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I cannot see, from my drivers seat, if the tailgate is down. Once I wasn't paying attention and drove off with my Honda inverter gen sitting on it. Went half a mile, never fell off. I got lucky but have been paranoid ever since. I want to wire a circuit to illuminate an LED in my cab when it's open. Seems simple but how would yall do it? What components would you suggest and where can I get them?

I cannot see, from my drivers seat, if the tailgate is down. Once I wasn't paying attention and drove off with my Honda inverter gen sitting on it. Went half a mile, never fell off. I got lucky but have been paranoid ever since. I want to wire a circuit to illuminate an LED in my cab when it's open. Seems simple but how would yall do it? What components would you suggest and where can I get them?
[–] • 2 pts

You're right, that is simple enough. Button Switch, Wire, LED. That's all you need. Hot lead from battery back to the switch, then run the other lead from the switch to the + side of LED in your dash, then - side of LED to the - side of battery. Or you can find a hot while on wire under the dash and go from there to the switch and then same as before to LED then from LED - to ground anywhere nearby.

[–] • 1 pt

If it's a standard LED and 12V hot he'll need a resistor as well, or the LED will last about 10 milliseconds.

[–] • 0 pt

Would a 150ohm resistor be sufficient?

[–] • 0 pt

I was meaning the 12v type that you install in your dash. Good call though.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

So they have them with resistors already wired within the LED. I'll look when I'm at autozone.

I do have a fused key on engine on hot lead already.

[–] • 1 pt

Here, give some time, I'll give you a diagram for a circuit that will do the following:

  • Work with 12 Volts. Can tie grounds to frame.
  • Keep the status LED on when the tail gate is closed (to verify the system is working).
  • Blink the LED when the tail gate is open.
  • Trigger mechanism is magnetically based (Hall effect sensor), having no moving parts. It will depend on adding a magnet to the tail gate.
[–] • 1 pt

https://imgbly.com/ib/N2t5thqMdp

@AgainstTheGrain

BOM: Allergo A1121 555 timer (18V+ tolerant) LED 2 * 2.2k resistors 1 * 3.6k resistor 1 * 1k resistors 1 * 220k resistor 1 * 2.2u capacitor 1 * 0.01u capacitor

[–] • 0 pt

You sir, are the fucking man. That's what I'm talking about!

[–] • 1 pt

not annoying enough, add a buzzer as well.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

Why not, I'll get a car horn and a relay and enjoy never opening my tailgate while my truck is on haha.

[–] • 1 pt

IIRC you can buy car/truck light bulbs that have embed buzzers that will whine like a yenta when the light is dead. It avoids you from making any modifications and is funny af when you don’t expect it.

[–] • 1 pt

Hmm, I wouldn't know which light to replace as there are none linked to the action of my gate being open. I'd probably use that for other things as I didn't know they existed.

[–] • 1 pt

Fords in the 90s had a bed light you could turn on from the cab, if I'm remembering right. Maybe you can add that?

[–] • 0 pt

The topper I run doesn't allow a visual line of sight even when the tailgate is down.

[–] • 1 pt

Which model Honda are we talking about here? Some of the Ridgeline trims have come with that since at least 15 that I am aware of. You may have the wiring already in place, and just need to install the proper hardware.

[–] • 1 pt (edited )

I drive a real truck, and my trim package wouldn't have that prewired in the harness. I looked it up. Thanks for the input though!

E: upon further reflection, the Honda was the brand generator, I only mentioned it to highlight the absurdity of my actions as it is not a cheap generator.

[–] • 1 pt

You could wire it to the brake circuit with a micro switch in the tailgate frame and a light in the dash. I would use a green light, green for 'all good'. It would activate when you step on the brake pedal, so would be an intermittent peace of mind reminder. Could be done opposite, depending on whether you use a normally open or normally closed switch.

[–] • 0 pt

I like the idea of a check switch.

[–] • 0 pt