Cargo Lights as Back Up Lights

[port43]

Yes it it
I made it - got on a role and did not include pics. They are in parallel on the ground line.
I used these, I'm a Mech Engr so no idea if these are best but I think I went for overkill (beyond the resistance and capacitance).
CAP
Resistor

Thank you so much! I had electricity and electronics classes all through high school and received good grades but it wasn't until I started college for Electrical Engineering that I realized I didn't even know enough to pass the freshman classes. It seems my high school teacher was just a drunk that gave everyone passing grades if we were quiet and let him nurse his hangovers.

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[DukeCanBuildit]

Thank you so much! I had electricity an electronics classes all through high school and received good grades but it wasn't until I started college for Electrical Engineering that I realized I didn't even know enough to pass the freshman classes. It seems my high school teacher was just a drunk that gave everyone passing grades if we were quiet and let him nurse his hangovers.

I think we went to the same High School!

 

[port43]

I think we went to the same High School!

High school didn't prepare me for shit except for English and drafting. Even then I still wound up in IT.

 

[Byngsboys]

Good evening:

First off, I'm impressed by how smooth it is and how it looks. It is definitely something that just made it onto my mod list (as soon as it is warm enough!)

Second, I wanted to be an engineer right up until I took calculus! So that not being possible, instead I married one. lol. So bear with me, can you go through the resistor/ capacitor build bit. I understand all of the rest and have done enough similar stuff on motorcycles not to be put off, but that one bit you built...that part I will need explained.

Thanks for putting this all together!

Take care,
Kris

 

[micl9]

Thanks Kris
I have extra caps and resistors, I will put something together this weekend.

 

[port43]

Good evening:

First off, I'm impressed by how smooth it is and how it looks. It is definitely something that just made it onto my mod list (as soon as it is warm enough!)

Second, I wanted to be an engineer right up until I took calculus! So that not being possible, instead I married one. lol. So bear with me, can you go through the resistor/ capacitor build bit. I understand all of the rest and have done enough similar stuff on motorcycles not to be put off, but that one bit you built...that part I will need explained.

Thanks for putting this all together!

Take care,
Kris

@micl9 can correct me if I am wrong (and I will delete this) but this is how I would describe it without pictures. The capacitor has two leads coming out of it so spread them so it looks like it's doing the splits. Solder one lead of the resistor to one lead of the capacitor. Solder the other lead of the resistor to the other lead of the capacitor. Connect one set of the cap/resistor leads to the appropriate place on the relay using a wire jumper. The other end of the cap/resistor gets connected to your ground lead.

 

[micl9]

Correct, except the cap has a + and -

 

[micl9]

OK here are some pictures and directions
Again here are the parts I used
CAP
Resistor

Cap and resistor - note short lead is the neg, also marked on side of cap.

twist together resistor to long lead

Bend twisted leads to run parallel to the cap, bring other resistor lead around

Twist remaining leads together. Add heat shrink tube to the leads and solder wire as shown. Slip bigger heat shrink to cover up the whole thing.

Does this help guys?

 

[Byngsboys]

OK here are some pictures and directions
Cap and resistor - note short lead is the neg, also marked on side of cap.

twist together resistor to long lead

Bend twisted leads to run parallel to the cap, bring other resistor lead around

Twist remaining leads together. Add heat shrink tube to the leads and solder wire as shown. Slip bigger heat shrink to cover up the whole thing.

Does this help guys?

Thank you very much! If I can see it I can replicate it!
Kris

 

[port43]

Correct, except the cap has a + and -

I missed 'splaining that part. At least I remembered what "in parallel" was. ?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I missed 'splaining that part. At least I remembered what "in parallel" was. ?

Hi Tony,

So the resistor bridges the capacitor, or as you state is in parallel with the resistor.

 

[Fawnbuster]

LARIAT OWNERS HEADS UP!!
In researching my next mod, Lariat heated mirrors. I discovered that on Lariats the puddle lamps will also turn on when in reverse with my changes. This could be addressed by using a relay to switch 12V IGN to the cargo light feed wire instead of wiring thru the cargo light switch and BCM.
Or you could just learn to live with the puddle lamps being on when in reverse (you can see what this looks like by turning on your cargo lamp while in reverse). ?‍

FYI - I am in the process of adding Lariat HEATED mirrors to my truck and will actual wire the puddles to the cargo lights. I figure the more light the better when backing up!

Great job!

I was just wondering recently if i could use the oem ford cargo light switch to power up a pair of led backup lights i plan to mount under the rear bumper. Yes i could just tie in a new harness adapter and pull from the reverse lights for power / trigger. If i use a Rigid or Baja light with their relay i would think that the low amp draw on the oem switch shouldn't be a problem. I installed the Lightforce fascia and 2 switches (redarc in #3) but now find myself needing the dual switches, i like the ability to have lights wired independently, so the lights on either side of the ACC, a lightbar, pillar lights and rock lights all would take up all 4 switches. When i wire in bed lights i would like to tie into the fob / interior light setup so the automatically shut off.

 

[micl9]

@Fawnbuster
Hey Mike
Keep in mind the Cargo light switch is a momentary SW. It sends a GND pulse to the BCM, telling it to turn the Cargo lights on. If you want to trigger off the cargo lights I would tap into the 12V line going to the Cargo lights with a relay pulling from a 12V source. Sounds like you want switches to further control this (both on, LH on, RH on - like this by the way!) at the dash so I would tap into the cargo light line a the BCM.
Bed lights - also an interesting idea! That way they come on when you unlock the truck. I did mine by tapping into the 12V aux line behind the RH rear tire and using FORScan to disable the timeout. I have an on/off switch in the bed. And if I forget to turn it off the battery saver will eventually kick in and shut the power off. To me this saved me from relays and lines run from the battery. But I do like the idea of coming on with the unlock! I might have gone this route if I had thought of it!
if you do this be sure to post on the bedlights thread! or start your own DIY

 

[importfighter01]

Thank you for posting this mod! Great info and instructions.

 

[micl9]

Glad you guys like this! Please post if you make the mod and report how it went.

I added a parts list with links to 1st post.

Not sure if I mentioned this already but my next mod is adding Lariat mirrors. Still in planning stage, but I started a thread. Only thing I lack is a driver side Lariat mirror.

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