Hi, has anyone got a diagram to wire up a rear worklight on a defender

Defender1634 said:

Hi, has anyone got a diagram to wire up a rear worklight on a defender

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Connect the red wire on the work light to a switch then to a fuse then to your battery. Connect the black wire to an earth point.

If it's an LED and the wires aren't red and black use a battery to find the live the wire up as above.

Slightly more complicated plans for mine - want to use it automatically with reverse light (never on the highway of course), or switch it off (for the highway of course), or have it on full time for working under it.

Thoughts:

Relayed fused live feed to the light (on bracket on rear of roof rack I think);
Reverse light feed to one 'on' position of on-off-on switch;
Fused Live feed to other 'on' position;

Combine the 'on' outputs from the switch (only one will be live or both off at any given time) to the trigger circuit of the relay.

Am I going to set anything alight with this? Main doubt I have is whether I can get an on-off-on switch with 2 live inputs rather than a common live? If not. then needs a rethink on the power source/switching - was trying to avoid 2 switches......

As the reverse light might be easier to pick up at the rear, should I locate relay there, and where to pick up the full amp live feed? But this will mean running 2 or 3 wires to the switch on the dash and back..... So maybe better to pick up the reverse light circuit at the front, and just have the full power fused live feed running back to the light , if so where does reverse light circuit emerge up front?

Any ideas/criticisms would be handy - and hope this is 'connected' to the op and not a hijack? Thanks. Cheers, A

agew said:

Slightly more complicated plans for mine - want to use it automatically with reverse light (never on the highway of course), or switch it off (for the highway of course), or have it on full time for working under it.

Thoughts:

Relayed fused live feed to the light (on bracket on rear of roof rack I think);
Reverse light feed to one 'on' position of on-off-on switch;
Fused Live feed to other 'on' position;

Combine the 'on' outputs from the switch (only one will be live or both off at any given time) to the trigger circuit of the relay.

Am I going to set anything alight with this? Main doubt I have is whether I can get an on-off-on switch with 2 live inputs rather than a common live? If not. then needs a rethink on the power source/switching - was trying to avoid 2 switches......

As the reverse light might be easier to pick up at the rear, should I locate relay there, and where to pick up the full amp live feed? But this will mean running 2 or 3 wires to the switch on the dash and back..... So maybe better to pick up the reverse light circuit at the front, and just have the full power fused live feed running back to the light , if so where does reverse light circuit emerge up front?

Any ideas/criticisms would be handy - and hope this is 'connected' to the op and not a hijack? Thanks. Cheers, A

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sounds ok, just one question, you have a OFF-ON-ON switch. so:

Position 1. Work lights OFF (no effect on reverse light operation)
Position 2. Work lights on with reverse lights only
Position 3. Work lights on - do you also want your reverse light on at this point, or, just the work lights?

Using thin wall insulated cables it is no big problem running a few cables back and forth to meet your requirements.

It could work with a common live anyway. If you have On1 Com On2 on an on-off-on switch when in on1 pos on1 is connected to common and similar for on 2 position. In off position common isn't connected to either.

So, supply permanent 12v to On1 and 12V from reverse gubbins on On2. Take Com to one side of relay coil and other side of coil to earth. Use NO relay contact to switch power to lights.

In On1 position lights are Permanently on. In Off position Lights are permanently off. In On2 position lights will come on when reverse is selected.

That's what you want, yes?

Thanks guys - sounds as if the grey cells are just about functioning.... Any recommended sources of switches etc, I'd hate to just go to Halfords.......! A

No idea as to what switches would be good. I'm new to this Land Rover stuff, just OK with electrics.

I would also be interested in what are decent switches as I would lke to get rid of my Iron Goat(?) centre console and wire the various bits in sensibly.

there's loads of places. ebay, VWP - Switches menu, autosparks, etc

Bump said:

sounds ok, just one question, you have a OFF-ON-ON switch. so:

Position 1. Work lights OFF (no effect on reverse light operation)
Position 2. Work lights on with reverse lights only
Position 3. Work lights on - do you also want your reverse light on at this point, or, just the work lights?

.....

Click to expand...

Just work light so sounds fine;

Grebby said:

It could work with a common live anyway. If you have On1 Com On2 on an on-off-on switch when in on1 pos on1 is connected to common and similar for on 2 position. In off position common isn't connected to either.

So, supply permanent 12v to On1 and 12V from reverse gubbins on On2. Take Com to one side of relay coil and other side of coil to earth. Use NO relay contact to switch power to lights.

In On1 position lights are Permanently on. In Off position Lights are permanently off. In On2 position lights will come on when reverse is selected.

That's what you want, yes?

Click to expand...

Doh!!!! Of course - far neater - 'combines' the chosen live feed via the flipping switch...... I knew someone with brains would be out there. Cheers! A