Auxillary Switches Prep vs actual Auxillary switches?

[Michael Phipps]

I learned something new today. Power Wagons (new) cannot and do not have Auxillary switches from the factory. Even if you get every possible option on the truck, they aren't available.

What you DO get is "Auxillary Switches Prep" which I've now learned is a bundle of 6 wires that come out of the fuse box and terminate in the engine bay (see pictures). Now these wires are NOT switched. I'm unclear if they are always hot, fused, ignition controlled or anything. Apparently this is an "upfitter option".

Does anyone have any experience with these? How do I add accessories to these wires? Which wires do what? Does anyone have any insight into how these work?

Needless to say, I'm very frustrated as I was expecting switches in the cab and a connector up against the firewall to wire things in.

 

[Docwagon1776]

This is straight from Google, so I will not vouch for the accuracy:

Programming the Auxiliary Switches

1. Access Commercial Settings: Navigate to the "Commercial Settings" menu on your dashboard, usually found under "Vehicle Settings".
   
   
2. Enter PIN: Enter the PIN for your truck; the factory default is often 0000 or 1234.
   
   
3. Select Auxiliary Switches: Choose the option for auxiliary switches.
   
   
4. Configure Settings: For each switch, you can set:
   • Type: Latching (stays on until pushed again) or momentary (power only when held).
     
     
   • Power Source: Battery or ignition.
     
     
   • Last State: For ignition-fed switches, whether it remembers the last state (on/off).
     

Wiring Your Accessory

1. Identify the PDC: Locate the Aux Power Distribution Center (PDC) under the hood.
   
   
2. Find the Connector: Inside the PDC, you'll find two four-way connectors (light gray and dark gray). These connectors have factory-terminated wires for each auxiliary switch.
   
   
3. Connect Your Wire: Use the provided spade connector to attach your accessory's positive wire to the appropriate port in the connector.
   
   
4. Ground the Wire: Connect the accessory's negative wire to a ground bolt on the vehicle's frame.
   
   
5. Protect the Connection: Apply dielectric grease to the connection to protect it from moisture.

 

[Jimmy07]

I learned something new today. Power Wagons (new) cannot and do not have Auxillary switches from the factory. Even if you get every possible option on the truck, they aren't available.

What you DO get is "Auxillary Switches Prep" which I've now learned is a bundle of 6 wires that come out of the fuse box and terminate in the engine bay (see pictures). Now these wires are NOT switched. I'm unclear if they are always hot, fused, ignition controlled or anything. Apparently this is an "upfitter option".

Does anyone have any experience with these? How do I add accessories to these wires? Which wires do what? Does anyone have any insight into how these work?

Needless to say, I'm very frustrated as I was expecting switches in the cab and a connector up against the firewall to wire things in.

Those are not auxiliary switch wiring, those are snow plow wiring prep (present on every 2019+ HD Ram regardless of whether or not equipped with snow plow group).
Since this “Auxiliary Switches Prep” option has been around since 2023, nobody has yet been able to determine what Ram means by this, as nobody with this option has any evidence of aux switch wiring present.
In order to have any type of aux switch wiring, there must at least be the aux fuse box present with the relays and fuses (located between the battery and firewall).

 

[Michael Phipps]

OK, after much discussion this is what I've learned. There are 6 wires in the aux switches prep that exit the bottom of the fuse box. From the factory they are each covered in a black shrink tubing but underneath that is a separate wire casing that has different colored wires. The owner's manual has details on which wire does what apparently, but I've not been able to access my owner's manual yet so I can't confirm it. Each of the 6 wires are 'hot', with 3 of the wires running direct to battery power and 3 of them controlled by the ignition switch, again supposedly explained in the owner's manual. These wires are meant to be tied in to and run to the cab for switching, but there are no switches there- these have to be aftermarket. Just for clarity, there is no option on a PowerWagon (2025/6 at least) that gets you aux switches in the cab- it just doesn't exist. All 6 wires are fused.