Nope. Haven't done this yet
HOW TO: Adding an underhood light
- Thread starter NLXTACY
- Start date
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Guys, why not have a subtly placed switch to turn on these lights, front and rear. This way, when you want to open either the rear or hood without any light it will be off, also, less chance of a malfunction that may or may not drain your battery, although LEDs don't draw much. I think this is a great mod and plan on doing it. NLXTACY where did you source your LED bar? Do they have smaller ones for the rear. You guys think the LED strip in the rear could supplant the rear dome I am intending to install? Thanks.
- Thread starter
- #48
Mercury switch would be affected by off roading.
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- Sep 17, 2003
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- Sunnyvale, CA
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- www.george4wd.taskled.com
Magnet + reed switch.
cheers,
george.
cheers,
george.
I've had minor issues with my simple pin switch, mainly it freezing in the "off" position, so I would open my hood and then i would have to wiggle the switch to get the light to come on.
Other than that I have had no problems, I even already had a hole that the pin switch fit in perfectly.
Other than that I have had no problems, I even already had a hole that the pin switch fit in perfectly.
oh boy and that'd be horrible - based on the wheeling that you'll be doing. Planning on climbing bunch of 45+ deg hills are ya
- Thread starter
- #52
oh boy and that'd be horrible - based on the wheeling that you'll be doing. Planning on climbing bunch of 45+ deg hills are ya
It would take less than 45º and little bit of bouncing to make that mercury take a mind of its own.
- Thread starter
- #53
^^^this
I just noticed this thread came back alive. I put this on the rear hatch about 8 months ago. My first mod. Im the red head with the fish.
My sand cruiser takes me to camp on the beach weekly, this light stands up strong in the heat, sand, salt. It is my light to work on my tackle and it does such a great job as a camp light on the rear hatch. since installing the drawers.
if you have not got one of thses yet, go get it.
I used 3m tape and it holds up great! ran it to a little switch with a cover i got from autozone, (the only time i went to autozone i promise) i had ran some wire from the front under hood fuse panel, from a fuse spot not being used, to the jack storage location. I then ran a wire down the colum, i had to cut a bit of the rubber that seals the hatch but i resealed it. installed the little swich on the side of the hatc near the light, ran the wires to the light and bam!
I used heavy grade wire to run from front to back beacuse I added a 12v to the rear jack storage panel and a shower. https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/617925-25-built-shower-washer.html#post7903859
My sand cruiser takes me to camp on the beach weekly, this light stands up strong in the heat, sand, salt. It is my light to work on my tackle and it does such a great job as a camp light on the rear hatch. since installing the drawers.
if you have not got one of thses yet, go get it.
I used 3m tape and it holds up great! ran it to a little switch with a cover i got from autozone, (the only time i went to autozone i promise) i had ran some wire from the front under hood fuse panel, from a fuse spot not being used, to the jack storage location. I then ran a wire down the colum, i had to cut a bit of the rubber that seals the hatch but i resealed it. installed the little swich on the side of the hatc near the light, ran the wires to the light and bam!
I used heavy grade wire to run from front to back beacuse I added a 12v to the rear jack storage panel and a shower. https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/617925-25-built-shower-washer.html#post7903859
NLXTACY - LED's still working? Time to revive the thread...
- Thread starter
- #56
Still working like a dream. Heat and vibration has NOT been an issue at all. I still don't have a switch for it but its fine the way I have it now. I would change nothing about it...cept for figuring out the switch before I started
Ever thought about using a door switch mounted where the hood latches so it comes on when you open it?
- Thread starter
- #58
Yes, and I have about a dozen of the door switches to play with to get it to do what I want. My first pass and testing it didn't bring me the warm fuzzies. I will need to come back to it so that I can finish this.
for my install I used a "pin switch" for the job, mounted to the hood near the latch. Provides ground to the LED strip. There are pictures somewhere. It was easy - the hard part was getting the ground wire attached.
I purchased the same light bar a few years ago when NLX first did this and just got around to installing it. I simply can't believe how easy this was and how much light it puts out. It really is perfect for the application, thanks for all the legwork! I chose a waterproof switch from west marine, It came with a waterproof boot over the toggle. I also put a fuse holder on the battery connection and made a little angle bracket. I ran power and ground back to the battery and put the cable through some vacuum hose to protect it and give it a more factory appearance.
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