Just installed my PIAA reverse lights

[Rick]

I just installed my PIAA reverse lights today. I used the PIAA 1400 55w lamps which are the equivalant to standard 85w lamps. The 1400 is a High Performance Dichroic Halogen lamp optimized for rain, fog and snow. I felt that this light with it's small black metal case would work perfect for reverse lights.

I have yet to test them at night, but the installation looks great and it went together very easily with PIAA's easy to wire harness and switch.

Here are a couple photos of the installation.

 

[2001ExpSport]

AAAAAAHHHHK!...I'm blinded!


Looks cool Rick, then again, everything looks cool if it is on YOUR truck Rick. Dead Link Removed

 

[DarkFox1]

nice, I need to do something about my backup lights, I can't see crap when I back up.. I'm running the stockers.. well technically I'm running the stockers, I have blue bulbs in there right now cos I had them laying around and was bored so I stuck em in, but even when I had the stock bulbs in, it just wasn't bright enough

 

[Ray Lobato]

Hey Rick,
I was thinking about using 1400's for back up lights myself.
Please let me know how they work, once you get a chance to try them out at night.

 

[mattadams]

wow those look better then I expected! THey blend inr eally well, you can hardly tell they are there . Looks good, hope they work good for you. The Great Pumpkin just keeps getting bigger and badder .

 

[GJarrett]

Rick,
I think those look very sharp and will work great. I never thought of doing that.

Now look what you've done, made me have to plan and budget more money to spend. You've already cost me more money than all but one other person in my entire life

What's a set of 1400's cost?

 

[Ray Lobato]

About $190.00 a set

 

[Alec]

I was thinking of getting a set of Pilots that look exactly like those for the same purpose. Here I go again with Pilot! Am I the only one that likes them? Rick, after you test them at night, tell me how they work. I'll run to Autozone and get the Pilots for $50!

 

[Bill Kemp]

Looks really good Rick. There is no such thing as too many lights.

 

[leebo]

I must be blind...I don't see them???

Rick...Did the wires Piaa gave you reach that long into the cab for a seperate switch of did you run your own wires???

 

[mattadams]

leebo, they are mounted ont he far right and far left... he has them on in the pictures. They aren't very big but I'm told they produce an awesome spread of light... waiting to hear from Rick on that one .

 

[Rick]

Matt, you're correct, those little guys really do put out quite a spread of light and throw it a long way to boot. I was playing with them last night and they do a great job of putting light where you need it in the area that's visible in your side view mirrors. I don't have a mirror on my windshield so I can't say how it would work through there.

The wiring harness is very similar to the harness on my PIAA Pro 80 lights, but in this case there is no relay needed. The harness starts at the lights where it forms a T. 2 leads go to the lights and one goes to a rectangular connector block. The other side of the connector block has the harness with the lighted switch, the main positive and negative leads and the positive lead for the switch light. The leads for the switch are routed into my truck through the hole in the floor for the manual shifter. I already had a 10 ga. wire running to the back of my truck so I used that to power the lights and I attached the ground lead to the frame. The wiring couldn't be easier or more foolproof.

 

[mattadams]

Rick, I'm glad to hear that! So do you have it wired so they come on with your backup lights then or with the switch? It sounded like you used a switch... was it the same switch as the 80's use or the more circular one? Your wiring harness sounds similar to that of the 520's. I was under the impression that that rectangular connector block you referred to was the relay but I could be wrong. Definately glad to hear they worked out for you. I need to re-position my 1500's I think, I have them aimed wrong so they light up whats behind me, but not what I can see behind me .

 

[Alec]

I guess it's time for me to do some more wiring. Time to get some new Pilots! Just a question: Can I just run the power lead from the battery all the way down the framerail to the rear? What guage wire should I use for that? Then I don't need any more wires through the firewall! I'll have to look for a place to run the switch wires into the cab, though. Not only are they reverse lights, they're also "A$$hole, stop tailgating me!" lights.

Yay! Next week's project!

************

Well, just went to Autozone and got the Pilots that look just like those PIAAs. They were on sale for $30! Let's see how long they last....

Oh, need more advice: Should I mount them on top of the rear bumper (behind the taillights), or below? I have the stock all plastic covered bumper. Or I could mount them next to the tow ball (by the plate), but then I risk messing them up when towing. Thanks guys!

[Edited by Alec on 11-08-2000 at 07:03 PM]

 

[Rick]

Matt, that could be a relay, but I wasn't sure. The switch is the same as the 80s sort of oval shaped.

Sure you could run a wire from the battery to the rear. 12 gauge should work fine.

 

[Alec]

Any advice? (See above post)

 

[mattadams]

Originally posted by Alec
Oh, need more advice: Should I mount them on top of the rear bumper (behind the taillights), or below? I have the stock all plastic covered bumper. Or I could mount them next to the tow ball (by the plate), but then I risk messing them up when towing. Thanks guys!

Gotta remember that the main purpose of backup lights is to see behind you. That's the problem with where I have mine mounted, they are closer to the center (your proposed tow ball idea) so when they are on, they light up behind me well, but not what I can see behind me, if that makes sense. I think by the tailights (where rick has his mounted) is the best because you want to light up the area that is directly in your mirror.

 

[rpenner54]

My second set of backup lights are in the perfect spot but the only thing that makes them not work so well is the light hits my bumper and skinnies out the lighting. They are on the frame rails facing towards the rear. When I put a differn't bumper on I will have to re-do these though. I will have to see where I put them then.

Ricks spots for them are the best that I can think of. Towards the sides of the truck as far as you can get them AND up high enough so they don't (hopefully) get smacked by anything.

 

[Brian1]

Location of reverse lights

My reverse lights are mounted on the outside on the back of my safari rack. They are pointed at an angle to light up more of the outside edge of the Explorer and less for the center. I know there are already some holes on my rear bumper underneath that would work great for a small backup light. Just 2 ideas.

 

[leebo]

Thanks a ton Rick....I went ahead and moved one of my lights onto the rear roof rack. I hooked them up to turn on when I put the truck into reverse, as well as where the light and the reverse lights can be turned on by a switch in the truck....my question concerns the light I put on the roof. How far out should I aim it. Should I go up to 10feet from the truck for backing up or should I aim them farther out for use on the trail(hooking up the strap and so forth) and let the reverse lights on the truck light up the area for backing up. What do you guys think????