how is a reverse light switchedwired on a 73

[slickrock]

Just picked up a replacement for my shorted out reverse switch on my 73 40 w/ 3 speed tranny. IS the switch a 12v or is it a negative like a horn wire? I plan on running a fresh wire off of the battery with a relay so I can run more than one reverse light.

If it is a 12V, can a run a fuse wire to the switch and that back to a relay. From the relay to the light.

Or can I only run a 12v fused wire to the switch and from the switch to my reverse light?

 

[3_puppies]

Just picked up a replacement for my shorted out reverse switch on my 73 40 w/ 3 speed tranny.

can I only run a 12v fused wire to the switch and from the switch to my reverse light?

I thought that is how it is run originally. It should be a fused wire hot to the switch, then to the light or lights.

What happened to your original unit? if it shorted, either the lights are on all the time or the fuse went out?

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

It is a hot wire that gets made, ie completes circuit, when you put in reverse. (if you were to jump the wires on the plug the light will go on) My switch shorted to ground internally and I wired in a toggle switch to light up my backup lights.
BTW I'm getting my T-case and tranny rebuilt soon and am thinking of getting a proper switch for the light, where did you buy your switch and how much IYDMMA?

 

[slickrock]

It is a hot wire that gets made, ie completes circuit, when you put in reverse. (if you were to jump the wires on the plug the light will go on) My switch shorted to ground internally and I wired in a toggle switch to light up my backup lights.
BTW I'm getting my T-case and tranny rebuilt soon and am thinking of getting a proper switch for the light, where did you buy your switch and how much IYDMMA?

I believe this is what happened to my original. Since then, I have ran a toggled/relayed switch to my back up light. Made the mistake of backing up without turning on my rear light a few weeks ago and the podunk cops in this town decided that it would take 2 patrol units to tell me that I did not have a back up light.

I stick out in this town (only two 40s in town) so if they have nothing better to do, they can pull me over to see if I fixed it and offer me a fix it ticket.


I am going to run a new line with a relay so there is not a large load on the switch. I will have my main reverse light (100 watt tractor light) and reverse lights on my trailer. Don't want to overload the switch.

 

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

I put a buzzer on my switch so I know when I do or do not have it on. Unfortunately, sometimes I forget to do so.