18" Lightbar install to factory AUX switches for '21 Ranger Tremor

[boonedog]

Hi All!

I just bought this product from RTR: https://www.rtrvehicles.com/product...ights-19-22-ranger-all?variant=42745158238374

Which I believe came with this diode dynamics lightbar in it (the harness instructions that came with it has Diode name all over it on it and its nearly identical): https://www.diodedynamics.com/stage-series-led-lightbar-kit-for-2019-2021-ford-ranger.html

I have a '21 ranger tremor with the 6 factory aux switches on the dash, which goes down under the hood where the fuse box and single wires for each of the 6 aux switches are.

The kit I purchased from RTR came with both a massive wiring harness that plugs into the light bar/battery/has its own fuse box and switch that you can run into the interior, AND a very simple / clean rabbit ear plug with a heavy gauge +/- wire coming out of it (which I'm hopeful can just be plugged into the aux switches).

The fuse in the included harness is rated at 30, and the tremor aux switches max out at 25.

I can't find install instructions for this setup with the aux switches anywhere online, and it didn't come with install instructions for the tremor setup.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? Not sure which harness I should use, whether or not the aux switches will support it, etc etc.

This is also my first install like this. Just got the tremor a few months ago and did running boards and fender flares myself, and want to do this one next.

Thanks!

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[Colo_Ranger]

I am going to sound like a bit of a dick here, and I really don't mean to. I went through this phase of learning electrical function and components earlier this year. You need to research relays.

YouTube is a great resource for wiring custom fuse blocks and relays, and this will help you a lot.

What I can tell you is this: Your Tremor switch should NOT be wired to the light itself. The Tremor switch should enable/disable the relay. The relay is what should power the light. Basically, the relay is a switch. The switch on the dash switches the relay on and off and the higher power of the light run off the relay.


I am trying to explain this via text and, its not easy. I'm more visual. Here is a good place to start.

 

[ccasanova22]

One bar is less than 7A at 12VDC and 5.7A at 14VDC so you could put 3 bars on the 25A switch 1 and still be fine.

The Tremor switches are relayed, and it appears the kit comes with a 30A fuse but is nowhere drawing near that ampacity.

I would measure the current draw of everything you intend to attach to Switch 1 to decide.

25A Switch 1 is both fused and relayed in the Tremors…

 

[boonedog]

I am going to sound like a bit of a dick here, and I really don't mean to. I went through this phase of learning electrical function and components earlier this year. You need to research relays.

YouTube is a great resource for wiring custom fuse blocks and relays, and this will help you a lot.

What I can tell you is this: Your Tremor switch should NOT be wired to the light itself. The Tremor switch should enable/disable the relay. The relay is what should power the light. Basically, the relay is a switch. The switch on the dash switches the relay on and off and the higher power of the light run off the relay.


I am trying to explain this via text and, its not easy. I'm more visual. Here is a good place to start.

not being a dick at all. I’m noob status for sure when it comes to electronics and learning all I can. Thanks!

 

[boonedog]

One bar is less than 7A at 12VDC and 5.7A at 14VDC so you could put 3 bars on the 25A switch 1 and still be fine.

The Tremor switches are relayed, and it appears the kit comes with a 30A fuse but is nowhere drawing near that ampacity.

I would measure the current draw of everything you intend to attach to Switch 1 to decide.

25A Switch 1 is both fused and relayed in the Tremors…

Thanks for insight! Here’s a pic below. Am I reading correctly that I should go with this setup? red wire goes to 25A aux switch wire and then would black just be a ground?

 

[boonedog]

Again here’s option A, rabbit ears run straight into aux switches. Red goes to 25A aux switch and black goes to ground?

option B use the big wiring harness and run the switch through the firewall into dash and don’t use aux switches at all? (Seems like a waste of aux switches)

option c, use harness but splice the switch to the existing aux switches above the relay?

 

[OFC Ranger]

I am going to sound like a bit of a dick here, and I really don't mean to. I went through this phase of learning electrical function and components earlier this year. You need to research relays.

YouTube is a great resource for wiring custom fuse blocks and relays, and this will help you a lot.

What I can tell you is this: Your Tremor switch should NOT be wired to the light itself. The Tremor switch should enable/disable the relay. The relay is what should power the light. Basically, the relay is a switch. The switch on the dash switches the relay on and off and the higher power of the light run off the relay.


