I would still run a relay, just using the stock back up lights to act as the power on/switch..

 

Oh ok...so run a wire from the stock wire to a relay, then from the relay to the new lights? Should I put a fuse in, or would the relay be enough?

 

i dont think you really need a relay for them leds they draw very little power

 

I did. That's how I can tell you what's powered when. It's actually working out really well for me because of the way it gets used. Figuring out how to get the led on a different on/off switch (purposed differently) to light, now that was fun.

In case it's a flaw you see in my diagram I'm pulling it, thanks.

 

I recently did this to my sons truck and I tied into the stock wiring without using a relay and it worked great. Just remember to attach a good ground for each of the new lights.