Backup lights

[PLJ]

Does anyone have the procedural steps for adding backup/floodlights to the trailer. This isn't to my PUP but to an equipment trailer. I have a 14 x 7 trailer that I store camping gear for a youth group. I want to put bright lights on the trailer so that when we arrive in the dark and setup I can just switch on the lights and illuminate the group camp site for an hour without worrying about trying to light lanterns etc. These lights would work from the 12v battery, not necessarily from the truck hookup.

[austinado16]

If you've got a 7 pin trailer wiring connector, you can use the center pin as your connection between the truck and the trailer to power the lights.

Wire them like you would any light of that size.........12v from the truck battery goes directly to a relay.  The relay is grounded.  12v hot all the time goes to your switch in the dash, with a fuse inline.  On the other side of your relay, you'll come off with your supply wire that goes back to the trailer, through the center pin on your trailer connector.  Your lights will be grounded to the trailer frame.

When you turn on the switch in the dash, you will be powering up the relay.  The relay then throws straight battery power back to the lights.  It's the relay that carries the electrical "load" and heat, rather than your switch or your wiring.

Here's an example below, but it shows how to power the 12v section of a fridge.  Pretend that 12v fridge heater coil is your backup lights and disregard the image of the camper battery.  Where is says, "vehicle ignition" that would actually be the feed from your switch in the dash. The Bosch relay that I show is about $6-$10.

If you are going to wire this up just to function on the trailer, and have nothing to do with the truck, then you'd do the same thing, just with a battery on the trailer instead.

Clear as mud?