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3rd gen aftermarket puddle lights

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by 831Tun, Nov 15, 2017.

  1. Nov 15, 2017 at 6:33 PM
    #1
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    TC long travel. Deaver 420 SU leaf packs.
    These are simple and cheap. I didn't want anything super bright, just something so that passengers and I can see when stepping out in the dark. You can't even tell they're there in the daylight. They're wired in to the cargo light. Thanks to @RowdyRon for the inspiration, photos and advice.2017-11-15 17.55.20.jpg
    These are the lights I used, 8 for less than $10. If they fail, the wiring is already there to try something else.2017-11-15 11.09.02.jpg
    It's just a single diode in a small aluminum cylinder-like housing. The brackets used for attaching the lights to the truck are Simpson L brackets for construction purposes painted black.
     
  2. Nov 15, 2017 at 6:38 PM
    #2
    BlueBottle

    BlueBottle not a PRO

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    Nice $10 mod!
    Did you wire them in series or parallel? Hope it was the latter so if one dies the rest work. Good job! Get that frac installed now!
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  3. Nov 15, 2017 at 6:40 PM
    #3
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    Funny you should ask. One of the lights didn't work after I finished (thought I'd finished). So, yep they're in parallel.
     
  4. Nov 15, 2017 at 6:48 PM
    #4
    BlueBottle

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    You can find some cheap but good leds on www.superbrightled.com. I’m sure they will have a bf sale. They always do.
     
  5. Nov 15, 2017 at 7:02 PM
    #5
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    TC long travel. Deaver 420 SU leaf packs.
    dcsleeper408 likes this.
  6. Nov 15, 2017 at 7:08 PM
    #6
    BlueBottle

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  7. Nov 16, 2017 at 7:33 AM
    #7
    dcsleeper408

    dcsleeper408 BASTRDS

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    Nice! love it warren! Need me some of these! Did you get these done with the frac?
     
  8. Nov 16, 2017 at 8:18 AM
    #8
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    I might finish the Frac today. The camera is installed and the wires are through the firewall now so I just need to finish behind the dash
     
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  9. Nov 16, 2017 at 8:22 AM
    #9
    mlucas555

    mlucas555 New Member

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    Looks great! I like that it is not super bright, just enough to see as you get in or out. I may have to do this mod.
     
    831Tun[OP] likes this.
  10. Nov 16, 2017 at 8:33 AM
    #10
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    TC long travel. Deaver 420 SU leaf packs.
    Here's a photo of the access hole beneath the driver side, rear sill cover. I increased the hole to 3/8" and used a 1/4" rubber grommet to protect the wire.
    2017-11-14 11.41.53.jpg

    Underneath the truck, there is a factory grommet fairly close by. I pulled it out, drilled a 1/8" hole through it, pulled the wire through and reinstalled it.
    2017-11-15 11.09.28.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2017
  11. Nov 16, 2017 at 9:08 AM
    #11
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    I am obviously clueless when it comes to this, but how did you wire it from the cargo light? I see the pictures, the bracket etc. But where do the connections go into wiring it from the cargo light? You popped out the cargo light then ran additional cables down? Or did you splice some wires at a lower point closer to where the steps were? Thanks for any info!
     
  12. Nov 16, 2017 at 9:25 AM
    #12
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    I tied into the brown (really hard to tell the color) wire beneath the rear sill, driver side. It's the tiny wire, 18 gauge maybe?2017-11-14 11.42.46.jpg
     
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  13. Nov 16, 2017 at 9:27 AM
    #13
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    Good to know. I will get my electrician friend to come help me out..Thanks! I love this forum!
     
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  14. Nov 16, 2017 at 9:33 AM
    #14
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    You can find a good ground location by pulling the driver sill and kick panel.
    2017-11-14 12.13.48.jpg
     
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  15. Nov 16, 2017 at 12:53 PM
    #15
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    Thanks again for the info! Any recommendations on lights? I like the fact that yours are not too overpowering, did you find them on Amazon or Ebay?
     
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  16. Nov 16, 2017 at 1:22 PM
    #16
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    They're marketed as license plate lights. These are similar, if not the same:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-LED-...t-Lamp-Bulb-/263074766852?hash=item3d407a6004

    I'm not sure I'd recommend them because they are SO cheap price wise, but they appear to be quality. They're fine what I'm doing and I don't mind if I have to replace 'em. @BlueBottle suggested some others in a link above but they'll be a lot brighter. I used 3 per side, you could use 1 or 2 of the brighter ones or you could rotate them?
     
