Anyone tapped factory bed light to power aftermarket under-rail LEDs?

[Don806]

Yes, I plugged the extra power cord into the light plug. The meter I have is as old as I am, but I’ll run over to shop this weekend and see my mechanic and PM you with what I come up with

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[Telemachus]

I crawled back under the truck tonight... I prefer adding the female pins to the factory harness to gain "luxe" lighting and switch, over tapping the wires on the male end, since it is less obvious in the future that it has been modified and it maintains the factory waterproof gasket.

After separating the two halves of the female end of C404, there are white plastic blocks on the unused pins:

Which are easily removed with needle nose plyers:

I pulled out a an existing female terminal:

But it's smaller than the MX150 pins I have on hand:

I haven't yet found a datasheet for

CU5T-14474-EB or
DU5T-14474-TAB

If anyone has more luck googling, please let me know.

 

[Telemachus]

In regards to the cargo light switch:

I pulled out the headlight switch in the cabin and was able to confirm the same voltage running to the cabin cargo switch as seen in pin 5 at connection C404 above the muffler (2-3v). Shorting this pin to ground does nothing.

Probing the cargo button, it has 100ohm resistance. A 100ohm resistor between the signal pin and ground turns on the cargo lights. It works the same down at the C404 connector. So whatever button is used will need a 100ohm resistor in line, or built in.

It's possible that the knockoff cargo light switches out there for other Fords also have 100ohm resistance.

Ie: https://www.ebay.com/itm/3143009258...2jVR-qJRYC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Telemachus]

I found the correct connectors for the female side of the C404 connector. I picked up a pack at my local Ford parts department:

DU2Z-14474-CA

It comes as a pack of 5 terminals attached to green wire and some crimp butt connectors with heat shrink.

I Installed my wiring for the switch (pin 5), power to the bed lights (pin 6) and ground. I'll install the lights in the next few days, and the switch is on the way.

 

[Telemachus]

I finished up the install of my lux lighting button today.

I used a 1L2T-14K147-AA from Ebay ($10) and although it has no resistance on the button itself, my route to ground goes to the ground screw by the muffler, and it provides enough resistance traveling that far that this button works fine. If the grounding point is closer to the button, will need a 100ohm resister in line.

I designed a 3D printed bracket to hold the button where the flexbed covers are.

I bought a generic WPT-984 wiring harness off E-bay that interfaces this button.

Thanks to all for pointing me in the right direction. Lux lighting is doable on an XL, LOL.

I threw the STL for the bracket up on Thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5865411

The 12V light leads are ready to be wired to 12V LED lights around the perimeter of the bed. They work as they should when pushing this button or the cabin cargo button. I just haven't ran them yet.

Alternatively, a few of these installed would give plenty of light.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-u...TWXEUsLOwRja71OEOa-PRihVZcklFLeYaApx4EALw_wcB

 

[Rivers90]

This is such a great way to add lights to the bed. I like how the lights will light up with just opening the doors or anything that triggers the existing bed light. Your not going to even need to push the button most of the time. Great write up. now I just hope I can find all these pins and harness wires.

 

[Telemachus]

Luxe lighting wire harness: ready to go.

 

[Telemachus]

Looking at installing the luxe lighting in a hybrid, and unfortunately the male end is not populated on pin 6 in C404 (should be next to the green/violet). It was there on my XL EB.

@Don806 could you help me find another spot for the line that we might be able to find the cargo light?

I saw C202 in the manual, but not sure where that is located. Trying to avoid having to drop down from the overhead cargo light.

 

[Telemachus]

My advice for anyone wanting to do this mod that doesn't already have the lux lighting, is check the C404 connector on the male end to check for 12V on pin 6 when the cargo light is turned on, and 2-3V on pin 5 all of the time (should turn the light on when grounded through a 100ohm resistor).

Mine had both, and the steps i have detailed here should work. Another XL hybrid had neither, and additional wires would have to be run.

This is easily tested on the male side of C404 using a female to male jumper cable like this with your multi-meter.

 

[Don806]

Looking at installing the luxe lighting in a hybrid, and unfortunately the male end is not populated on pin 6 in C404 (should be next to the green/violet). It was there on my XL EB.

@Don806 could you help me find another spot for the line that we might be able to find the cargo light?

I saw C202 in the manual, but not sure where that is located. Trying to avoid having to drop down from the overhead cargo light.

I just seen this post, sorry. If there’s something you need me to check out, I’m more than willing to, just give me instructions and I’ll give it a shot!

 

[Telemachus]

Not much to check out. I'm just surprised that my EcoBoost XL had a wiring where a hybrid XL that I was involved with did not

 

[RDRahn]

I am following this, I watched a video on YouTube that gave me a cool idea.

He installed a Magnetic switch in between the power button ( not on a maverick ) and the LED strip, so when you open the tailgate, it automatically comes on assuming the button is in the on position. I really like that as it automates the power and if it is the day time and you are leaving the tailgate open, you can still manually cut them off.

Following this as I would like to tie it all into the Factory switch so everything comes on when I open the tailgate.

Picture of the magnetic switch he used.

You have link to the video about this install?

 

[OXHB619]

You have link to the video about this install?

Sorry for the wait, I had to dig through my youtube watch history

 

[Telemachus]

Sorry for the wait, I had to dig through my youtube watch history

Good idea for an older truck.

The Maverick already has a cargo light and a cargo button, just need to tap into those.

A family member of mine was able to add the cargo lights and button to the bed of their XL EB, since the wiring was already ran to the harness by the muffler, as it was in my XL.

 

[btas]

18 guage wire... I guess it's never carrying more than 4amps... But still tiny for AC!

Looking at installing the luxe lighting in a hybrid, and unfortunately the male end is not populated on pin 6 in C404 (should be next to the green/violet). It was there on my XL EB.

@Don806 could you help me find another spot for the line that we might be able to find the cargo light?

I saw C202 in the manual, but not sure where that is located. Trying to avoid having to drop down from the overhead cargo light.

Has anyone had any luck figuring out if there's two wires in the harness of a Hybrid that can be used to add oem style bed lighting switch and lights? I've added bed lighting to mine but would prefer it to run off the oem switch and circuit if it's possible for me to achieve on a Hybrid without tapping into the bed lights in the third brake light.

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