Reverse light alternatives

[Rzrman328]

Yessir.

Make sure you ground to frame. Works best apparently.

 

[SitKneelBend]

For the most part yes but I wouldn't run 12 lights off of a 16 gauge wire though

Why and would you run them off of 2 16 gauge wires?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Rlaf75]

Why and would you run them off of 2 16 gauge wires?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Don't overload the wire. There's reasons why there's different gauge wire

 

[SitKneelBend]

...and what about wiring each pod to individual reverse lights (one in each tail)?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Rzrman328]

It'd be fine but unnecessary extra work imo.

 

[Rlaf75]

It'd be fine but unnecessary extra work imo.

^^^Exactly ^^^ LEDs don't draw as much current like I said before. Running them to one side would be fine for LEDs. And you'd only have to work with one connection which keeps it simple

 

[SitKneelBend]

I've done some looking around and I am by no means an electrical anything but here goes...

Looking at the stock incandescent bulbs they are sitting at 18W. The LED replacements are typically 0.5W. So adding an additional 18W LED pod to each reverse light circuit would only be adding an additional 0.5W to each right? I know this doesn't equate to load very well but it's the only comparison I've made so far.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Rlaf75]

I've done some looking around and I am by no means an electrical anything but here goes...

Looking at the stock incandescent bulbs they are sitting at 18W. The LED replacements are typically 0.5W. So adding an additional 18W LED pod to each reverse light circuit would only be adding an additional 0.5W to each right? I know this doesn't equate to load very well but it's the only comparison I've made so far.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

You should be just fine

 

[SitKneelBend]

OK, I used an electrical calculator to figure out everything. If I wire both LED pods to a common ground and run each pod to each reverse light respectively, I will place a minimal load on the factory wires. Here's the breakdown.

Factory setup.

18W/1.5 amps/12v

LED (921 in housings, LED pods x2)

18.5W/1.54167 amps/12v

Can anyone tell me which wire is positive in the reverse lights for the tails?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[xrsman]

OK, I used an electrical calculator to figure out everything. If I wire both LED pods to a common ground and run each pod to each reverse light respectively, I will place a minimal load on the factory wires. Here's the breakdown.

Factory setup.

18W/1.5 amps/12v

LED (921 in housings, LED pods x2)

18.5W/1.54167 amps/12v

Can anyone tell me which wire is positive in the reverse lights for the tails?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Do you have a volt meter? That would be able to tell you. I can't remember which wire was which without taking it all apart again. I believe the positive wire had a stripe on it. That's also assuming you're talking about tapping into the tail light. If you do that you might as well tap the negative into it as well.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Rzrman328]

OK, I used an electrical calculator to figure out everything. If I wire both LED pods to a common ground and run each pod to each reverse light respectively, I will place a minimal load on the factory wires. Here's the breakdown.

Factory setup.

18W/1.5 amps/12v

LED (921 in housings, LED pods x2)

18.5W/1.54167 amps/12v

Can anyone tell me which wire is positive in the reverse lights for the tails?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Ha...dude, you're way over analyzing this. Just tap into the trailer harness for power. Ground both pods to the frame and eliminate messing with the tails altogether.

I'm getting stressed out for you lol

 

[SitKneelBend]

Ha...dude, you're way over analyzing this. Just tap into the trailer harness for power. Ground both pods to the frame and eliminate messing with the tails altogether.

I'm getting stressed out for you lol

I know...sometimes I'm a bit pedantic.

Half the fun for me is tinkering and coming up with the best solution. However, once I go out and look at it, I may just say screw it and use the trailer harness. One 16 gauge wire should be able to handle these lights from what I've found.

The trailer wire is specific to reverse lights on the trailer right? In other words, it's not a 12v constant or ACC power source but a power source that is switched by the truck being in reverse right?

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[Rzrman328]

My led pod lights only go on when put in reverse.

Eventually I'm gonna get around to running a switch to turn them on too.

 

[reek]

on my 1500 I had some 9 inch LED pods on custom welded brackets under my bumper, those things REALLY put out some light. Loved it.

on my new 2500 I did the in bumper light pods like Jinxcanada and Slightlytweeked. Wife thought I was the biggest idiot when the first thing I did to my brand new truck was start drilling and cutting a perfectly good bumper. Not as bright as I like but good enough.

here's Slightlytweeked's post http://www.ramforum.com/f75/led_pods_rear_bumper_pic_heavy-71309/

I have my lights on a separate toggle rather than linked to my reverse lights so I can use them while I'm out of the truck.

 

[Mopar Sarge]

Upgraded my '14 to the 800w Ebay 921 led's - about 4x better than the stock 916 bulbs .

Sarge

 

[SitKneelBend]

Can anyone tell me of a good existing factory ground point on the rear of the frame near the spare tire? I have everything wired up but I didn't have anything to use in an existing hole (no fasteners that fit).

 

[BlownGP]

Can anyone tell me of a good existing factory ground point on the rear of the frame near the spare tire? I have everything wired up but I didn't have anything to use in an existing hole (no fasteners that fit).

There should be a ground on the trailer wiring or just find a bolt that's metal on metal and put it there. It's all you need.

 

[Rzrman328]

I used a tapping screw and just found an open spot on the frame.

 

[SitKneelBend]

I used a tapping screw and just found an open spot on the frame.

Yeah, that is what I was trying to do, but the ones I had were too big or too small.

Thank you for the replies, I was just wondering if there was a factory ground location back that way like in the engine bay...

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

 

[R.L.K.]

I just drilled a hole in the fram L/S aft near spare tire , burnished the surrounding area down to bare metal ( aprox 1/2" ) and established a ground point with a stainless bolt lockwasher& flatwasher and nut , then I completely covered it with B2 870 corrosion preventing proseal. You could just cover it with clear silicone. ..