Wiring a rear work/reversing light from a separate battery

Hey all - please forgive a proper rookie elecrickery question...

I have a rear work/reversing lamp on the back of the truck. Currently it's not conected up. The neg wire it earthed to light's fixing bracket inside, while the positive cable is not connected to anything.

I have had a cockamamey plan in my mind for a while of using a good spare car battery I have kicking around to power this and maybe a 12v cigarette socket completely independently of the rest of the electrics. I only use the landy at the weekend, so charging this spare battery isn't an issue - I really don't want to cock about with split charging systems or splicing stuff in to the existing system simply because a, it all works well at the moment, b, I only have a rudimentary knowledge (GCSE physics) of electrics, and c, I happen to have a really good large weather proof solar trickle charger (about 1m x 25cm) which I intend to mount on my roof rack and hook up to this spare battery.

My stupid, rookie question is - can someone tell me what I will need to wire up the rear work lamp on a switch? I presume a relay - what rating?, some cable, an illuminated switch - to avoid driving down the road with a glaring white light at the back, etc?

I know this is an easy thing - just need confirmation so I can avoid my usual trick of buying 3 times more stuff than I need.

Many thanks in advance

if your wanting it as a reversing light surely you want it switched up front anyway, in which case you might as well take a feed straight from your fusebox.....there's usually a few spare spades to connect to.......would seem much simpler to me

Novice here to! and borrowing this post for myself!

I have a rear/reverse light wired in but need new switch. Switch removed was bolted to windsceen above rear mirror and was a 70amp three way switch, but presume only need 2-way?

Can anyone recommend a switch (illuminated preferably) that will replace this current switch, does it need to be 70amp? and where's best to stick this switch?

Cheers
Nick

Maplins
Halfrauds
Switch shop

I usually use "vehicle wiring products" for my car electrics but the above may be just as good.

Your looking for a switch with about a 10A rating. Wouldn't have thought u would need more than that. Especially if you want to run it through a relay.
Lots of switches

2 x 24watt is supposed to be the maximum for reversing lights, that's 4 amps. Cabling and switch to suit, can't see the point in running off a spare battery. Best worked off a switch on the gearbox.
Working lights don't seem to have any regs, but you can't use them when driving. Switch and cable rating depends on the lamp wattage, 1 amp per 12 watts. No need for a relay if the switch is suitably rated. Make sure it's fused.

ps. what the hell do they teach you in physics these days? The O level I took made this sort of stuff look simple.

oxides said:

ps. what the hell do they teach you in physics these days? The O level I took made this sort of stuff look simple.

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There's no accounting for ignorance .

The Mad Hat Man said:

There's no accounting for ignorance .

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I blame the educationalists - all science subjects seem to have beed downgraded in the last twenty years or so.

surely simplest way is a on-off-on dpdt switch. One side wired to reverse live supply. tuther side wired to any permanent live . Then connected to a relay, with lamps powered by the optional accessories permanent live that LR provide for just this purpose. supplied via relay. Leave it switched to Reverse position unless work lamps are required then simply flick switch. to 2nd position

'ahem' - didn't say I paid attention in that particular class

redhand said:

surely simplest way is a on-off-on dpdt switch. One side wired to reverse live supply. tuther side wired to any permanent live . Then connected to a relay, with lamps powered by the optional accessories permanent live that LR provide for just this purpose. supplied via relay. Leave it switched to Reverse position unless work lamps are required then simply flick switch. to 2nd position

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Thats a good idea. Didn't think he wanted a auto reversing light to come on, but yea. Gd way of doing it Nice work Simple too. hehe

Jof said:

'ahem' - didn't say I paid attention in that particular class

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It's only been a few years since i did GCSE physics and yea, they didn't teach **** bout electronics in that. Wire to bulb and back to battery :L. Literally took the booklet home and came back the next day finished [i was doing electronics for GCSE at that time.]

1moley said:

Thats a good idea. Didn't think he wanted a auto reversing light to come on, but yea. Gd way of doing it Nice work Simple too. hehe



It's only been a few years since i did GCSE physics and yea, they didn't teach **** bout electronics in that. Wire to bulb and back to battery :L. Literally took the booklet home and came back the next day finished [i was doing electronics for GCSE at that time.]

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:doh: I despair. Worth having some kind of dashboard illumination wired in parallel with the reversing light unless you can fit a switch to the gearbox.

oxides said:

:doh: I despair. Worth having some kind of dashboard illumination wired in parallel with the reversing light unless you can fit a switch to the gearbox.

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What yu want a telltale for?? it'll only come on when reversing. or if ya open the back door and turn the lights on. & it's gonna be pretty obvious the lamps are on if ya stood under them.