My point is that since you have no idea what you are doing, hire someone who does.

 

I actually I do have some idea of what I am doing, just have never used a relay. Another member took about 5 minutes to explain how they work and how to hook it up and I now have all of the parts ordered that I need to make it work.

 

The setup on my previous truck was wired directly from the battery with an inline fuse right at the battery. Was very simple and straight-forward.

 

I won’t be able to help with the specifics but a LOT of aftermarket companies have attempted to wire in extra or different lights into that switch, and it never works.

if you want extra bed lights for some reason, I would wire them up separate and run a separate switch.

 

In my case it certainly does not work. Based upon input from a fellow member and my process of elimination, it is not the actual switch but the BCM circuit. My truck is a 2020 and not sure if it is something specific to my truck or a change was made through the model years because there are a few members with older models that successfully tied into that circuit with additional lights.

It was recommended to use a relay so I could still use the factory switch. I have purchased parts and planning to go that route and see if it works, if so I have accomplished what I was after. If it does not work I am pulling the entire factory bed light setup, install all of the factory cover plates, wire the LED strips directly to the battery and install a different style switch.

 

The original topic title is misleading as my problem never was the switch. Even though there are older threads of successfully hooking additional lights to the factory circuit, the BCM in my 2020 would not handle the added draw of the led strips. The factory lights were not going to cut it so regardless of the route I took I would have to run power to the added led strips. I wanted to keep it clean and use the factory switch and ultimately was able to do so.

I had time over the weekend to wire the led strips, straight from the battery, with a fuse block. Ran the wire in loom, along the drivers side with other loom that is already there. There is a ground line back by the spare tire and used that for ease. Tied the strips into the factory switch with a relay and they work as they should.

The strip lights illuminate instantly and turn off instantly as the factory lights dim. The relay buzzes for maybe a second as the lights power off.

Big thanks to 52merc for his knowledge and guidance on the explanation and installation of the relay.