Anyone install running board LED lighting that activate only when power running boards are deployed? If so, how did you design your setup and what components did you use? Many of the off-the-shelf kits are activated typically by the dome light regardless of the running board position, but I don't want the lights on when the running board is stowed.

I'm trying to figure out some sort of momentary switch, either normally open when not depressed or normally closed when not depressed (depending on what I use as a trigger/stop), but can't seem to find any spot to attach it that would make contact with the arms or board either in the up or down position.

Another option is to use an electronic device (perhaps custom built on a custom designed PCB) that is operated off the current flow from the controllers on the back wall of the cab, that would trigger each running board LED independently, but this would be a much more complex, though doable, project.

 

I have Amp Research boards, they came with an led lighting kit that activate just as you describe. Prewired for the harness the kit comes with.



The Amp boards/lights have it's own separate module and wiring harness that you connect to the obdii port under the dash.

 

Unfortunately, my OEM Ford boards (licensed from AMP) pre-date the current model of AMP Research boards which over LED lighting, so I doubt their LED accessory would be an easy retrofit into the Ford version...

I may still look into it to see if it’s hack-able to adapt...

 

The OEM boards are not licensed by nor made by Amp, they were at one time back in 09 IIRC but it was only 1 year. Then Ford decided they could make them cheaper, cheaper price and cheaper quality.

 

Interesting. My first 12th gen was a 2009 Platinum and it definitely was AMP Research. Didn’t know Ford started building their own version...

 

Yeah and the are not remotely the same quality. At one time i had some leds under mine tapped into the lighting so when you unlock your doors and open them they came on when you shut the doors and locked them they cut off. Think i got them from f150 led.

 

Those are the ones I looked at, but don't want them lit when the boards are stowed. Purely my preference, as I'm not a fan of having an overt amount of non-essential "bling" lighting; but I need my boards lit as I've noticed that even with my very bright puddle lights, the moment I open the door(s), they block the light from illuminating the boards and on a dark night, they can be hard to see.

 

Wire them to the door ajar warning with a relay so you don't mess up that system. I thought about doing this, but then, after replacing my mirror lights with some high output LED's, the. need was no longer there.
https://drivebright.com/shop/v4-extr...ack-brightest/

 

Not sure that would be any different than tapping into the puddle/dome light circuit, and it still doesn't appear to provide the functionality in and of itself that I'm looking for: independent lighting for each board wherein lights on only the side of the deployed board (e.g. left board deployed, left side lit; right board deployed, right-side lit); otherwise off when stowed.

I will still tap into the puddle/dome light circuit, but in addition, need to provide side-specific circuitry to determine the position of each running board. The problem I'm having is not finding any suitable location for a momentary switch to position against an arm or the running board itself. In addition, the switches I'm looking at are quite bulky and aren't weatherproof, which would be problematic since the running boards get a lot of water, mud, and dirt thrown back from the front wheels.

It seems a custom-designed electronic circuit that would tap into the running board controller on the rear cab wall is my only viable solution at this time...

 

Even the Amp boards light both sides regardless which board deploys. But they do come on/go out when deployed/retracted respectively. Side to side differentiation not so much.

For what you want, you would have to employ a Raspberry Pi or Arduino board. I did something like this with a drone to utilize a sonar sensor for automatic deployment/retraction of landing gear.