Switched live on the rear of a Ute?

[ARAF]

I'm looking for a switched live on the rear of our Ute (or constant live if necessary) and can't think of a pic-up point that I can use, without running a new wire.

The battery is behind the passenger seat, so all I can think of behind the cabin is lights. Any ideas?

[preciousmetal]

Rear Fog ? is it separate from rest of light circuit re UK fitment

[ARAF]

preciousmetal said:

Rear Fog ? is it separate from rest of light circuit re UK fitment

Good idea, but I think that will be dead until a switch is thrown in the cab. I need a live that comes on with the ignition.

It's reminded me that I need to look for the fog light switch.

[preciousmetal]

ARAF said:

preciousmetal said:

Rear Fog ? is it separate from rest of light circuit re UK fitment

Good idea, but I think that will be dead until a switch is thrown in the cab. I need a live that comes on with the ignition.

It's reminded me that I need to look for the fog light switch.

Do you have the optional rear fog

fuel pump ?

[ARAF]

preciousmetal said:

fuel pump ?

That's a good idea. I'll check to see what load it can take.

As for the fog, I guess I could switch it on before I use the supply, but was hoping not to have to.

[ringram]

Fuel stuff is just behind the driver in front of the axle and not right at the back. But you might be able to run something from there depending on the draw.

[ARAF]

ringram said:

Fuel stuff is just behind the driver in front of the axle and not right at the back. But you might be able to run something from there depending on the draw.

Not too bothered about the precise location, I just hoped I didn't have to rip out the interior, to feed a wire through from the cabin - otherwise I would take the feed from the power out socket in the centre arm rest.

Not sure on the required duty at present, but it's to run a pair of cutout motors.

[GaryNoGrip]

Are they remote switched or manual?

[ringram]

I'd use the fog light switch.
With a nice connector for switching back over as needed.

[ARAF]

GaryNoGrip said:

Are they remote switched or manual?

Remote switch. One push and they close, one push on the other button and they open. My current thought is to have everything behind the offside inspection panel in the tub, as long as the remote can cope with that.

I changed the wiring to the motors yesterday, and am just waiting for a splitter to arrive, to see if one control box will work both cutouts. If it does, it'll mean I have a spare control box and remote.

[ARAF]

ringram said:

I'd use the fog light switch.
With a nice connector for switching back over as needed.

It probably would be the safest circuit to use, but then I would have to run wires back into the cabin, which is what I am trying to avoid. If I was doing that, I'd take the feed from the back of the aux socket in the centre arm rest.
There's supposed to be a rubber grommet above the battery, which leads to the tub, but I can't find it, and I'm also not sure that I want to introduce a leaking point into the cabin.

[monkfish1]

If my memory serves me there is an used live in one of the multiplugs on the right hand side behind the rear lamp access panel. But im relying on my memory of something i did 5 years ago!

[ARAF]

monkfish1 said:

If my memory serves me there is an used live in one of the multiplugs on the right hand side behind the rear lamp access panel. But im relying on my memory of something i did 5 years ago!

It would be good if there is. I don't understand I couldn't see anything on the schematic, so I'll have to get my tester out and identify them all - though there seems to be some non-standard wiring in there too. I have my suspicions, but don't know for sure what it is, so don't want to disturb it.

[ARAF]

ARAF said:

Remote switch. One push and they close, one push on the other button and they open. My current thought is to have everything behind the offside inspection panel in the tub, as long as the remote can cope with that.

I changed the wiring to the motors yesterday, and am just waiting for a splitter to arrive, to see if one control box will work both cutouts. If it does, it'll mean I have a spare control box and remote.

Splitter arrived this morning, so I plugged it into the controller, plugged both cut-outs in, and it powered them fine.

Now I just need to sort out the feed. I've had a think about the fog lamp option, and I think that will be too much hassle - lights on, fog on, open exhausts, fog off, lights off (and then the same to close them), especially as I wouldn't be using them on the road, as I don't think that's legal.

Maybe I should bite the bullet, and put the effort in to get a wire through to the rear of the tub. Another option that I thought of was the reverse switch on the gearbox.

[ARAF]

Success.

Thank's to an idea planted by Ringram, and the nice people that prepared the Ute for SVA.

I realised that the fog lamp circuit used a pair of wires from front to back in flexi conduit, yet there's an earth tag at the back for the rear lights, so after identifying the earth, I cut it, soldered a tag to it for the fog lamp, and mounted it to the earth bolt.

I was then left with a lightweight wire, so soldered a thicker wire to it, and pulled it through to the cabin.

I've also decided to pick up the permanent live from the seat motor which is nearby, but will put in a switch and an in-line fuse for the cutouts - just as a fail safe.

Progress, but unfortunately they won't be ready for next weekend.