hey guys/gals....has anyone wired up auxiliary lights using a 12v dc plug? I've got some extra 4x6" LEDs that I pulled off my last OR rig that I'd like to use for back up lights (2 of them to be specific). I could easily tie into my reverse lights but I don't need them to work unless I'm offroad so I was considering just wiring them up to a 12v plug since they don't draw alot of power. Thoughts?

Thanks,

-Matt

 

As long as they don't exceed the current rating for the 12v circuit this will work fine.

 

Any idea what the rating is for the 12v port that requires the vehicle to be running? What I had actually considered was creating a dual plug setup on the little perch next to the windshield wiper power/water supply in the back with one of these:

Galls 2-Hole Outlet Switch Box at Galls

I planned on building an enclosure for it (it's open on the back) and having these ports in the back powered by the one up front. That way I don't have to run wires up front with a plug that will only see occasional use. I already have my cb plug ready to go up front so another would start to clutter it up and look messy. I've used these dual port (and even triple) systems before without any negative effects but have never hooked up lights to a dc plug that I would usually hook up to a battery.

Thanks

 

I don't know what the outlet circuit is rated for off the top of my head, however if you are doing that much wiring and construction for this accessory you may want to consider just wiring it into a switch it wouldn't require much more work. You could even wire it to a dual position switch to have them auto with your reverse light circuit and a manual on for auxiliary lighting if needed. The rest of the time just leave the switch in off and they won't come on at all.

 

These will be my next rock light install, can't beat the quality and price.

 

That's a great suggestion...thanks toolow!!

Those rock lights look like a great deal! Too bad I've got more fallen trees and roadkill to run over than any rocks around here!

 

hey toolow...would you wire those from taillights to switch then to aux lights? That way I could flip power on/off to make them "auto on" like you were saying? Would this setup require any relays/fuses built in if the switch doesn't have any kind of built-in overload? thanks!

 

Ok. So I would come up with where you want the switch first. Get a switch (on-off-on) that will fit that location. From there you will splice into the reverse light circuit to supply power to one side of the switch and a constant or switched power source to power the other side. Then from the switch I would (to avoid issues with canbus) wire the power to a relay. I would also place a diode in the line you splice from your reverse light circuit (to allow power to the switch but not back to the circuit being tapped). The relay will be what supplies the power to the auxiliary lights and you would fuse the circuit from power source that goes through relay to power lights. This will allow you to place the switch in an "auto" mode (side from reverse lights) which will energize when you shift to reverse, be in off for no aux lighting, or on to energize them whenever they might be needed and reverse isn't (hooking up a trailer in the dark, setting up camp, etc.). If you need a drawing I can come up with something or someone may have one they can share. It will be this weekend before I can get one up as I'm on the road traveling from NY to FL.

This will also work with a single pole switch (on-off) as well you will just use the first part of instructions and forget the second circuit from constant/switched power. This will just give you auto and off.