Parking Light Power Wire Color?

[460Trucker]

Hey guys,

What color is the parking light power wire? I'm going to be tapping into it for some new lights. If anyone has a picture that would be a great help, I want to make sure I get the right one.

Thanks!

 

[Beach66Bum]

I know I will be shot for this suggestion Mike, but you could tie into the parking side marker under the hood, the wires are right there, just don't use those "scotch-loks"

Now for the back lashing.......

 

[460Trucker]

I bought some splicers similar to scotch locks. How else can I tap into it? Also, I have been told by someone that the power wire should be brown, is this true?

 

[DNFXDLI]

To splice into it without problems down the road you need to:

Cut the wire

Slide a piece of heat shrink with a seal over one end.

Solder all three wires together (the exisiting two and your tap wire)

Slide heat shrink with seal over the connection and shrink.

You will want to overlap your connection by at least an inch in each direction which would mean you would want a piece of shrink at least 2.5'' long.

Soldering must be done with a rosin type core flux...no acid (plumbers brush on) type flux.

You also need to make sure that the additional loads are within the rating of the existing circuit..if they are not, then use that tap to activate a relay.

 

[primetime]

The running/parking light wire is brown on these trucks. But like Duncan said, a relay wouldn`t be a bad idea, depending on what you are doing. I would say a relay will be mandatory considering all the extra twinkle lights you already have, but if I remember right, you have some of those on switches.

Of course, if you don`t use the truck to tow with and it has the factory trailer towing package with the relay under the hood you could tap into that for your extra running lights.

 

[460Trucker]

The running board lights and tailgate lights are wired to switches and draw power with fuse taps in the fuse panel.

There will only be two LEDs added so it should not be an issue tapping into the parking lights with such a small power draw. (On a side note they will be grounded into the metal mounts I am getting.)

Thanks for all the information so far gentlemen, it is much appreciated.

 

[DNFXDLI]

You will have no issues with a couple of LED's....if this helps..here is a link with some pics for splicing:

http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17987&page=31

 

[460Trucker]

Great info in that thread Duncan, thanks!

 

[DNFXDLI]

The solid butt splices are the easiest..just be sure to get a ratchet type crimper with the correct die....places like PartsExpress have them for 30ish dollars that will last for good long while.

Once they are butt spliced, you heat the body with your iron and let the solder flow through the grooves in the butt splice as well as in the ends where the wire enters.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Here you go Mike..

Frame...http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=360-680

Die for uninsulated conectors...http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=360-686

Inexpensive station that will last you for years..http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=360-686

Solder...http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=370-032

Shrink...http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=080-672

Heat gun...http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=370-275

Butt splices...cut off insulation...most of the time this is cheaper than sourcing uninsulated ones...http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=095-252

Pick up those items and you are set.

 

[460Trucker]

I have another question gusy: While getting these lights wired up, I noticed some wire that appeared to be factory grounded into a large bolt right above the headlight, and it was unstripped at the other end. Is that some sort of grounding line that Ford put in?

 

[Beach66Bum]

sounds like it Mike, but you have a newer truck than mine, but I have a smaller black wire grounding to the rad support. Also(on mine)the negative battery cable has a splice where a clamp is attached and it is grounded to the engine block and frame

 

[460Trucker]

Interesting, I may have to utilize mine for my new lights!

 

[Beach66Bum]

see what Duncan has to say.