Aux rear lighting plan

[Kraxler]

Rigid males a backup light harness. Allows you to have the aux backup lights come on automatic with the regular backup lights, off or manually on. I mounted the switch to the left of the steering. The lights are mounted in the LOD rear bumper. Works great.

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[bjm00se]

Not sure I am following. I want the lights to work with the tail reverse lights only when I throw a switch so they also come on when in reverse. Otherwise only the tail lights lights come on in reverse. I also want a manual override switch so they come on anytime I want.

You can throw a switch - switch A - at anytime to just turn them on

OR

If a different switch, switch B - is on, then they come on when you engage the reverse back-up lights

It's complicated, but you can do it. Not sure I can explain without a circuit diagram though.

To understand the following, you need to already know how Relays work. They have four or five pins. If I try and explain relays also, this will go too long.

So, first, you run power direct from the battery, to power open terminal on an SPST relay. Call it Relay 1. The output of that Relay 1 goes to the lights, and then to ground.

Now, you take the coil (signal) terminals on Relay 1 - one end just goes to ground. The other is more interesting. But when you apply 12v to it, your lights go on, and when you withdraw the power, the lights go off.

Now, we need to be able to switch that terminal. There are multiple inputs to that, and we don't want cross talk. So set up a bus bar, and connect that bus bar to the coil terminal on Relay 1.

Now, if you apply 12v to the bus bar, your lights go on.

Now, let's wire Switch A. We're going to connect it to the bus bar. But we need to prevent cross-talk. So take switch A, Connect it in series to a 50 ohm resistor, connect that in series to a Diode, and then complete the series connection to the bus bar.

Now, when switch A comes on, the lights go on, and when it goes off, they go off.

So far so good, right?

Now, pull a signal from your back-up lights. Splice into them somewhere.
When backup lights are on, you have 12v, otherwise not.

Run that wire to your Switch B, then run from the switch, in series to a 50 ohm resistor, a diode, and connect that to your bus bar.

Now, when the backup lights are on AND switch B is on, you have power to the bus bar, which powers the coil on your relay, and also turns on the lights.

Either backup + switch B, OR switch A, OR Both, will turn on the lights.

Clear as mud right? really needs a diagram.

 

[dragoneggs]

Why not just on when you want?

You could run two hot wires: 1- on a switched relay; 2- on a switch; but why. Just run the switch and turn on and off at will—

Ya know… I might be over complicating things. Have to think about this some more.

 

[dragoneggs]

You can throw a switch - switch A - at anytime to just turn them on

OR

If a different switch, switch B - is on, then they come on when you engage the reverse back-up lights

It's complicated, but you can do it. Not sure I can explain without a circuit diagram though.

To understand the following, you need to already know how Relays work. They have four or five pins. If I try and explain relays also, this will go too long.

So, first, you run power direct from the battery, to power open terminal on an SPST relay. Call it Relay 1. The output of that Relay 1 goes to the lights, and then to ground.

Now, you take the coil (signal) terminals on Relay 1 - one end just goes to ground. The other is more interesting. But when you apply 12v to it, your lights go on, and when you withdraw the power, the lights go off.

Now, we need to be able to switch that terminal. There are multiple inputs to that, and we don't want cross talk. So set up a bus bar, and connect that bus bar to the coil terminal on Relay 1.

Now, if you apply 12v to the bus bar, your lights go on.

Now, let's wire Switch A. We're going to connect it to the bus bar. But we need to prevent cross-talk. So take switch A, Connect it in series to a 50 ohm resistor, connect that in series to a Diode, and then complete the series connection to the bus bar.

Now, when switch A comes on, the lights go on, and when it goes off, they go off.

So far so good, right?

Now, pull a signal from your back-up lights. Splice into them somewhere.
When backup lights are on, you have 12v, otherwise not.

Run that wire to your Switch B, then run from the switch, in series to a 50 ohm resistor, a diode, and connect that to your bus bar.

Now, when the backup lights are on AND switch B is on, you have power to the bus bar, which powers the coil on your relay, and also turns on the lights.

Either backup + switch B, OR switch A, OR Both, will turn on the lights.

Clear as mud right? really needs a diagram.

Thank you Steve. Let me digest. There is a good reason I switched from EE to ME after one quarter.

 

[bjm00se]

Rigid males a backup light harness. Allows you to have the aux backup lights come on automatic with the regular backup lights, off or manually on. I mounted the switch to the left of the steering. The lights are mounted in the LOD rear bumper. Works great.

Ah, cool. You posted this while I was typing. Probably works a lot like I described. I see it has a relay. I also notice they use an SPDT (single pole, dual throw) switch instead of two separate switches A & B. And of course they include a fuse, which is important but that I omitted in the interest of keeping the description as simple as possible. But yes, of course always fuse when pulling direct from 12v.

https://www.rigidindustries.com/sr-m-sr-q-backup-kit-harness-40192-1.html

@dragoneggs For 125 bucks, This is probably worth the coin, versus the aggravation of wiring up your own, especially given the risk of cascading consequences if wiring is done incorrectly.

 

[dragoneggs]

Rigid males a backup light harness. Allows you to have the aux backup lights come on automatic with the regular backup lights, off or manually on. I mounted the switch to the left of the steering. The lights are mounted in the LOD rear bumper. Works great.

This sounds like exactly what I am looking for...

 

[Tank2112]

Inspired by @Megawatt I am looking to brighten up my rear end, and am considering this...

https://www.oraclelights.com/produc...erse-lights?rq=mk_jeep~md_wrangler-jl~yr_2022

Already have the Oracle tail lights that are far superior to the OEM notably in the lumen area, let alone style and trail functionality.

What I like is the price ($113) to plug into my stock plastic bumper. If I upgrade to an aftermarket bumper at some point, I wouldn’t have too big of an investment and gotta think the resale value would be fair.

More to my question… can one tie these into your aux switches so that they operate as intended as enhanced backup lighting as well as on demand rear ‘camp’ lighting? Dimming capability would be the ‘cat’s meow’.

Looking forward to constructive comments here! If you want me to post a pic of my current rear end… just ask.

I have a set of Oracle back-up lights, but haven't installed due to fitment issue on driver side and/mainly the known issue of the leaking moisture inside and fogging up. Oracle will replace under warranty, but you have to remove rear bumper to install.

Ordered these to try.... Diode Dynamics HitchMount LED Pod Reverse Kit for JL:
hitchmount-led-pod-reverse-kit-for-2018-2023-jeep-wrangler.html

 

[Jeepeto]

Not sure I am following. I want the lights to work with the tail reverse lights only when I throw a switch so they also come on when in reverse. Otherwise only the tail lights lights come on in reverse. I also want a manual override switch so they come on anytime I want.

You’d have to introduce a diode to avoid back feeding the factory harness. In theory this is sound, but do your own research as I’ve never actually tried it.

 

[GMan3470]

You will have to run the wire to the aux switch for on demand use.

Normal install is to run the wires to the rear light so they get the signal to turn on when in reverse. If you have the tow package you can make a much shorter run and connect to that wire harness at the hitch.

So if I add 2 LEDs to my aftermarket rear bumper, I can just connect them to the tow package wire harness?

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