Truck Topper Lights

Hey Guys I’m about to install some 12v LED strip lights to the inside of my ARE topper. I recently built a on board water supply and ran 16 gauge wire from the battery with a 5 amp fuse. Can I tap into the wires I ran for the pump to power the lights and switch or should I run separate wire down from the battery?

 

i would run a second, not much more effort and cheap insurance

 

hey when you do this, take some pics for the uneducated.

I'm gonna do the same thing; you using a switch in the bed? or in the cab?

 

another shout out for @mattgecko !!!

here is my set-up

 

very nice. How is switched? (Not seeing any.)

 

switch in bed seen here

 

ah cool, didn't realize that's what that was.

 

How do you have power tied in? Did you just go up to the battery?

 

Yep to the truck battery with an inline fuse

 

Just curious the clips you use to hold the wires. Are they glued to the carpet? Very awesome set up.

 

Its actually the little 1 x 1 adhesive squares for zip ties, i just pulled the zip ties off and put some industrial velcro on them instead and stuck em up there!

 

Very nice, looking to do something similar with mine soon. Thanks for the pictures!

 

Well did my light setup in the topper lastnight. I ran new wire to the bed, I used 3 rolls of 25ft marine grade 16 garage wire to the battery with a 5 amp in line fuse. One wire is for the lights, the other for my on board water pump and last a extra wire for the future. It was all wrapped in 3/8 split loom, I wrapped it in electrical tape for extra security. The switch is mounted in the driver side bed cubby where I mounted my pump. Overall I’m very happy with the result and only cost me $40 to build, that includes the cost of the extra wire.

 

Nice. Any photos of the wiring? Battery connection, fuse and entry into the camper shell? (Just curious to see how people are doing these connections.)

 

Start by unhooking battery!

Alright so, you will need some eye loops, I suggest going to west marine for all wiring parts. The inine fuse is heat shrunken to the hot (red) wire going to the switch. That hot wire is run down underneath the frame and above the heat shield over the exhaust. I then ran the hot to the switch. I used a step down bit to drill out a hole so the switch was snug. Next I ran the wires for the lights. Remove the drivers side taillight so you can snake the wire through. You can see in the third picture there is a small gap that is right above where the bed stiffeners are mounted. You can snake through the wire one at a time. Once the wire is snaked I attached the hot wire from the lights to the hot prong on the back of the switch. Finally take the black wire and put it together with the wire that will run to the ground (picture 2). The ground I used for both my pump and lights was located on the from behind the driver rear wheel well, there are a few other ground in this spot already. Finally attach that ground wire to the ground on the switch.

I would recommend if you haven’t done anything with electricity before this might be a bit of a learning experience. I work in sales and service and do a lot of wiring. If you want to do it and are confused I would either order a kit from @mattgecko or you can call me and I will walk you through.

 

Where did you put the water tank? Don't see it in any of the pics. thanks.