Additional power supply and switch for back up lamps

TJ Rubicus

TJ Rubicus

TJ Enthusiast
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Sep 12, 2019
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Location
Wiarton, Ontario
Just installed an aftermarket rear bumper that has built in LED back up lamps. My question is: can I add an additional switch to the back up lamp circuit so that the back up lamps could be switched on at any time. If I splice in to the existing circuit so that the back up lamps come on when in reverse, can I add an additional switch with another power supply to turn the back up lamps as auxillary lights. Sometimes the need arises to have some rear lights on without the jeep running or being in reverse.

IMG_1228.JPG
 
Actually now that I think about it, I used a on/on/off switch with the relay, but it's the same idea. I'm not great with circuits, but I was easily able to follow some online "how to" threads on the matter. It takes a while to run the wires along the oem harness all the way to the back and along fire wall in the engine bay if you want a clean install. I mounted the relay on the passenger side fire wall above the battery tray since I already had another relay there for the KC lights on the front. Good luck.
 
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WDE said:
Actually now that I think about it, I used a on/on/off switch with the relay, but it's the same idea. I'm not great with circuits, but I was easily able to follow some online "how to" threads on the matter. It takes a while to run the wires along the oem harness all the way to the back and along fire wall in the engine bay if you want a clean install. I mounted the relay on the passenger side fire wall above the battery tray since I already had another relay there for the KC lights on the front. Good luck.
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Thanks...I'll probably need a bit of luck lol. I will just have to research it and draw the diagram before I start.
 
Jerry Bransford said:
No need for a relay to add an LED reverse light, they don't draw enough current to need one. Just a SPDT switch is needed to provide the above functions. Thats how I wired my LED light.

View attachment 118563
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Thanks Jerry. So can I use the existing power source for the back up lamps to power the switch, and then position 1 would power all the lamps when in reverse, and position 2 would power all the lamps without being in reverse. is that correct?
 
TJ Rubicus said:
Thanks Jerry. So can I use the existing power source for the back up lamps to power the switch, and then position 1 would power all the lamps when in reverse, and position 2 would power all the lamps without being in reverse. is that correct?
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Depends on where you tap in...it’s going to only be hot when in reverse from the switch on the transmission and back...as the circuit is dead til the switch is activated . That will be brown and purple I think.

The reason you want to consider a switch for that set up, more so , is to prevent blinding someone behind you .
 
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AndyG said:
Depends on where you tap in...it’s going to only be hot when in reverse from the switch on the transmission and back...as the circuit is dead til the switch is activated . That will be brown and purple I think.

The reason you want to consider a switch for that set up, more so , is to prevent blinding someone behind you .
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o if I put the brown/purple wire to the center post and top post of the switch and had the LED'S spliced in to the reg b/u lamps, everything should come on when the switch is in the "up" position. If I then added another power source to the bottom terminal of the switch, would I then be able to turn all lights on manually with the witch in the "down" position.
 
To be able to turn the aux reverse light on when you don't want to have to shift into Reverse you'll need a +12v wire from the battery. A small 2-3 amp fuse is all you need. The SPDT switch should have a center off position. In one switch position the light turns on when you shift into reverse. The second switch position turns it on anytime you need it.

This is a quick & dirty drawing I made that shows how I wired mine...

Aux Reverse Light.gif
 
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TJ Rubicus said:
Just installed an aftermarket rear bumper that has built in LED back up lamps. My question is: can I add an additional switch to the back up lamp circuit so that the back up lamps could be switched on at any time. If I splice in to the existing circuit so that the back up lamps come on when in reverse, can I add an additional switch with another power supply to turn the back up lamps as auxillary lights. Sometimes the need arises to have some rear lights on without the jeep running or being in reverse.

View attachment 118490
Click to expand...

All of my aux. lights are on their own independent fused circuits with their own illuminated switches. Easy to do. Here is how I wired mine.

5 pole lighted switch.jpg
 
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One thing about adding LED's in place of the stock reverse bulbs is that the sockets do not point straight out the back. They aim off to the side. You will lose a lot of usable light output.
 
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dbbd1 said:
One thing about adding LED's in place of the stock reverse bulbs is that the sockets do not point straight out the back. They aim off to the side. You will lose a lot of usable light output.
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The LED bulbs that I used are covered in LEDs - not just one or two, more like 30. The light output is way better than the bulbs they replaced.
 
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