Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I am about to wire up some additional reversing lights.

What are members thoughts on the best way to do this and why. Manual on/off switch, auto when reverse selected, other?

cheers

TRobbo wrote:I am about to wire up some additional reversing lights.

What are members thoughts on the best way to do this and why. Manual on/off switch, auto when reverse selected, other?

cheers

have a 3 way switch (on/off/auto)

on (take power from an accessories wire) (legally not allowed AFAIK but could be handy in some 4wd situations if they are good enough lights)
auto (take power from current reverse light)
off (off....)

use a suitable relay also, the above circuits wont be able to drive the light.

Shadow wrote:

TRobbo wrote:I am about to wire up some additional reversing lights.

What are members thoughts on the best way to do this and why. Manual on/off switch, auto when reverse selected, other?

cheers

have a 3 way switch (on/off/auto)

on (take power from an accessories wire) (legally not allowed AFAIK but could be handy in some 4wd situations if they are good enough lights)
auto (take power from current reverse light)
off (off....)

use a suitable relay also, the above circuits wont be able to drive the light.

Yep - I'm with shadow.

I recall similar threads here, I think to remain legal the switch can't be accessible from the driver's seat.

If you don't use it on road, who'll know?

Scott

I connected mine off a seperate switch. With a relay of course. Good for people following you too closely, or forgetting their high beams on.
Handy for connecting trailers at night, packing up after a late night bbq or reversing down a dark driveway.

It depends on what you're after. If they are just going to be reverse only lights then just wire them up like any other accessory by running a wire straight from the battery to a relay and then the lights through to an earth. The wire that you would normally run through a switch just runs from the reverse light wire. If you also want to use the lights for working etc then have them through a switch running off a constant power wire under the dash so you can control when they are on or off.

I brought 12v fully sealed pond lights from Bunnings with 50watt globes in them for $10 each and wired them up to a switch on the dash, they're my "work lights". They're great, best bargain basement mod I've done yet.

does it matter if you dont use a relay?
i jus simply wired mine up with power to switch then light to switch with a ground in there somewhere.
doesnt seem to have any problems and the light is bright enuf
is this wrong?

beretta wrote:I brought 12v fully sealed pond lights from Bunnings with 50watt globes in them for $10 each and wired them up to a switch on the dash, they're my "work lights". They're great, best bargain basement mod I've done yet.

Mate, you're a bloody champion. I get Hella license plate lights for nothing from work and have been using 'em as a winch light - to light up the cable spool on drum. I'm sick of replacing the globes/or lights each time i go through water.

Pond lights eh!! Bunnings ya say!! 10 bucks - struth even i can afford that

GQ Bear wrote:

beretta wrote:I brought 12v fully sealed pond lights from Bunnings with 50watt globes in them for $10 each and wired them up to a switch on the dash, they're my "work lights". They're great, best bargain basement mod I've done yet.

Mate, you're a bloody champion. I get Hella license plate lights for nothing from work and have been using 'em as a winch light - to light up the cable spool on drum. I'm sick of replacing the globes/or lights each time i go through water.

Pond lights eh!! Bunnings ya say!! 10 bucks - struth even i can afford that

even pond lights get hot so if they been on for an hour and you hit a cold creek they could crack/shatter etc.

but definantly sounds like a top idea. Will be looking at pond lights next time im at bunnings.

Shadow wrote:

GQ Bear wrote:

beretta wrote:I brought 12v fully sealed pond lights from Bunnings with 50watt globes in them for $10 each and wired them up to a switch on the dash, they're my "work lights". They're great, best bargain basement mod I've done yet.

Mate, you're a bloody champion. I get Hella license plate lights for nothing from work and have been using 'em as a winch light - to light up the cable spool on drum. I'm sick of replacing the globes/or lights each time i go through water.

Pond lights eh!! Bunnings ya say!! 10 bucks - struth even i can afford that

even pond lights get hot so if they been on for an hour and you hit a cold creek they could crack/shatter etc.

but definantly sounds like a top idea. Will be looking at pond lights next time im at bunnings.

Maybe if they're hot enough, but I doubt you're driving around with your reverse lights on all the time?

They work really well for me, they were completely submerged last week for about 10-15 minutes in absolute poo and didn't get a drop of water in them and are working fine still, I'm very happy with them.

By the way they came standard with a 25watt globe I swapped them for 50watts which I brought at the same time.

bundytunna wrote:does it matter if you dont use a relay?
i jus simply wired mine up with power to switch then light to switch with a ground in there somewhere.
doesnt seem to have any problems and the light is bright enuf
is this wrong?

Not good, first problem you will melt the switch. I doubt it would be strong enough to carry the amperage the lights are requiring. Thats why you use a relay.

Secondly, if its not fused, you could be asking for trouble, i.e. FIRE!

I would install a fuse so if you melt the switch, you just blow the fuse.

anyone used any of the LED lights? with the reduced current you might be able to connect them straight to the existing circuit. Just depends if they give enough light for you... ??

nathan_o wrote:anyone used any of the LED lights? with the reduced current you might be able to connect them straight to the existing circuit. Just depends if they give enough light for you... ??

I used these when I built my new tray. They work fairly well and I've knocked them around a fair bit because they sit on my chassis rail at the rear. Not quite bright enough to be able use effectively but better than standard reverse lights.

bundytunna wrote:does it matter if you dont use a relay?
i jus simply wired mine up with power to switch then light to switch with a ground in there somewhere.
doesnt seem to have any problems and the light is bright enuf
is this wrong?

You should have at minimum a fuse close to the power source (battery?) aslong as the switch is rated to the current your using there is no problem with this setup. 50watt bulb you should have a 5amp switch, which is a very common rating for automotive toggle switches.

I was going to ask the same question in regards to switches. I hate wiring up relays. Are there switches out there that can handle high currents?

What wattage are the reverse lights in a gq? When i put mine into revers the voltage drops quite a bit compared with other electricals.

Jimmy

Jimbo wrote:I was going to ask the same question in regards to switches. I hate wiring up relays. Are there switches out there that can handle high currents?

What wattage are the reverse lights in a gq? When i put mine into revers the voltage drops quite a bit compared with other electricals.

Jimmy

biggest ive seen is a 20amp toggle. Apparently there are higher rated but ive never seen them. There are 20amp DPDT aswell, which if you parallell them you can theoretically get 40amp, but practically youd only see about 30 amp before lifetime becomes an issue.

has anyone got a wiring diagram that i can follow to hook up my rear lights?
I want to be able to use them without selecting reverse but they need to come on when in reverse

thanks
josh

I have done a search on Google and come up with this wiring diagram


I hope this helps other ppl

on my old truck i just cut the reversing wires off my truck (ie. so when i hit reverse gear they came on) and put them to the power on the spotties and earthed it somwhere, worked fine.. prob not the best but it worked.