55w Reverse Lamps - Page 2

**bigtar** · 03-15-2006, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarefootRubi

the jeep's harness isn't up to powering 55w lights. You really don't want to over heat those factory wires, have them melt their insulation & cook your jeep.

I was thinking of splicing the factory reverse light wire into the relay as the reverse switch, but powering the lights off the battery. Will this overload the wires?

Also, what is the function of the dimmer into the switch?

Oman Jeep · 03-15-2006, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarefootRubi

even tired you read it right. I wanted them on any time I'm in reverse. The switch is just so I can turn them when i want (mostly when loading my cargo carrier or little trailer)

They have other uses too

Like I said - I don't want them on when cops are around as I don't know if they're legal for me

- but I like them when backing into parking spots... they have a habit of putting palm trees and crap in parking spots to make the place look pretty... Didn't notice on one of them one night and by pure luck stopped HALF an inch from the tree. Didn't even know it was there...

Now, with the lights, I know what's there

They also work great when someone gets on your bumper

... but again check the rear view mirror for cops first

Also good when someone else needs a tow... but kinda the same as hooking up with the trailer only now you're running with straps and trying to find their tow hooks...

**dougolupski** · 03-15-2006, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtar

I was thinking of splicing the factory reverse light wire into the relay as the reverse switch, but powering the lights off the battery. Will this overload the wires?

No that won't overload the factory wires at all. SOLONG AS YOU USE A RELAY. I had to make it loud so if some idiot burns his/her jeep down by wiring it wrong they can't blame me.

By the way sweet write up. I know we have a good community here, but that took alot of effort. Thanx.

It's some thing I have been looking at doing for a while. I have been throwing around the idea of rectangle holes in the bumper with flush mounted KC's.

jim ellsworth · 03-16-2006, 03:54 AM

Very nice set up, thanks for the write up also. Does anyone know the part numbers of the panel switches. My local dealer kills my for big $$$$ for small parts.

Or a source on line for the switches? I think it actually gets darker with the factory back up lights. Nice set up.

bfr · 03-16-2006, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtar

I was thinking of splicing the factory reverse light wire into the relay as the reverse switch, but powering the lights off the battery. Will this overload the wires?

that would be ok. I just used the wire in the mirror harness because of its location.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtar

Also, what is the function of the dimmer into the switch?

the factory fog switch hast two bulbs inside of it. One is on anytime the jeep's lights are on. It is the one behind the foglight "symbol" on the switch. This bulb is contolled by you panel dimmer(when you adjust the brightness of your gauges etc.) The second bulb is only illuminated when the switch is depressed. It is what lights the little green indicator.

heezy101 · 05-15-2006, 05:21 PM

i finally got around to getting a set of lights and im going to recess them into the rear bumper and wire them as you have in this write-up but......i don't have the the temp/compass on the rearview, you mentioned two other places to splice into the 12v that comes on when you put the jeep in reverse, does anyone have and other info on this, the best place to tap in? the color of the wire im looking for? any info will save me some time when tracing the wires out, thanks

crsmith · 05-15-2006, 05:49 PM

Nice write-up. I just wired a pair of 55 watt reverse lights as well. I hid the relay in the rear light housing on the left (driver's) side, so that it would be in waterproof location. Being located there, it was easy to tap into the wire going to the reverse light bulb, so that it would trigger the relay which illuminates the two reverse lights. I did a separate 12 volt feed on thick wire, so that there would be no problems. As well, I have a switch which will turn on the reverse lights if I want to use them while standing still; that is also wired into the relay in the tail light housing.

tjsooley · 05-15-2006, 06:01 PM

you could do what i did got some 1156 55w backup bulbs and put them is the stock backup local

Combatsylvania · 12-14-2006, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjsooley

you could do what i did got some 1156 55w backup bulbs and put them is the stock backup local

With no relay? Call the mechanic and book an appointment now, woudlnt hurt to give the firedepartment a heads up too,

**Border Dave** · 12-14-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Combatsylvania

With no relay? Call the mechanic and book an appointment now, woudlnt hurt to give the firedepartment a heads up too,

I've been using the 55 Watt bulbs for several years now also. So far, so good. By the way, they really don't through any more usable light with the factory housings, but I was just to lazy too change them back to the factory bulbs. Maybe now I'll do this mod and put the factory bulbs back in.

