Adding lights to the rear bumper

[Darin]

I bought a couple round, sealed lights so I can see backing up in the dark on boat ramps mainly.

What is the best way to wire these. Switch placement etc.

Any ideas would be great.

[joe]

Darin, if you mean the rubber cased sealed beams that sell as utility lights...I've used those on many rigs. They're a pretty low watt bulb so I just wired them into the ign switch. Add an inline fuse for safety. For a switch I just use a toggle mounted on the dash. For a couple of extra bucks you can get a round idiot light that requires about a 3/8" hole above or near the switch to let ya know they're on in case you forget.
Next set I install I'll wire them into the regular back-up lamp crcuit.

[Sgt. Dave]

I'd wire them using a relay. Use the back -up light circuit to trip the relay so you don't accidently leave them on going down the road. If you wanted to, you could use a under dash switch with an indicator light built in to kill the extra lights when you didn't need them. It wouldn't hurt anything to just leave them in circuit with the regular back-up lights. Be sure and put a fuse or circuit breaker in the hot lead (B+)to the relay.

[WINGO]

I mounted my two tractor utility lights to the rear cross frame. There are a few existing holes in the frame that will accept the mounting stud of the light.

I wired my two lights directly to the rear backup light wire with and inline 20 amp fuse. The back up wire will be either white/black or white/brown. Make sure that you have a good ground for the light on the frame. By wiring the lights into this way, the lights will illuminate only when you are in reverse.

Good luck.