I have a set of Blazer brand 55W driving lights I have mounted to the rear bumper as my back up lights. they work great but I am using an after market toggle switch to turn them on/off. I want them to come on when I put my rig in reverse using the shifter. Can I just tap into the OEM wiring for the back ups? I worry I will fry the OEM switch if I do. Do I need a relay in there? Need a little direction as to completing this task. Ben

 

relay activated by your factory backup lights would probably be the way to go. that way, you could run a sufficient amount power on its own circuit to the lights

 

use a relay. i tried to run a pair of driving lights off the back up circuit of my work truck, and it didnt work out well. i needed a new fuse every time i hit reverse.

 

oh chit forgot to tell yuh. I am not running the oem lights on the tailgate. they are gone/unhooked. so it would only be the 55 watters.

 

i would still use a relay. cheap insurance aginst potental problems.

 

Agree, and that's what I've done.

 

Alright its decided. I will run a relay but where should I put it? I figure I will ease up on the wire load and run each light off of each of the OEM wires in the tailgate. So would I install the relay near the switch? I have never hooked up a relay so I dunno. I am sure there is a write up on it in tech.

 

Don't go burning your truck down...

Fuse your hot lead.

http://www.installdr.com/TechDocs/999404.pdf

 

Do I see a white box with red X cuz its a PDF file?

 

Good gawd.....

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Download the free reader....

 

http://www.classictruckshop.com/club...h/foglites.htm

This should show you what you need to know. I'd upgrade to some bigger wire, like 14 or 16 guage. I put my relay behind the plastic panel and screwed it to the metal back there. Your "switch" can just be tapping into the factory reverse lights, so when you put it in reverse the relay does its thing and your lights light up. USE A FUSE. This might get me in trouble but... fuses are like condoms, if you don't use one and bad things happen, nobody is gonna feel sorry for you!