Backup Light Wiring Question

[PMD24]

I've made the decision to locate the converter at the rear of the car and I'm sorting out the feed for my backup light while I have the loom opened up. There are two separate purple wires leading to the brake lights. These wires are tied together at the rear harness connector behind the dash. I'm assuming two separate wires were originally needed for the load associated with incandescent brake lights, so my plan is to use one of the purple wires to get power to the rear of the car for the backup light, by removing the end of the purple wire at connector behind the dash and tying it to the radio power wire. I'd pull the purple wire out of the loom at the reverse switch on the transmission, connect through the switch, continue on to the light at the rear of the car, and then ground the light at the rear.

The other option is to leave the two purple brake light wires as they are and run a separate wire from radio power, through the reverse switch, and to the reverse light.

Any input on the above or suggestions on better ways to wire it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Pat

[edwardb]

What you describe will certainly work. I have a similar decision to make with my Mk5 build where I also plan to install a backup light. I don't need either of the purple brake wires for how the Mk5 is wired so also thinking of repurposing one of them. My only thought is if the loom is open, adding a complete new wire isn't that much more work and preserves the RF brake wires if something should change in the future. But it could go either way.

[PMD24]

What you describe will certainly work. I have a similar decision to make with my Mk5 build where I also plan to install a backup light. I don't need either of the purple brake wires for how the Mk5 is wired so also thinking of repurposing one of them. My only thought is if the loom is open, adding a complete new wire isn't that much more work and preserves the RF brake wires if something should change in the future. But it could go either way.

Thanks for the feedback. I am leaning in the direction of a new wire. It might even take less time and will ultimately be a cleaner install. Could also lay a wire in there for a trunk light at the same time.

Pat