 | Home > Technical > Reverse light wiring - a question |
 
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5808   
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My reverse light is on its last legs, my fog light dead. Just received my order for two LEDs to replace them. I was wondering something though. When returning home at night I have to reverse down a dark, tight lane of approx 100m, entirely unlit. One reverse light doesn’t quite cut the mustard, so I’m keen to cast light to both sides, to both edges of the lane. Can I wire the reverse light in tandem with the fog light? They’re the same light unit, a basic Wipac LED.
https://www.rld-autos.com/fr/feu-de-recul/...48202.html I’m presuming both lights will come on whether I engage reverse, and unless I unwire it, when I press the fog light switch. I never use the rear fog light as all my lights are LED, and would likely be more inclined to wire-in a small, red LED fog light unit under the rear cross member. Is what I have described possible? Anything I need to consider? Will there be enough juice from the feed to the current reverse light, to power the second in unison? Ta  Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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8th Mar 2021 1:11pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324 
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Yes, it's all possible but you can't just wire your fog to your reverse light. Without a bit of electrickery somewhere in the circuit, your reverse light will also come on with your fog light. There are several ways that it could be done with, for example, relays or diodes but it depends on how clever you'd like it to be.
Alternatively, just add a rear work light, either manually switched or wired to your reverse light (or both). A bracket on the number plate plinth makes a neat mounting point on a DC. If you're running LED reverse and fog lights then there will be capacity to add further lights to the existing wiring. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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8th Mar 2021 1:38pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17378 
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There is discussion in other threads on here about a conversion loom which somebody makes to allow the fitment of a second pair of lights, so that each side has one reverse and one fog light. This looks neat and OEM, and might be the answer to your problem.
It might be worth having a play with the search tool. |
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8th Mar 2021 2:32pm |
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| Bundy Member Since: 21 Sep 2020 Location: Cheshire Posts: 98
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I just tee'd off the reverse light wiring and put 2 dirt cheap 4" ebay led flood lights on the cross member.
Used existing holes too. Can see brilliantly now...lights may not last, but they were less than £20 for 4! |
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8th Mar 2021 2:51pm |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5808
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Thank you all. Yes, I am thinking of adding a little more under the cross member if the light cast isn't enough, but I only need it to light the hedging either side. The track has a shallow bend in the middle (but is almost straight) enough without line of sight to make you start drifting to one side, one of which has a four foot drop into my parking ha d standing. With the glow from the brake lights as well, should be enough. Of course I could just drive down the lane nose first and reverse up in the morning in daylight.
 Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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9th Mar 2021 8:05am |
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| DuncanS Member Since: 06 Dec 2013 Location: Cumbria Posts: 299 
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Yep I’ve made up a harness in the past a few times to link up and cross wire two round dual function LEDs for fog and reverse. As an added bonus it also gives an extra reverse wire output into the rear tub for those wanting a handy work light feed. If enough people are interested I could speak to work about a cost to make a few of them up now I’m actually working at an Auto Electrical specialist (which reminds me I need to update my signature) North Cumbria Search and Rescue - Team Leader
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9th Mar 2021 8:25am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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If you think that adding the fog light will give you enough to see by then you could just turn it on when needed? Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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9th Mar 2021 8:46am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5808
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The only problem is I bought two reverse lights, so if I fit it in the fog light mount, couldn’t use it as such as it’s white. Fog lights aren’t part of the French MOT so don’t need one and never use one. So I’m sort of committing to a twin-reverse st up. Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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9th Mar 2021 10:55am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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Ahhh, you didn't tell us that! In that case yes, swap the fog for a reverse and then piggy back it off the existing reverse. You can either splice the wires in or make up a 'tap' lead with a male and female connector:
 Click image to enlarge Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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9th Mar 2021 11:08am |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3414  
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Mr Grenadier can simply switch on the fog light through the dash switch (it will throw white light as he would have already replaced it with a reverse light unit), put the Defender in reverse and instantly he has 2 reverse lights. Thats the simplest solution. If he gets tired of switching the white fog lamp, then he can also piggy back the reverse light into the white fog lamp such that he has 2 reverse lights coming on automatically on reverse or he can alse switch on the 2 white fog lamps from the dash switch. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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9th Mar 2021 11:17am |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3414
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Sorry if I hijack this thread, but maybe useful to the OP.... anyone has the partnumbers of the connectors to make the reverse light piggy back, as per picture posted by LRA. I know Mud sells it, but have not planned and purchase at the moment from them, so was wondering if my other parts supplier stock them. Reason:
I wired my reverse camera to the working lights.. but tend to forget the work lights on after I am done reversing. I want to piggy back the reverse light for the camera, with the option to switch on also with work light 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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9th Mar 2021 11:26am |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7905 
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I doubled up on LED reversing (& fog) lights, but to be honest it's still not brilliant. A dab on the brake lights provides far more light. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641 MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557 Instagram @suffolk_rovers |
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9th Mar 2021 11:34am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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I haven't got part numbers but they are readily available on eBay - search for 'Econoseal' and 'male' or 'female'. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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9th Mar 2021 11:38am |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3414
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 LRA.
I did not know they were called as such. Much appreciated. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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9th Mar 2021 12:55pm |
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