I am trying to explain this via text and, its not easy. I'm more visual. Here is a good place to start.

The tremor switches operate a factory distribution box that already has the relays present. That is why the amperage is stated for each switch.

 

[ccasanova22]

I think the aux switch 1 would be fine, but I’m just a lowly guy that’s worked in robotics, and we don’t even over fuse big dollar control components in several hundred k to $1M arc welders this way, so I think you should be fine.

Just measure the current with a properly rated ammeter and see for yourself.

My bet is a single bar draws less than 10A at 12-14VDC for sure.

 

[ccasanova22]

Thanks for insight! Here’s a pic below. Am I reading correctly that I should go with this setup? red wire goes to 25A aux switch wire and then would black just be a ground?

Yes that’s what I did with my Ranger. Went right into an Aux Switch and tied the black wire to Ground.

Those outputs are relayed and fused or protected so you should have no worries damaging anything especially with such a small amperage load.

The 30A fuse the kit includes is basically overkill.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

The tremor switches operate a factory distribution box that already has the relays present. That is why the amperage is stated for each switch.

So the relays would be replacemable

The tremor switches operate a factory distribution box that already has the relays present. That is why the amperage is stated for each switch.

Can the relays be swapped out? If so, that makes life much easier. and I stand corrected. I built my whole harness from scratch, I didn’t realize the relays were buil into the system.

 

[boonedog]

Appreciate all the insight here! Especially as this is my first post.


I sent an email to Diode and they got back the next day (awesome customer support).
They said it’s super easy install. Use the rabbit ears and the red wire can go to the existing aux wires, and the black goes to the frame as a ground.

as for Amps here’s what diode said:

“You'll definitely be able to power that off of your aux switches, with either the harness or the pigtails! With the pigtails, you'll just have to power those off of a switch rated for at least 10 amps, since that 3-section lightbar operates at 5.7 amps. With the full harness, the aux switch will only be used as a signal switch, so you can tap to any of the switches.”

I’ll get to the install this weekend and let y’all know how it goes!

 

[DaveT]

The upfitter switches and how to use them are well described in the owner's manual:

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...&vCode=&vFilteringEnabled=False&buildtype=web

 

[airline tech]

So the relays would be replacemable


Can the relays be swapped out? If so, that makes life much easier. and I stand corrected. I built my whole harness from scratch, I didn’t realize the relays were buil into the system.

Swapping relays will do nothing, the relay box is wired for the fuse protection, all the relay does is turn on or off power to what you are powering. The Aux Switch provides the control ground to close the contacts of the relay to complete the circuit.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Swapping relays will do nothing, the relay box is wired for the fuse protection, all the relay does is turn on or off power to what you are powering. The Aux Switch provides the control ground to close the contacts of the relay to complete the circuit.

those were two separate thoughts. Swapping the relay would allow you to adjust for usage. I wasn’t clear in my thought process with that post. Like I said though, I didn’t realize the tremor has relays. I built my setup from scratch, so I was thinking in that mind set.

 

[awd.nv]

Appreciate all the insight here! Especially as this is my first post.


I sent an email to Diode and they got back the next day (awesome customer support).
They said it’s super easy install. Use the rabbit ears and the red wire can go to the existing aux wires, and the black goes to the frame as a ground.

as for Amps here’s what diode said:

“You'll definitely be able to power that off of your aux switches, with either the harness or the pigtails! With the pigtails, you'll just have to power those off of a switch rated for at least 10 amps, since that 3-section lightbar operates at 5.7 amps. With the full harness, the aux switch will only be used as a signal switch, so you can tap to any of the switches.”

I’ll get to the install this weekend and let y’all know how it goes!

See Dave's post for info on the relay/fuse panel for the Tremor switches. The Aux switches on our Tremor's makes life so easy when adding lights and such.

I assume you will be crimping the wires together on the positive side, solder would be ideal but if you crimp, I like to twist the exposed wires before crimping. I would also use "shrink tube" on the crimp connector as well for good measure. Home Depot/Lowes and Harbor Freight should have some.

The upfitter switches and how to use them are well described in the owner's manual:

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...&vCode=&vFilteringEnabled=False&buildtype=web

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