?On installing back up lights

[tlhdoc]

I am thinking of installing a set of driving  lights as back up lights on my PU.  I am trying to decide if I should wire the lights (55 watts) to the battery on the PU or to the plug on the trailer, so that when I put the TV in reverse the lights will come on.  I wonder if the TV wiring for back up lights would be heavy enough, or if the driving lights would blow a fuse.  The lights do have a switch so that I can turn them off so they would not come on if I am in a parking lot or somewhere else where I wouldn't want to have the lights come on.  If they are wired to the battery I could turn them on from inside the PU as security lights if there was a problem outside at night.  Please give me your thoughts.  

[aw738]

Why not use a relay? Use the TV backup lights to activate the relay and power the lights off of the PU battery. One advantage is that if the TV is not hooked to the PU you can't leave the lights on. You could also use a toggle switch and have a manual override without the TV connected.

[sure2rain]

I've purchased a set of driving lights for the same purpose. My initial thoughts were to tap off of the TV backup lights into the wire connector. There is at least one connection point free. I was then going to do likewise on the PU side and run a seperate wire back to the lights. This would then activate the lights when the TV is in reverse. But I'm now thinking that it mignth be nice to have them hooked up to the PU battery with a swtch so that they can also be used for auxillary lighting in case of emergencies.

[AustinBoston]

You might contact Lee (Fyrfighter_EMT).  He did something like this where he could switch them on, or they would come on when hooked up & in reverse.  I don't remember if he used driving lights or fog lights.

Austin

[wynot]

You guys are probably making this harder than it is.

My Bargman connector has a backup light contact.  I added the wiring into trailer side of the Bargman, and ran the wires to the backup lights (under the rear bumper).  My backup lights are made for that purpose, sold as receiver hitch backup lights, from AutoZone.  They are 55W halogen apiece and are very compact (long in width, but not tall) - real important in this location on the camper.  I mounted them directly to the bolts holding the bumper on.
 
I would prefer that these be on top the bumper, but since I tend to hop up on the camper via the bumper, I didn't want to watch out for where the lights were.
 
Regarding the power up disconnected from the camper, I haven't gotten around to it, but I do have the parts, I would simply run a line directly from the camper battery with a switch in it, relayed into the backup line.  A quicker option is to take another bargman plug and run battery clips to it and plug it into the camper electrical plug (using the backup terminal).

[mike4947]

Wynot is correct, there's the center pin on a 7 pin connector that's specifically designed for backup lights. As for folks with a 5 pin or 6 pin setup an upgrade to a 7 pin is the easiest, best solution.
As for the TV wiring, 55 watts each or apx 8 amps for two is usually more power than the TV's backup light fuse is capable of handling.
Check in your owners manual on what fusing they use and if you need more power we wire from an open fuse position or drectly from the battery (fused/CB protected of course) back to a relay hooked into the backup light curcuit and then on to the 7 pin connector. The relays are common items available where the lights are sold.

[jaycocamprs]

I insalled a pair of these.
 
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&TEST=Y&productId=525434&categoryId=1532
 
The 99 Blazer and the 04 truck had backup lights in the trailer wiring, the 93 Jimmy did not. All 3 pulled the trailer and none ever had a problem. However a relay and a connection to the trailer battery would work quite well. You could also install a double pole single throw switch, hook one side to the TV back up light circuit and the other to the camper battery. In one position the lights work automatically, and the other manual.

[tlhdoc]

Thanks for your help.  I do have the pin on the bargman plug so it wouldn't be hard to wire it there and I will have to check and see what the fuse on the back up light circuit is.  My first PU, a 1986 real Coleman trailer, had back up lights.  I never under stood why they don't include them on the newer trailers.  They do make the same light fixture with back up lights included.

[wynot]

Thanks for your help. I do have the pin on the bargman plug so it wouldn't be hard to wire it there and I will have to check and see what the fuse on the back up light circuit is. My first PU, a 1986 real Coleman trailer, had back up lights. I never under stood why they don't include them on the newer trailers. They do make the same light fixture with back up lights included.

Tracy - easiest way - with a multimeter, put your positive test lead to the backup pin, and the negative to either a ground or the neg connector.  With your backup lights lit, see if you have juice.  Your trailer bargman will just have the corresponding terminal available for a wire.

[tlhdoc]

My TV is wired for back up lights on the trailer, I just need to check how many amps the fuse on that circuit is.

[SCCS]

Tracy,
 I had seen this over on POPUPEXPLORER and thanks to Bluesman I did the same thing to my trailer as well. Everything looks factory with out that added on look.Take a look http://community.webshots.com/photo/43839722/52214611AIkhfF

[wynot]

My TV is wired for back up lights on the trailer, I just need to check how many amps the fuse on that circuit is.

Probably the responsible thing to do, but all I can tell you is that I am running 110 W of lights off of it (GM) and have for the past year.  No problems, even with extended burning (as in maneuvering into campsites or parking at the house).

[mike4947]

I should have qualified the "check the circuit fuse thing" a little more. Regular backup lights on a trailer 95% of the time won't have a problem.

Where the circuit amperage comes in is when the Tim Allen "more power" syndrome hits and people get high powered driving lights/fog lights and use them for backup lights.

[tlhdoc]

Tracy,
 I had seen this over on POPUPEXPLORER and thanks to Bluesman I did the same thing to my trailer as well. Everything looks factory with out that added on look.Take a look http://community.webshots.com/photo/43839722/52214611AIkhfF

SCCS thanks for the tip.  I did see Bluesman's mod and I like it, but it seems a lot easier to use driving or fog lights and if I wire them to the PU battery I can use them for security lights too.

[wynot]

SCCS thanks for the tip. I did see Bluesman's mod and I like it, but it seems a lot easier to use driving or fog lights and if I wire them to the PU battery I can use them for security lights too.

Take a peek at the hitch mounted backup lights at AutoZone - you do have one up there, don't ya?  They have a wide beam pattern AND are very compact.  I have not seen any driving or fog lights that are quite that compact AND work as well as these do.  One little point as well, remember that anything put back here is going to have water forced up into them, so at least these are planned to be mounted backwards, compared to fog/driving lights that expect you to be driving with the lens facing into the wind.