backing a trailer in the dark

[jimson]

G,day viewers like I said backing a trailer in the dark. I,ve got sick of it so I put a  driving light under the back of the Ute. My question is do I wire it to the trailer plug I no nothing about electrics. Jimson

[kdx Geoff]

Hey Jimson

Wire it to the reverse light wire at the light, the correct wire will be easy to find there, and put the earth from the light to the body where you bolt the light on, protected buy the reverse light fuse and the light comes on in reverse.

Geoff

[jimson]

Thanks for that. I was worried I would blow or burn out something. Jimson

[oldyzman]

You will find that  your trailer plug will have a spare pin called aux in case you mount the light on your trailer
I have a 8 x 5 box trailer at the back i have  a pole with some white paint on each corner sticking up, this makes for east reversing
Brett

[Montynut]

not sure that your reverse light switch will carry the current of a driving light unless you use one of the newer LED driving lights so maybe use the reversing light to turn a relay on could be the way to go. It would probably be OK for short duration but if you happened to leave the car in reverse with the driving light powered up you may have a problem.

[oldskool]

Either the above or you could wire it to a seperate switch mounted to your dash and depending what sort of ute you have (if it has an alloy tray then the light would sit fairly high) it would also double as a loading light.Its not hard to wire it to a seperate switch you just need a fair bit of wire to run from the back to the battery.
Just put earth to the body as said before run positive wire to one side of the switch then from the other side of switch to positive on your battery just make sure you use a heavy guage wire as the current has to travel a fair distance.

[TooFastTim]

Get the missus to stand on the trailer with a torch 

[Montynut]

Either the above or you could wire it to a seperate switch mounted to your dash and depending what sort of ute you have (if it has an alloy tray then the light would sit fairly high) it would also double as a loading light.Its not hard to wire it to a seperate switch you just need a fair bit of wire to run from the back to the battery.
Just put earth to the body as said before run positive wire to one side of the switch then from the other side of switch to positive on your battery just make sure you use a heavy guage wire as the current has to travel a fair distance.

A fuse would be good so you don't burn your car to the ground and also my understanding is you can not legally have a rear facing driving light unless operated only by the reverse switch in NSW (could be wrong).

[pancho]

 Beware if you have anything but an old car (no computer) Some computers get insulted if there is a current drain that they haven't been told about.
 
Talk to an auto elect.
 
Or as suggested, bypass the computer by running a wire direct from battery through a dashboard switch preferably with a warning light built in.
cheers.

[oldskool]

Im in QLD and have old cars may not be legal here either but no one checks unless your selling your car.Yeah a fuse would also be good inline somewhere.

[jimson]

Well what's a relay do ?  Educate me please.   Tim I left the missus about 8 months back. I can,t see her holding a torch for me. Maybe a rifle    at me. Jimson

[Hoony]

in this case a relay is an electrically operated switch that allows you to use the same signal to operate a device (your high wattage driving light) that may require more current than the signal (your existing reversing switch, lights and associated wiring ) can supply.

[jimson]

Thanks Hoony. Would there be a product name or model  relay  for the job I have in mind. Jimson

[Hoony]

any brand will do.

go to any auto elect and get a 10amp 12Vdc coil relay. Repco, Jaycar Electronics and many other places also sell them.

like the others said you need to wire it correctly and if unsure take it to an auto elect'.

[jimson]

Thanks everyone for your guidance & help. Jimson