Combatsylvania · 12-14-2006, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Border Dave

I've been using the 55 Watt bulbs for several years now also. So far, so good. By the way, they really don't through any more usable light with the factory housings, but I was just to lazy too change them back to the factory bulbs. Maybe now I'll do this mod and put the factory bulbs back in.

Theres a great write up on stu-offroad.com about a kid that thought that. He ended up burning out a wire in the harness somewhere.. took weeks and lots of money to find the problem.. i beleive it was 55watt lights he used..

just a friendly warning, thats all.. I like my jeep to much to take that gamble.

**Border Dave** · 12-14-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Combatsylvania

Theres a great write up on stu-offroad.com about a kid that thought that. He ended up burning out a wire in the harness somewhere.. took weeks and lots of money to find the problem.. i beleive it was 55watt lights he used..

just a friendly warning, thats all.. I like my jeep to much to take that gamble.

I think I'll do a little experiment. I'll put one of the stock bulbs back in tonight and take a comparison photo of one stock bulb and one 55 watt bulb while in reverse. I'll post the photo here tonight. I'm pretty sure you won't notice much of a difference. I will be putting the other stock bulb back in after I take the photo.

IWantAGladiator · 12-14-2006, 04:23 PM

Nice write up! Its my next project.

I used the same switch to toggle my w/s mounted lites, and damn if the green LED doesnt come on when the lites are off, and vice versa. But it was the only way to wire the switch to "glow" when the dashlites were on. Gotta fix it... but any time you can keep the oem look, well done!

**SpaceWrangler** · 12-14-2006, 04:25 PM

I have a pair of the small 55-watt lamps from Wally-World flush-mounted in my rear bumper.

**Grewe02** · 12-14-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oman Jeep

I will eventually do an Auto / Off / On setup when I have enough electrical stuff to warrant a custom switch bank using Contura switches - but for now the PIAA switch only allows for on / off.

Anyone have a wiring write up for something like this? I'll probably stop by Radio Shack sometime next week and ask them.

03-16-2006, 03:54 AM	#19
jim ellsworth Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: south of boston Posts: 39 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Very nice set up, thanks for the write up also. Does anyone know the part numbers of the panel switches. My local dealer kills my for big $$$$ for small parts. Or a source on line for the switches? I think it actually gets darker with the factory back up lights. Nice set up. __________________ If your not [B]living on the edge[/B], your taking up to much space.

05-15-2006, 05:49 PM	#22
crsmith Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Victoria, British Columbia Posts: 83 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Nice write-up. I just wired a pair of 55 watt reverse lights as well. I hid the relay in the rear light housing on the left (driver's) side, so that it would be in waterproof location. Being located there, it was easy to tap into the wire going to the reverse light bulb, so that it would trigger the relay which illuminates the two reverse lights. I did a separate 12 volt feed on thick wire, so that there would be no problems. As well, I have a switch which will turn on the reverse lights if I want to use them while standing still; that is also wired into the relay in the tail light housing. __________________ Charles 1985 CJ7 - Dark cherry red with a few mods 2005 Rubicon - Impact orange (The Pumpkin) with some additional stuff

05-15-2006, 06:01 PM	#23
tjsooley Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: WEST MILFORD NJ Posts: 421 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	you could do what i did got some 1156 55w backup bulbs and put them is the stock backup local __________________ [COLOR="Red"]______ l ,[____], l---L –0lllllll0- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) [/COLOR] [url]http://www.myjeepspace.com/profile.php?id=653[/url]