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    ccdawnpatrol[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Nov 16, 2017 at 1:29 PM
    #17
    tundriver

    tundriver New Member

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    Linex Bed Spray, Tint matched, Truck Gear tonneau cover,6112 Bilstein and 5100.Black Rhino Warlord on Nitto G2.
    Simple lighting upgrade.03C08158-A401-4638-813B-03636C22A517.jpg
     
  18. Jan 27, 2018 at 3:32 PM
    #18
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    Which brown wire? Also, I have posi taps. Should I use only one tap and connect both the red and black wire to the brown wire or their own separate tap into the brown wire. Haha, I has been an adventure to say the least getting the wires through the rubber grommet holes but this should be the easy part...thanks!

    IMG_2678.jpg
     
    831Tun[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  19. Jan 27, 2018 at 3:46 PM
    #19
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    Hard to tell from the photo. It was smaller than most of the other wires in the bundle. DO NOT connect both red and black to the brown wire. Just the red to the brown wire. You can pull out the driver door sill and the kick panel that you hit with your left foot when driving (sorry don't have a better description). Facing directly toward the rear of the truck you'll see a silver bolt holding some wires in place. This is a great spot for your ground (black wire).
     
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  20. Jan 27, 2018 at 3:48 PM
    #20
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    Do you see another small brown wire, mine was kinda underneath, at the bottom of the bundle.
     
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  21. Jan 27, 2018 at 4:13 PM
    #21
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    Be sure to lemme know how it works out for ya.
     
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  22. Jan 27, 2018 at 4:32 PM
    #22
    ccdawnpatrol

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    Probably tomorrow, heading out now. Thanks for the help!
     
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  23. Jan 27, 2018 at 5:42 PM
    #23
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    Any time.
     
  24. Jan 28, 2018 at 7:19 PM
    #24
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    Update, the driver side worked out great. I was able to place the lights to the tube steps and place a ground in an easy location. Went through the rubber grommet and directly the to wires. Had about 2 inches to spare. The driver side works fine but the passenger side does not. The black wire is grounded and red wire is connected to the 1 brown wire compared to the driver side having two brown wires. Is there a different wire for the passenger side? Thanks in advance!

    IMG_2681.jpg
    IMG_2682.jpg
    IMG_2684.jpg
     
    831Tun[OP] and Berdine like this.
  25. Jan 28, 2018 at 7:44 PM
    #25
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    :thumbsup: Got it goin' on. It's the same brown wire. Lots of different ways t do this but, basically I tapped the brown wire twice. Once for the driver and once for the passenger side red wires.
     
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  26. Jan 29, 2018 at 3:41 PM
    #26
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    Wait, so I tapped into the wrong wires on the passenger side? You mentioned red ones. I tried tapping into both red wires on the passenger side. One of them is a constant and does not go off when the cargo lights go on/off and the other one does not work. The brown one obviously does not work on the passenger side as well. Any help is much appreciated!
     
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  27. Jan 29, 2018 at 3:44 PM
    #27
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    Sorry for not being clearer. You don't tap the passenger side. You tap the driver side, like you did, but for both sides. I'll try and post a pic.
     
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  28. Jan 29, 2018 at 3:45 PM
    #28
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    Dang, so I have to run a wire the entire way? Shoot. This will be interesting...
     
  29. Jan 29, 2018 at 3:47 PM
    #29
    ccdawnpatrol

    ccdawnpatrol New Member

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    I have a ton of extra wire from the Evo One remote start so I will be fine, just was not anticipating this. Anxiously awaiting your picture @16tunterd! Thanks for the help btw.
     
  30. Jan 29, 2018 at 4:09 PM
    #30
    831Tun

    831Tun [OP] heartless Bastrd

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    So, both red wires from both of the lights need to be connected to the same brown wire on the drivers side. Extra wire is required so that you can run from the brown wire on the driver side, behind the back seat (stuff it under the carpet if you can) and down into the space beneath the rear passenger sill. I ran a black wire at the same time.IMG_20180129_155559184.jpg
     
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