wiring up a light switch

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by gunner76, May 31, 2014.

  1. gunner76

    gunner76 Medium Load Member

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    I'm not very good with wiring other than fixing broken connections or running simple strings and tying them up with an existing wiring harness. I added some lights to the back of the sleeper and want to run them on the spare switch that is on my dash, how would a guy go about doing this? I pulled the switch panel out and got intimidated by all the wires behind there and put everything back together:confused2:. What I do know is that the wires are all labeled and the switch is supposed to be tied in with the fuse panel. I have the harness for the lights already run into the engine compartment and just need to finish the connection to the switch.
     
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  3. GrapeApe

    GrapeApe Road Train Member

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    I don't know if I can help you, I don't know what year, make model truck it is. You say that all the wires are labled? What to those labels say? Is it 1 label for all the wires going to the switch that says spare? Or is each wire labled with a number? Or what? Many on many trucks, you just need to find the correct accessory wire to power the accessory and add the correct fuse. Some are a little more involved.
     
  4. lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    Just tie into a hot FUSED power source. Get a test light and start poking around. Sometimes I'll run a hot right from the battery or just find an open in the fuse panel. Just make sure you have an in line fuse right at the power source. In my youth a almost burned up my 79 Ford truck twice and a 4440 jd before learning that lesson
     
  5. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    Not sure how IH does it, but usually on a KW there is already power to the aux/spare switches. If that's the case all you need to do is run a power and ground wire from the switch to the lights.
     
  6. gunner76

    gunner76 Medium Load Member

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    I think this may be the case. On my old truck the previous owner added some chicken lights and wired them to the spare switch because I remember seeing a hot wire coming off the back of the switch. I just wish I had looked a little closer to see how he had it set up.
     
  7. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    What kind of truck is this?
     
  8. gunner76

    gunner76 Medium Load Member

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    2007 international 9900
     
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