Can Reverse Light on Trailer Also be Powered with Switch In Truck

Question:

Hi I have a 02 f150 fx4 with toe package I purchased hm20086 Hopkins 7 way plug and 2 of the bul78cb lights for backup lights for equipment trailer wired the 2 lights on trailer from the 7 way plug using yellow wire from center pin when truck is in reverse the trailer backup lights work fine can backup lights be wired independently to work off a switch and by the reverse on truck? mounting switch to the front of the trailer my guess, the on and off switch can be tapped into aux wire that charges the small 12 volt battery on trailer for break away? If can be done, do I run another hot wire from switch to both trailer backup lights or tap into the yellow wire that is already wired to the lights? need fuses or relays? also if switch light is on and forgot to switch lights off and get into truck and put truck in reverse will it blow any fuses? Thanks

asked by: Stewart

Expert Reply:

You can do this but you'd need to use a diode installed on the circuit so that the switched power won't backfeed onto the vehicle reverse lights. So what you can do is wire both the reverse light circuit and the switched power source to the input side of the # RM-790 and then the output side to the circuit and you'll accomplish what you are looking for.

expert reply by: Jameson C