Back up camera glare from license plate lights

[Mr._Bill]

I am not sure if the alternative of wiring this in "series" has any advantages at all. Just want to learn, what was the motivation behind doing this in series?

The reverse light circuit provides enough current to drive the Oracle reverse bumper lights. Granted they are LEDs but they would draw more than a relay trigger.

If you (vampire) tap into the reverse line to provide the voltage to run the relay, it has no real effect on the reverse circuit. If the relay fails, it just stops turning off the license plate lights. A small relay can be used for the simple task it is doing.

If you make the relay part of the circuit, so the reverse line has to flow through it, then you have modified the factory setup and created a failure point. If the relay fails, then the reverse lights may stop working. You also have to size the relay coil to match current capacity of the reverse circuit.

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[DailyDrivenTJ]

If you (vampire) tap into the reverse line to provide the voltage to run the relay, it has no real effect on the reverse circuit. If the relay fails, it just stops turning off the license plate lights. A small relay can be used for the simple task it is doing.

If you make the relay part of the circuit, so the reverse line has to flow through it, then you have modified the factory setup and created a failure point. If the relay fails, then the reverse lights may stop working. You also have to size the relay coil to match current capacity of the reverse circuit.

I knew all that but I was asking why someone would want to consider the alternative as "I" saw no advantage or even a reason for running it in series in this situation. Hence the question.

Now I want to learn. What sitiation would you want to run a relay in series (with triggering circuit)? I feel like the idea completely defeats the purpose of using relay in conventional use cases but would like to learn if there is any rationale for doing so.

 

[ecidiego]

There's apparently no sensing on the tag lamp side of things

There is. I have a code every time I scan that directly mentions the tag lights. It shows up the first time I put the truck into reverse after clearing faults and obviously only started after I installed the harness. It doesn't trigger a dash light so I don't care.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I knew all that but I was asking why someone would want to consider the alternative as "I" saw no advantage or even a reason for running it in series in this situation. Hence the question.

Now I want to learn. What sitiation would you want to run a relay in series (with triggering circuit)? I feel like the idea completely defeats the purpose of using relay in conventional use cases but would like to learn if there is any rationale for doing so.

I can't think of a good reason for doing so.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There is. I have a code every time I scan that directly mentions the tag lights. It shows up the first time I put the truck into reverse after clearing faults and obviously only started after I installed the harness. It doesn't trigger a dash light so I don't care.

I'm curious - since the error doesn't request the warning lamp on in the cluster - do you just scan for codes daily - meaning - how did you know there was even an error since there's no light on the dash saying "hey, you have an error".

Tazer likely, via bus, tells the BCM to not power the license plate lamps. That's the likely explanation for no errors there - still, they'd never know if there was an error until or unless they went looking for codes and if they didn't do it on a regular basis - could go months and never see it.

Very possible everyone who uses the eBay system or even a home brew relay system would have a code in there, but never know it because there's no warning lamp request (intermittent faults often don't)
I wonder if a person ran the feed from the front (white/blue) from the BCM to terminal 30 of the relay and then 87 went to a resistor, or diode,, of the same resistance as the lamps if that quick blip from the real lights to fake lights would trigger the error.
In other words, when reverse light power energized the relay, it switched 30 from the real license plate lights on 87A to fake lights on 87 - if it happened fast enough to not trigger any error.

Now I'll have to scan mine for codes! LOL
I've never seen any sort of an error, not even a blip, not a single issue, since they resolved the misfire and CANbus comm errors back in November 2022, well over a year ago.

 

[ecidiego]

I'm curious - since the error doesn't request the warning lamp on in the cluster - do you just scan for codes daily - meaning - how did you know there was even an error since there's no light on the dash saying "hey, you have an error".

Tazer likely, via bus, tells the BCM to not power the license plate lamps. That's the likely explanation for no errors there - still, they'd never know if there was an error until or unless they went looking for codes and if they didn't do it on a regular basis - could go months and never see it.

Very possible everyone who uses the eBay system or even a home brew relay system would have a code in there, but never know it because there's no warning lamp request (intermittent faults often don't)
I wonder if a person ran the feed from the front (white/blue) from the BCM to terminal 30 of the relay and then 87 went to a resistor, or diode,, of the same resistance as the lamps if that quick blip from the real lights to fake lights would trigger the error.
In other words, when reverse light power energized the relay, it switched 30 from the real license plate lights on 87A to fake lights on 87 - if it happened fast enough to not trigger any error.

Now I'll have to scan mine for codes! LOL
I've never seen any sort of an error, not even a blip, not a single issue, since they resolved the misfire and CANbus comm errors back in November 2022, well over a year ago.

I was in there to check IBS Battery SoC!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I can't think of a good reason for doing so.

Normally, when looking to power a relay, the coil doesn't go in series - it's just not ever something I've even thought of, ever.

I can't think of seeing a relay handled that way in my messing around with electric stuff.

Here's a relay circuit I devised for matching an AMC cruise control switch (on the turn signal stalk) to a Jeep PCM cruise circuit which originally used cruise switches built into the steering wheel........
So if anyone drops a Jeep engine into their AMC car and wants the Jeep cruise to work but keep the original cruise switches in the car - this will adapt ->

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I was in there to check IBS Battery SoC!

Ah, otherwise it would remain unknown. That's right -you were digging into that IBS/battery stuff recently. I forgot about that.

 

[Hootbro]

There is. I have a code every time I scan that directly mentions the tag lights. It shows up the first time I put the truck into reverse after clearing faults and obviously only started after I installed the harness. It doesn't trigger a dash light so I don't care.

I get the same code also. Been close to two years running the bypass harness I bought from Ebay and no hard CEL has posted about it.

 

[DailyDrivenTJ]

...
In other words, when reverse light power energized the relay, it switched 30 from the real license plate lights on 87A to fake lights on 87 - if it happened fast enough to not trigger any error....

Or power on an accessory reverse light?

Hmm. Anyone know what amp these license plate lights draws? Or what kind of amperage the license plate light circuit can support? I suppose I can figure out the resistance and get an idea on amperage.

I am going to add two alternate LEDs under the bumper or rock rails. Let's see if we get any code.

 

[starrskream]

Just picked up my gladiator yesterday, and im already feeling the pain of this.
Has anyone considered VHT Nightshades tint spray paint? I've used this stuff alot in life and its literally spray tint. 2-3 coats and its almost totally black. 1-2 i'd think would cut the glare immensely.

 

[Hootbro]

Just picked up my gladiator yesterday, and im already feeling the pain of this.
Has anyone considered VHT Nightshades tint spray paint? I've used this stuff alot in life and its literally spray tint. 2-3 coats and its almost totally black. 1-2 i'd think would cut the glare immensely.

Might be a ticketing offense in some places to obscure and reduce the license plate light output.

 

[starrskream]

Might be a ticketing offense in some places to obscure and reduce the license plate light output.

agreed, It likely is here in NY. but a single pass or two won't darken it that much. mostly tossing out options here.

failing that im amazed someone has not 3d printed a cover to block the light from the top but still shine on the plates.

 

[Sweetums]

What is the setting on the Tazer menu for which I should be looking?

No setting, it does it automatically because literally every Gladiator owner hates the glare.

 

[WILDHOBO]

No setting, it does it automatically because literally every Gladiator owner hates the glare.

Not “every”. Mine doesn’t affect me at all, as a result of the super bright reverse lights I have. They win handedly against the meager license plate lights. But they’re quite bright.

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