Back up lights

[Oliver]

So I got a pair of driving lights today to mount on the back bumper so I can see while backing up at night. I hear talk of some rubber grommets on the body that I could run my wires through. Where are they?

And, in order for these to work I'll need to splice them into my existing wiring. Do those crimp on connectors work well?

Thanks

Oli

[jj big shoe]

I'm not sure about the grommets but plan on using a relay to turn the lights on, don't just splice them into your reverse light circuit or you run the risk of burning up the existing wiring. Click here for info on relays and such if you need it.

[GrimGreg]

Follow the wires for the license plate lights back to where they go into the body and you should find a couple sealed gromets around the same area.

[Oliver]

OK thanks. I'll check out a relay for these.

[Vsicks Pathy]

As Big Show said. The reversing wires are not designed to take the load of driving lights. You will have to run a new wire via a relay. Having found the correct wire (under the dash) and hooking into a relay I would then run the wire out through the fire wall (plenty of places to do so) and through the chassis rail to the rear.

[FLApathy]

i wanted to do the samething to my truck but where on the bumber are u going to put it so they dont get hit by the hatch or when leaving a ditch, i was thinking about cutting a hole on both sides of the bumper and mounting them pointing out

[Oliver]

Good thinking about the firewall and such. Thanks

 

 

I was just going to mount them under the bumper on either side of my hitch. I don't really have the tools (or time) to cut holes in my bumper so they'd face out, but that sounds like a great idea. I wish I had a roofrack so I could mount a set of lights up there facing rear.

[GrimGreg]

I mounted mine on either side of the license plate. the plastic filler piece was gone, and they fit nicely in there to fill the gap.

[Oliver]

ok so I'm a novice at most things useful. Humor me, if you will. What kind of relay am I looking for? And what guage wire would be best suited to this purpose?

Thanks

Oli

[jj big shoe]

One of these (12 volt 30 amp) from Radio Shack or an auto parts store and some #14awg. wire should do it.

 

I usually have a volt meter and check everything as I go*, but off the top of my head:

 

Use the 12v from the reverse lights to energize the relay.

The relay will have four poles on it (85, 86, 87, and 30).

85 = 12v signal from reverse lamp wire. (Access by tapping into existing wire.)

86 = ground.

30 = 12v fused from battery (or fuse panel).

87 = out to new lamps.

 

When you put it in reverse, 12v will go from 85 to 86 energizing the relay's coil. Once enrgized, the 12v hooked to 30 will be allowed to flow thru the relay from 87 to your new lights.

If your new lights have installation instructions and a wiring kit, just use your reverse light's 12v to fire the relay instead of the new light's switch.

 

*Author expresses no warranty or responsibility - your results may vary.

[Oliver]

Ah ha, looks good. Thanks a lot. :bow:

[Oliver]

Yes, I have another question.

 

 

Any idea where the reverse light wires are under the dash? The wire coming out of the light itself is red/black but it changes when it gets to the connector. Where does nissan run the wires for the taillights?

 

Thanks again.

[MaritimeMan]

Another good place to put them, if you have one, is up above on your "spoiler." Just get a bracket that can bolt to the spoiler, as well as to the light, that way, with a bolted hinge for a pivot. that way, they can be folded down to be less resistant when driving down the highway and folded up for off road use.

[Mr. Pickles]

Ditto what JJ said, wire the relay with the switched /turn on to the relay being a jumper from the back up lights to the relay to energize. By the way, that could also help you, as I've heard of people getting pulled over and questioned about the functionality of extra back-up lights. My understanding is they are fine as long as they can only be turned on while in reverse. Basically, so you're not turning them on to blind tailgaters like I used to do in my 720 truck. :X

[Oliver]

Yeah the guy at Auto Zone told me that some Police stop you for extra lights on the back. If worse comes to worse and I have to take 'em off I can always add them to the front I guess...

[Mookie]

In most states/provinces you can have two additional backup lights.

They are technically called "Docking" lights. Most semis and larger trucks have additional backup lights to aid them when reversing into the loading docks.

[k9sar]

mount a pair of these....

[FLApathy]

mount a pair of these....

 

nice

[Vsicks Pathy]

Yeah the guy at Auto Zone told me that some Police stop you for extra lights on the back. If worse comes to worse and I have to take 'em off I can always add them to the front I guess...

You are not permitted to have driving lights facing the rear in Australia. However, you can have work lights as long as you are able to turn them off from the light itself.

 

This type of light is legal in Oz.

 

[Oliver]

Well I got 'em put in and working. Now I have to wait till dark to see if my time was well spent....

 

Thanks for the help from all ya'll

 

 

Now I can proudly say that I'm not stock anymore.

 

[Casey.T]

pics???

[Oliver]

Sure, as soon as I finish the film in my camera and get it developed. It'd be so much easier if I had a digital....