Bumpncarstereo

Thank you again. We will see how it turns out. I hate opening the door and having the lights come on back there blasting into my sons' face after they fall asleep.

forourspam

Thank you so much for your thorough and informative posts! I had to read up quite a bit on the basics of the electronics just to be able to follow your explanation, and i think i can manage this mod now. To me, being able to kill interior lights when the key is turned off or door is unlocked is critical: it kills night vision, exposes you blind to threats on four or two legs, and sometimes you don't want to wake the little one either by opening the door. My Toyota has a 3-position switch (on, off, door). In essence, door mode is what we have enabled from factory, on turns all interior lights on, and off turns them off and keeps them off even if door is open. Is there a way to wire a SPDT switch to replicate that with the Ford by tapping into the same wire as option 1? Also, if that's possible, I assume same can be done for bed light. OTRATTW sells some nice SPDT switches. Three of those (dome, bed light, and light bar) and their three-switch panel mounted on the left bottom panel above hood release lever would look sharp!

mamonti

A. If you want to be able to shut down both dome lights *depending on what model you have* and the cargo light then you have to do option 1 and also go to post #10 on this thread.

B. If you want to be able to turn the cargo light on independently as some do if they have something in the bed and going down the road they want to be able to see what is going on without the dome light on as is from factory, then you do the diode as it shows.

C. If you like the way it works from the factory and just don't want it coming on when you unlock, or open and close the doors then you cut where is says cut and install a switch.

Post #53 shows how to do A and C using one DPST switch.

BTW you don't need SPDT (on - off - on) switches

So if you wanted to use SPST (on - off) you will need one for the dome lights and one for the cargo lights and if you want to do B you will need three all together and a diode.

forourspam

The key reason I was looking to use a SPDT is to enable me to turn interior lights on, turn them off and prevent them from coming on, or to put them into the factory mode. Same goes for the bed light. So, what i thought i could do is this (and please correct me if I'm wrong):
1. using a diode and connection to one of the "on" pins on the SPDT switch, create an "on at will connection" kind of like pressing the dimmer on does right now.
2. Using an additional length of wire, create a bypass before the diode and after the first switch connection to create a "lights on when door open" like it's set up from factory right now.
3. Off position is self explanatory, I would think.
Wash, rinse, repeat for the bed light.
Will that work? Will I need two DPDT switches instead, or am I way off. I haven't messed with a soldering iron in about 25 years, so i won't be offended if you say my approach is screwed up somewhere.

mamonti

I guess you could do it that way but I really don't see the gain?? Unless I am missing something???

Again I have to ask??? What is your goal?? as I have asked before in this thread...
it isn't only when you want the lights on or off but what lights???? above I gave you a,b,c so are you trying to get sometime done that isn't in a b or c???

If you do please explain...

but right now without touching any wires you can turn on your dome lights correct?

all you are doing is to cut the wire that supplies power to the dome light and a SPST switch either connects that wire back together or disconnects it.

the cargo light throws another issue and that is for the ones that want it independent of the dome lights, thus the diode (so it doesn't feed power to the dome light or back feed the BCM) and requires a switch.

so you talked about a 3 switch panel... if you wanted a switch to throw to off so the dome lights, cargo light and the puddle lights don't come on when you open the door or turn the dimmer switch then you could use the diagram from post #53 and getting one DPST. Then you still have 2 switches..... next you might want to be able to turn on only the cargo light.... then that would require another switch but only a SPST switch. then you will still have a switch in the bank of three to use for something else.


So now you don't want the lights on.. throw the dpst switch to off.

now you want it to work as from the factory,,, so flip the dpst back on

if you want to turn on the dome lights just either use the dimmer or the switch on the dome lights *providing the dpst switch is switched to on.

now you want the cargo light on just switch the spst switch to on.

What am I missing here unless you don't want to throw the dpst switch to on and then have to turn on your dome lights by either the dimmer or the dome light switch?

Driftboater

Good thread with great info, thanks! Subscribed to keep track as I would like to add some LEDs to the bed and rewire the cargo lamp installed with my topper so it comes on when I flip the switch. It is currently wired like the OEM cargo light.

Mamonti, I like my coffee like my women, light and sweet .

mamonti

Just wondering how everyone is making out on the mods??? Feel free to ask what you may.

TheRangerOfDanger

mamonti, thanks for the diagrams!! Haven't decided how I want my setup to work yet, but nice to now have so many options!