I'm new to wiring things in.. Just starting to figure things out after installing a set of offroad lights and a dixie horn.. Anyways.. I see many people have backup lights, I'd like to wire a set of "backup lights" so when I put my truck in reverse, they come on automatically... instead of me pushing a button, anyone know how to wire this up? Its probably illegal, but I don't really care..

 

If you plan to use SMALL auxillery lights, just use a vampire tap to hook into the same wires as the stock backup bulbs in the tails. You can get vampire taps from Radio Shack for about $4. If you think the tap will get any moisture, coat it with brush-on electrical tape or a coating of silicone to prevent corrosion down the road.

Note that if you put in a huge set of backup lights, you might need to upgrade fuse that drives that circuit (I'm not sure what else is on that fuse of course - check your service manual's wiring diagram. Worst case scenario, if you find that you'd need to put ina much larger fuse to handle the load (which canoverload the wiring between the fuse box and the tail lights), you'd need to run a independent power lead then use a relay to trigger the secondary backup lights, using the existing reverse light circuit as the relay trigger voltage. With this setup, the relay would remain open (no power) until the reverse lights in the tails switch on, which, in turn, would trigger the relay and allow current to flow to the auxillery lamps.

 

Don't add any lights to the existing wiring; it'll burn up the back up light switch quickly if you do. Do it right and use a relay. Use the back up light wire to trigger a relay complete with it's own fused run and add your lights..

 

X2, a relay is the way to go with any time you are adding a set of lights. You can use the vampire tap that imagoX mentioned to tap as power for the relay. you should not have any trouble finding a good wiring diagram for relays online...
Get yourself a Test light so you are tapping the correct wire. As far as wondering if it is illegal, not if it is set up to only come on in reverse IMO.

I have had 5 toyota trucks and a Camry: back up light output and rear springs is something Toyota has never gotten right

 

Here's a good relay diagram:



Terminal 30 is generally always the one leading to the battery/fused power source. You'll use #86 for the lead running to the vampire tap attached to the OEM backup light in the tail. #85 leads to the vehicle's ground.

I like to get my relays from here:

http://www.oznium.com/relay40


They cost a bit more,but the vendor is veryl, very customer-service oriented, and these are very heavy-duty single pole double throw 40A units, not the crappy light-duty ones you get from Autozone. I recommend also getting the harness - makes wiring everything very easy. Alternately, you can use female spade clips and just plug things right onto the relay, but they can work loose over time - the harness is very snug and I've never seenone work itself loose.

Best of luck!

 

Parts Express for all my wiring needs

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=330-073

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=330-075

 

Thanks for the link and diagram, I just ordered my relay. It'll be nice to tie my aux lights in to my reverse circuit.

 

Wow, I didn't install a relay on my front lights... Hahah, oh well, they're ty anyway..

 

no, I mounted some in the back and that's the ones I was referring to.

 

It's almost ALWAYS a good idea to use a relay on anything with a switch... that way, only a few miliamps of current go though the switch itself (which your finger is on) and the lion's share of the current passes through the relay itself, which is.... someplace else. I've seen plenty of switches melt and catch fire when someone tried direct-wiring them and sending 10 or 20 amps through them (like with driving light setups).

In this case, the relay is simply a convenience - since the relay will only close and send current to your auxiliary backup lights when your OEM revese lights are powered, it in effect becomes a "switched relay". it's a clever trick that you can use over and over in many different projects.

 

You dont need a relay if you have an inline fuse or circuit breaker fuse. It will just blow if they get to hot or to much juice. I much prefer this method, less wiring and much more reliable. No relays to mess with and have wires everywhere. But its also a good idea to use a high rated amp switch, last 2 sets I installed were 20amp switches. My friend has a set of 6 kc's mounted to one switch with a 30amp circuit breaker, no issues yet and the switch is the orignal one that came inthe box.

DOnt wire them to the reverse lamps, they will draw to much power unless you use the relay. Get an inline fuse holder and a 20 amp fuse then wire them up to a switch. This way you can have them on anytime, much usefull for when you unload stuff out of the vehicle or need to light up behind you.

Mine are mounted right into the hitch assy.

 

Do you just run power straight off the battery to an inline fuze to a switch then the switch(that opens and closes the circuit) goes to the lights and the lights have there own seperate ground?

 

so you guys are talking about tapping the reverse light wire behind the actual light right? is the a wire you can tap in the trailer light harness?

 

The best way would be to use a relay. Tap into the power wire for the stock reverse lights, this will go into the 86 post of the relay. 85 is ground, 30 is your supply from a 12v source (battery!) and 87 is for your lights.

When you pop it into reverse, it will send power to the relay switching the aux lights on.

 

You can wire up a relay, and also a switch, so that you can turn the lights on when you want, yet have them come on automatically when you reverse.

Put a milspec cover on the switch so you don't forget to turn it off if you're going forwards.

 

i had (2) 50 or 100w (cant remember which) driving lights on the rear of my basket when it was on my 4runner.... they were great for reverse as well as when people were tail-gating me.... the driver side light was focused at eye level of a small car riding my ass... you flip on the switch and people backed of REAL quick

 

I plan on doing some sort of similar mod...

 

Wow, this thread was deader then Bernie Mac... Great job on bringin back a year old thread...

 

The guy bumped it was asking a question that was related.. Better then starting a new thread no?

 

LMAO...Jays right thought...
lmao