Posted 2005-05-12 8:00 PM (#25034) Subject: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Member
Posts: 46 Location: Oklahoma
We have a 99 Ford one ton that we need to wire a constant hot wire to the trailer for interior lights or load lights. My husband says that the auxillary wire to the trailer is only hot when the key is in the ON position. That not going to be of any help having to turn the key on every time I need lights in the tack compartment.
How do you by-pass this or make this work where all you do is turn the switch on to the light you want on in your trailer????
Posted 2005-05-12 9:33 PM (#25039 - in reply to #25034) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Knox Tn
Below the steering wheel in the fusebox, you'll find a relay for the trailer battery (you can find the location in the owners manual). Remove the relay, it will have 2 larger terminals & 2 smaller ones. Jump the 2 larger terminals in the fusebox with a short piece of #12 wire madeup with a couple of male spade terminals on each end. Don't do anything with the smaller terminals. The trailer will then have voltage all the time. The purpose of the relay is to charge the trailer battery when the truck is running. With the jumper, you will have the chance of running you're truck battery down if you use the trailer power too long.
Posted 2005-05-12 9:39 PM (#25040 - in reply to #25034) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
You can run a fused wire, but why instead don't you wire your trailer with a 12volt system, using a battery that is charged like LQ trailers. It is safer than the thought of fogrgetting to turn off a light and ruining two $85 batteries if you have a diesel. Or better yet, go to Wal-Mart/K-Mart/Target and by yourself some battery operated adhesive mount lights that you just push the lens and they come on.
Posted 2005-05-12 11:04 PM (#25043 - in reply to #25034) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Rather than mess with my Ford truck, I just mounted a deep cycle battery under the gooseneck on my trailer. It charges from the truck, But I now have lights even if I unhook the truck. i.e. Getting the trailer ready to go the day before leaving.
Posted 2005-05-12 11:07 PM (#25044 - in reply to #25043) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Member
Posts: 46 Location: Oklahoma
How do you hook that up to your trailer with a weekend package?
Thanks
Originally written by Painted Horse on 2005-05-12 11:04 PM
Rather than mess with my Ford truck, I just mounted a deep cycle battery under the gooseneck on my trailer. It charges from the truck, But I now have lights even if I unhook the truck. i.e. Getting the trailer ready to go the day before leaving.
Posted 2005-05-13 2:59 AM (#25047 - in reply to #25034) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
Do you already have your weekend package? They should have wired your lights to run off the trailer batteries.
You could make a simple pigtail and run off deep cycle battery. Get a female plug to match your trailer plug, and two alligator clamps(like on battery charger) Determine which pin in trailer plug is for lights you want on & which pin is for ground. Attach a 15" pc of black wire to black alligator clamp and install other end in female plug to pin for ground. Use red wire to red clamp and install to pin in female plug for lights. Anytime you want to use it, attach to battery, and plug into trailer plug. Lights will work off thier switch.
Posted 2005-05-13 3:25 PM (#25074 - in reply to #25034) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Veteran
Posts: 195 Location: Atlanta, GA
Are you sure that your truck isn't alrealy wired for 12 volt just needing a fuse? Your newer trucks come equiped with 12 volt to your trailer plug and all you have to do is place a fuse in your box under your hood. I'm not sure about your year model, but just trying to help. If you are not wired you will have to hard wire your truck. If you have a package in your trailer you cant connect your trailers lights to your package battery to run your lights. But it is always good to have 12 volt on your truck to help recharge your LQ battery. If you need help doing this please feel free to call 678-640-3354 for some help.
Posted 2005-05-13 4:29 PM (#25077 - in reply to #25074) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Member
Posts: 46 Location: Oklahoma
ASJ
Im just going on what my husband has told me. I do know that it does have the "trailer battery charging" fuse, which I assume is wired to the plug. I think all fuses are in the box, but not for sure.
I hate it when my husband asks me to find out stuff for him like this!! LOL
If he has any questions..I will give him your number.
Thanks!
Originally written by ASJ on 2005-05-13 3:25 PM
Are you sure that your truck isn't alrealy wired for 12 volt just needing a fuse? Your newer trucks come equiped with 12 volt to your trailer plug and all you have to do is place a fuse in your box under your hood. I'm not sure about your year model, but just trying to help. If you are not wired you will have to hard wire your truck. If you have a package in your trailer you cant connect your trailers lights to your package battery to run your lights. But it is always good to have 12 volt on your truck to help recharge your LQ battery. If you need help doing this please feel free to call 678-640-3354 for some help.
Posted 2005-05-13 5:51 PM (#25081 - in reply to #25074) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
On charging the battery, I have a hot pin for my interior lights, is that the same one to use for charging the battery? My trailer doesn't have a battery but I want to install one. It is the same wire my trailer break battery is connected to. Is there a problem with jumping from that?
Posted 2005-05-13 8:02 PM (#25084 - in reply to #25034) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Veteran
Posts: 195 Location: Atlanta, GA
Terri, The 12v that runs your interior lights and charges your break away battery will also charge an extra battery for your trailer so that you can have interior lights when you are not hooked up to your truck. I hope I understood the question right.
Posted 2005-05-13 11:29 PM (#25091 - in reply to #25034) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
under the hood on the driver side is the maxi fuse box, just to the side of the maxi fuse box there is two relay boxes. off the top of my head i can't remember which one but you should be able to determine which one feeds the center post to your trailer connector (one is for battery charge on the trailer and one for the trailer brakes) the one for the charging the trailer battery i removed the relay and installed a jumper wire. works great.
Posted 2005-05-14 8:40 PM (#25123 - in reply to #25034) Subject: RE: Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
hope this don't get confusing. you need a piece of wire about 3" long with spade clips on each end. the box closest to the firewall is the right one. remove top and there is two sockets for two relays. on mine the socket toward the front of the truck is for the battery charge. put jumper wire in the slots left to right, not front to back use your vom meter to check voltage and continuity. this curcuit is protected with a fuselink
Wiring a Ford for a constant hot wire for auxillary lights
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