Hey everyone,
First post for me, I picked up a set of rigid industries ignite flood lights to add under the bumper of my 17 Lariat with blis. I want to make sure that I understand the correct way to hook these up to come on when reverse is engaged without causing any issues with the blis system. I spent the last couple of hours searching through various threads on here and just want to make sure that I got the right approach before I stat messing with wiring these lights up.

So from other threads I saw multiple people say that if you wire up the positives from the lights to the center pin on the trailer plug and then run the grounds to the same plug that it wont cause issues with the system thinking that a trailer is installed. This was taken from a previous thread - I spliced the positive from the lights into the center wire of the 7pin trailer connector (reverse signal) and the ground to the slightly thicker white wire on the 7pin connector (or you can just ground straight to the chassis). Didn't effect BLIS or showed that a trailer was connected.

So if this is the correct method do I need to add a relay anywhere into this setup?

In that same thread it was mentioned that the best approach to wiring lights in this way is to remove insulation from the wires and then solder in the connections and then seal everything up, is this the best practice?

I have plenty of experience with wiring and some soldering experience, I just haven't ever connected lights that work in conduction with the factory reserve function and previous auxiliary lights that I installed on the last truck ran off a switch which I would rather avoid for this install. Whit how complex and sometimes temperamental this blis system can be for some, I just want to make sure I get the install right to avoid any issues

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

Sounds like my post.

Anyways, the center wire on the 7 pin connector gets power when the truck is in reverse, the slightly thicker white wire is ground. Here is the pin out diagram:
https://www.ajtnt.com/Info/7-Way-Diagram

It's pretty simple really, just connect ground to ground and power to reverse signal. Does not effect blind spot monitor.

As far as requiring a relay, that would depend on how much power it's going to be drawing. If it's just a small LED light bar or pods, it should be fine. If it's one that draws more power like the ones you typically mount on the front of the vehicle for offroading, I would power it from a relay wired directly to the battery and triggered with the reverse signal on the 7pin connector.

 

Thanks for the color coded pin out for the trailer connector plug.

 

Really appreciate the diagram and the info, i highly doubt that i will be needing a relay based on what you said these rigid pods are basically minis so no way they are going to draw much power. My main concern was not wanting to mess up anything with the blis system by adding them. Sounds like adding these is gonna be easier then i would have thought with tying them into the trailer plug. Another thread a member talked about adding his aux rear lights into the bed lighting system so they could come on when he activated the bed light switch. That sounds like it would come in handy but he didn’t add in much info on how he wired it up and for now i really just need some more light when backing up at night cause i can’t see anything and the camera is almost worthless because of the low lighting. Again thanks for the info greatly appreciated

 

Thank you for the help I tried to post a reply a couple of days ago but for some reason it didn't take. Initially I wanted this to be as simple of a job as possible but the more searching that I did I ultimately have decided like many other members that I would like to have the ability to control the lights. I am still going to run the back end as you suggested were the 7 pin will trigger a relay to tell the lights to fire once the truck is put into reverse, but now even though I didnt really want to add a switch to the cab Im thinking it would come in handy to be able to power them without the truck in reverse for things like hooking up and launching my boat and various other task like setting up a camp.

My thought process is to add a power wire with a inline fuze and run that to the cab to a switch and then run wiring off of that to the rear to the relay that is tied into the reverse lights which are tied into the plug for signal. Ill have to do some more searching on here to figure out how the wiring will go with the relay as I dont have any experience using one.

Appreciate the info

 

@huanab
Im not sure about the forum rules here Ive tried to post a reply to what you said and it keeps giving me a message that the moderators will have to approve it Just wanted to say thanks for the info after more research through other threads what you said seemed to be echoed by others as well so I think the relay option is the best bet.

Initially all I wanted was a very simple install, but now after seeing more members mention it I think it would be handy to be able to control the lights without having the truck in reverse for things like hooking up my boat and setting up camp when its dark. My plan now will be to add a positive wire off the battery with an inline fuze and run that to the cab to a switch, then run that wiring back to the relay which will branch off to the two lights and tie into the 7 pin for a single when in reverse. I will have to dig around a little more to figure out how the wiring goes with a relay as I havent ever used one before.

Again appreciate the info

 

Ok I found another post that laid out the setup that even I could understand. My question is can someone explain how exactly I would wire in a switch into this diagram to have function in the cab? According to the post that I got this from, pin 86 on the relay would tap into the trailer center pin for a turn on signal when the truck is put into reverse and that a switch can also be added into 86 to control the function manually what I need is someone to dumb it down enough for me to understand exactly how to do that and will a simple toggle on/off work in this instance? Apologies in advance, wiring in accessories always confuses the heck out of me I cant ever seem to imagine the layout in my head

.

 

I believe you can just have 2 wires going into pin 86 on the relay. wire from 86 > switch > 12v source, then also, wire from 86 > diode > reverse signal on 7 pin connector.

The diode is so the reverse signal from 7pin connector can send power to the relay, but when you send power through the switch, it does not travel pass the diode. Make sure to wire the diode so current flows from reverse signal to relay. (Can't remember off the top of my head, but I believe the side with the stripe is the side current flows, so it should be pointed towards the relay (I just googled it and this is correct, lol)). The lights should turn on when in reverse or when you manually flip the switch.

 

@huanab
Once again I owe you a thanks for the info you have shared. In a couple other threads I noticed that guys mentioned getting a relay with a diode that is built in, Im guessing for this install that would be the way to go.

 

If you go to Rigid Industries they have harnesses and wiring diagrams you can look at or buy. I put a set on years ago. What I like is the switch, it has off, on, and auto. The switch illuminates when the lights are on. As I recall I picked up the reverse signal in the cab driver side kick panel.