Aux Lights Wired To Cargo Light

[hoorders]

Hey everyone,

 

Ive just finished fabricating my back rack(will post pics soon) and I am also going to mount some aux lights on it for lighting up the box.......I was wondering if anyone has wired into the existing cargo light so that the new lights will work off the factory cargo light switch in the cab?

My idea is to drill a small hole in the bottom of the lens, and put a gromet in place to keep the wire from chaffing and to keep the water out.

I'd rather not run another switch for the aux lights.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks...................

[bobcat5544]

I'm not one for splicing into wire harrnesses, but if you have to do it this way then make sure you use a relay to the aux lighting. This will keep you from overloading the circuit.

[lsorah0001]

Shouldn't be hard if you use a relay. Run a power wire, a wire to your lights, a ground and run a wire from the cargo lamps to the relay (pin 85?) that only has power when the lights are on. Probably the pos. side. That way when your cargo lights come on, it trips the relay and opens a connection from the hot wire to your lights. Hope this helps!

[Triki_Dick]

I want to put a light in the bed, what about hooking it up to the Camper hookup?

[hoorders]

Shouldn't be hard if you use a relay. Run a power wire, a wire to your lights, a ground and run a wire from the cargo lamps to the relay (pin 85?) that only has power when the lights are on. Probably the pos. side. That way when your cargo lights come on, it trips the relay and opens a connection from the hot wire to your lights. Hope this helps!

Im really mechanically inclined but for some reason, relays confuse me some...........any off road lights or other accessories I've used have come with their own wiring harness including the relay.....so those are a no brainer............but any relays ive seen in parts stores have a bunch of terminals on them.....like 4 or 5 pins.........I think I only need 2 of them......one wire going from the cargo light to one of the pins and one wire going from one of the pins to the lights.....is this correct or am I losing it?..... ...............and if I do only need to use to pins.......which ones????

[2004GMC1500CC]

Shouldn't be hard if you use a relay. Run a power wire, a wire to your lights, a ground and run a wire from the cargo lamps to the relay (pin 85?) that only has power when the lights are on. Probably the pos. side. That way when your cargo lights come on, it trips the relay and opens a connection from the hot wire to your lights. Hope this helps!

Im really mechanically inclined but for some reason, relays confuse me some...........any off road lights or other accessories I've used have come with their own wiring harness including the relay.....so those are a no brainer............but any relays ive seen in parts stores have a bunch of terminals on them.....like 4 or 5 pins.........I think I only need 2 of them......one wire going from the cargo light to one of the pins and one wire going from one of the pins to the lights.....is this correct or am I losing it?..... ...............and if I do only need to use to pins.......which ones????

 

 

Every automotive relay I have ever bought comes with a wiring diagram that is usually pretty easy. You will have to run a new power wire from somewhere, if it is the battery use an inline fuse. A ground wire. A trigger wire (from the cargo light), a wire to the new lights for power. The new lights also need a ground. Should be pretty simple.

[hoorders]

Shouldn't be hard if you use a relay. Run a power wire, a wire to your lights, a ground and run a wire from the cargo lamps to the relay (pin 85?) that only has power when the lights are on. Probably the pos. side. That way when your cargo lights come on, it trips the relay and opens a connection from the hot wire to your lights. Hope this helps!

Im really mechanically inclined but for some reason, relays confuse me some...........any off road lights or other accessories I've used have come with their own wiring harness including the relay.....so those are a no brainer............but any relays ive seen in parts stores have a bunch of terminals on them.....like 4 or 5 pins.........I think I only need 2 of them......one wire going from the cargo light to one of the pins and one wire going from one of the pins to the lights.....is this correct or am I losing it?..... ...............and if I do only need to use to pins.......which ones????

 

 

Every automotive relay I have ever bought comes with a wiring diagram that is usually pretty easy. You will have to run a new power wire from somewhere, if it is the battery use an inline fuse. A ground wire. A trigger wire (from the cargo light), a wire to the new lights for power. The new lights also need a ground. Should be pretty simple.

 

Its been a while since I bought a relay so I honestly dont recal if there was a wiring diagram..........obviuosly makes sense that there would be though.........thanks for your help!!......

[gave20]

Its been a while since I bought a relay so I honestly dont recal if there was a wiring diagram..........obviuosly makes sense that there would be though.........thanks for your help!!......

 

To wire up the relay find the + side of the cargo switch (orange wire, I think) to pin 86 on the relay connect the - side (blue/white) to pin 85 connect another 12volt + source to pin 30 and the output for your aux lights to pin 87. When you turn on the cargo lights the aux lights should work too. Don't forget to add a few diodes as well.

[hoorders]

Its been a while since I bought a relay so I honestly dont recal if there was a wiring diagram..........obviuosly makes sense that there would be though.........thanks for your help!!......

 

To wire up the relay find the + side of the cargo switch (orange wire, I think) to pin 86 on the relay connect the - side (blue/white) to pin 85 connect another 12volt + source to pin 30 and the output for your aux lights to pin 87. When you turn on the cargo lights the aux lights should work too. Don't forget to add a few diodes as well.

 

Thanks for the wire color breakdown...................but why would I need diodes and what do they do?

[hotwheels57]

This one should really put out some additional light...

 

[hoorders]

This one should really put out some additional light...

 

What????

[hotwheels57]

...check out the extended bed light on the pole...

[lsorah0001]

Thanks for the wire color breakdown...................but why would I need diodes and what do they do?

 

To use a new relay, you shouldn't have to use a diode (you do to do the All-on-high mod, but these are existing relays and we are "one way jumping" a signal). Correct me if I'm wrong, but i thought that you put a constant hot to pin 87, pos. to lights to pin 30, ground pin 86 and a wire from your cargo lights to pin 85. Then, of course, run a ground from you lights.

 

:edit: Fixed the quote.