Wiring cargo area lights... HELP!

Awz

Awz

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Okay. I do know some about electrical (more than wiring a radio). I want to wire some LED's in the cargo area so I can have at least SOME light back there (the little thing in the corner isn't enough). I'm thinking of attaching them to the roll bar, but that may change. Where I'm getting stuck is, I want two switches for these lights. I want one up front near the drivers seat. When I camp in the back that's where my head is. it'd be nice to have a switch up there. The other in back by the tail gate. I know how to wire it with one switch, but two is throwing me off. I know it can be done but don't remember that much. Anyone here more knowledgeable?
 
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What I would do is get your lights installed, then their ground from the trucks body and their power from a relay, wire the relays on/off to both the switches or you could do the same with just two switches, just wire the positive of the switches both to the lights. Heres a little diagram i made to try and help
 

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schematics blow my fvckin mind. good luck with your project though mate, once I have a few to burn ill be addressing this same issue. my truck is like a mogwei from the movie gremlins that got thrown into water and pulled back out before it could totally transform into a gremlin..................in a good way.
 
I was just wondering if i helped at all and what you ended up doing, I was thinking a 3way switch like you do in a house but I don't know where to get 3way switches for 12 volt accessory's.
 
Iroke17 said:
simply hook to stock light it has a flip switch to activate with tailgate and a button on dash to shut on or off simple and easy 2 wire taps and some wire simple and easy.!:nerd:
Click to expand...

Illuminate with the tailgate? You're either smokin' something or have a modification that I MUST KNOW HOW TO DO.
 
I haven't done anything yet. It hasn't gotten above freezing in almost two weeks. Also working two jobs so free time has lessened. I'm thinking I'll probably be following the schematic you provided though. looks pretty good. Thank you
 
I got this figured out. when i get home i will draw up the diagram. It works with switch up front and on in the back. I replaced the factory light and switch and added another light on the opposite side. I plan on adding one up near the rear wiper motor since i do not use that but it will be on its own switch in the back.
 
I did the same thing. I used a strip of 16 white led's and zip tied it to my roll bar, tapping the wires into the stock cargo light. (I tapped into them BEFORE the harness because that faded light irritated me, you will want to do after, so that you can use the switch on it)

After that (wish I would have done this before) I followed 4Crawlers advice in order to provide constant power, and disable the "feature" of the deck lamp turning on only when the parking lights are on.

This is a picture of a friends cargo area who did the same thing, but he only used a 10 LED strip, IIRC.

4877c15f.jpg~original

5403dbb9.jpg~original


I think those are the right pictures... My work computer blocks photobucket, so I can only see the link.
 
foonanas said:
I got this figured out. when i get home i will draw up the diagram. It works with switch up front and on in the back. I replaced the factory light and switch and added another light on the opposite side. I plan on adding one up near the rear wiper motor since i do not use that but it will be on its own switch in the back.
Click to expand...

A.Wilson013 said:
I did the same thing. I used a strip of 16 white led's and zip tied it to my roll bar, tapping the wires into the stock cargo light. (I tapped into them BEFORE the harness because that faded light irritated me, you will want to do after, so that you can use the switch on it)

After that (wish I would have done this before) I followed 4Crawlers advice in order to provide constant power, and disable the "feature" of the deck lamp turning on only when the parking lights are on.

This is a picture of a friends cargo area who did the same thing, but he only used a 10 LED strip, IIRC.
Click to expand...

I'd like to merge these ideas, wiring into the existing light, adding up-front control capability, allowing operation without parking lights, and using an LED mounted inside the wiper instead of on the rollbar.
 
the_dingman said:
Where did you get the strip?
Click to expand...

Haha, to be honest, we bought a bunch of the strips from China... Very sketchy business, but they actually came, and well, we got a heck of a deal.

They do not have any brand markings on them... It's just a typical strip of LEDs with 3M adhesive on the back.

But where we got them... Some random guy in China.
 
illzoni said:
I'd like to merge these ideas, wiring into the existing light, adding up-front control capability, allowing operation without parking lights, and using an LED mounted inside the wiper instead of on the rollbar.
Click to expand...

Are you using your wiper? I am not. So I have removed the motor and I am waiting for the LED Light to get here. I have not decided if it will be on its on switch or with the other cargo lights.
 
No, I'm not using the wiper and wouldn't mind removing it and its motor. Can anyone suggest a neat way of covering the hole after the wiper is removed?
 
This is kind of a crude drawing, I did it real quick, but it works.
 

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