My Running board lighting mod, bed lighting mod and other lighting mods :)

EagleChief said:

I like that idea, having an amber set for turn signals, but is that really possible? If you tied into the turn signals, wouldn't they be on as long as the parking lights are on? The turn signal and parking lights are the same, right? I wonder if there is a way to tap into the turn signal only? I guess you could tap into the rear turn signals, or is that 1 bulb also?

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You have three wires for the turn signal.

Constant power, ground and the signal wire. Tap the signal wire and they will only come on with the turn signals like your mirrors.

blackbetty14 said:

Thanks, me too! amazing how dark it is in there lol. Gotta figure if I want to run a relay or not. Seems that the RED LEDs don't use a lot of current, 1.2amps roughly on the ebay ad for a full 5M strip or 15ft… Figure id run about 5ft each side or 10ft total so maybe .8-.9amps total… but I have no specs on current rating of the switch I got… but 1 amp is very small. Plus would make my life alot easier with the wiring and making it look clean.

Sorry man, nope, NJ my whole life… but I do have a bad ass 3rd gen firebird

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Yep, it's dark under the bed cover (I have a white truck but got a bedrug).
Trying to decide battery operated stand-alone or wired.
Before anything, I got too much projects to finish (around the house & garage).

I guess every blackbetty got bad ass vehicles

I updated the 2nd post with pics and video of the bed lighting but Im going to post it here too.

UPDATES!!!

Spent 3 hours outside as it was warm (high 30s) compared to the frigin -20 we've been having… it was so hot I was out in a tee shirt lol. I got the bed lighting done! Whoop whoop. I tapped into the tow plug as I looked for other 12v sources and none were readily available in the area. Then It took about 5 trys to position the switch where it would activate… I had some great hidden spots but it was a **** hair too far away and wouldn't open the switch (turn off lights). Running the lights took only 30 min. I looked for the best option for placement of the LEDs but My cover clamps took up some good spots… then I saw that the tonno cover rails where perfectly straight and smooth… great spot for the LEDs… bc they are off the sides of the bed it puts more light toward the middle. Plus If I trade in the truck I can use the tonno cover and LED lighting on another truck with the same size bed… so its a win win. I decided also that I don't need a relay for this… no need to complicate the wiring and the LEDs only pull alittle over 1 amp and the switch doesn't seem to have any issues. I did give myself some extra wire (hidden for now) so that I can install a switch to turn the lights on with the truck bed closed. That will be going in the bed cover rails as well, that way I don't have the touch the truck or drill any holes.

All I have to say is it looks great… its very bright and goes with the theme of my truck. I need to get a shot of the cover rolled up and the lights on… i bed it looks like a bright red hole. I'm really diggin it!

This is where I put the switch


Here is the magnet, as soon as the tailgate handle is popped it turns on… so its close to the edge of the switches sensing distance.


Daylight shot of the wiring… this is the power feed that I ran up behind the tail light in the open space that goes straight down.


This is how each light strip is connected in series with each other. (driver side)


Same here (pass side)


Some night shots!








Shot with the running boards/nerf bars on as well




Here is the video of me opening the tailgate (lights are off when close) then at the end I roll up the cover alittle so you can see the lights shut off and turn on when the tailgate opens and closes.
http://youtu.be/oBaJJrIrwMA

Love this, can you show where/how you connected into the power both for the nerf bars and the bed lights? Did you use the same LEDs? Where did you end up getting them from? Looks great!

14MDRam said:

Love this, can you show where/how you connected into the power both for the nerf bars and the bed lights? Did you use the same LEDs? Where did you end up getting them from? Looks great!

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He tied the nerf bars into the drivers side footwell light and the bed lights through the 12V in the 7 pin trailer connector

That looks great!! Nice job!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

Your truck needs a bouncer now ;-) I like it. May do the bed lights myself.

blackbetty14 said:

I might not do the footwell lighting as I don't think red in the footwells will look that great with stock amber or even a white LED in the headliner lighting. Might skip that part. Enjoy!

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http://www.ramforum.com/f17/xrsman_2014_ram_build_thread-50717/index2.html

Here's a link to page 2 of my build thread showing the red interior lighting in the footwell. I personally really like the look, especially at night when I'm driving! It doesn't distract me at all and looks cool! Mine is going all the time

14MDRam said:

Love this, can you show where/how you connected into the power both for the nerf bars and the bed lights? Did you use the same LEDs? Where did you end up getting them from? Looks great!

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Stupid easy, finding the plugs in the footwells and just running the wires inside the cab. Running the wires was the hardest part.

Tail gate was pulling the back plug off the trailer plug, tapping into the black and red wires and just running it the way you want.

I can try to get some pics but its going to differ from person to person.

LEDs are off ebay, i went with black PCB LEDs bc they will be less noticeable.
Red Waterproof 5050 SMD 300Leds 5M Flexible LED Strip Light DC12V Black PCB | eBay

This is the Normally closed switch I used for DC current
Dei 8600 Magnetic Switch N C Small by Directed Electronics | eBay

LED extension wire… I got 20M so i had extra but I prob didn't use more than 10ft total for everything.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/36118999192...49&var=630549563858&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

very nice and clean. giving me ideas...

Update,

I found out that my magnetic reed switch lost adhesion to the bed liner and moved alittle causing the lights to stay on. Over at least a 6hr time period the switch got hot and melted but stayed on. I immediately pulled it off and put in a manual pushbutton switch. Works great and now I can turn the bed lights on with the door closed. I will post a couple of pics of the switch in my original post later tonight.

So my switch lost its hold on the bed liner and caused the LEDs to be on for a long time (6+ hours) and caused the switch to get hot and melt the switch. I decided it wasn't worth it and installed my pushbutton switch Ive been wanting to do. Now I have full control of the LEDs with or without the tail gate opening. Its shielded from the weather and allows me to still turn it on with the cover fully closed. There is a empty space between the switch and the cover.

The magnetic switch idea is a good one, but I think I like the push button better. Like you said, you have full control of having the lights on/off. Nice job.

I don't have a bed cover, so lights aren't that big of a deal, but I think it would look cool at night with the bed glowing.

saved for future reference...these look great!

I think I just found my next mod. (Damn you truck, you're eating my wallet. )

The Recon Big Rig ICE from that video somebody linked.

That and a nice set of Plasmaglow cab running lights (tow lights, whatever) should round things out nicely.

Just in case anyone wants to see what blue looks like Mine are 2 x 5' sections underneath the truck thanks for the write up on this blackbetty! Very cool idea, and something you never see so it stands out!

Looks good! I like that look... makes great puddle lights.

blackbetty14 said:

Looks good! I like that look... makes great puddle lights.

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Thanks, yeah that's what I was going for lol!

Great write-up. For anyone who does not want to solder or shrink wrap the connectors. Here are some that clip on.

8mm 2 Pin Free Solder Connector Cable for SMD 5050 3528 Single Color LED Strips | eBay

Add a little silicone for the ends and they become water resistant.