HOW TO - Wiring to roof mounted lighting (1 Viewer)

[jdeitch]

Hard to tell for sure but your cut your holes above the C pillar?

Cut holes just behind the sunroof assy. Cabling goes down same pilar as rear sunroof drain on driver's side.

 

[jdeitch]

2 x 12AWG into 1 single 10AWG for LED lightbar.

1 x 14AWG for 3 low wattage LED flood lights.

1 x 14AWG for 1 cigarette lighter socket for RTT.

3 x 12AWG into 1 single 10AWG for common ground.

 

[jdeitch]

Coax attached to PL-259 connector. Two of these are installed. One for CB. One for HAM.

 

[jdeitch]

Finished install from the inside.

 

[jdeitch]

Finished install from the outside.

 

[BamaPaul]

Very clean looking install, canon plugs were definitely the way to go.

 

[Corbet]

How does the headliner look reinstalled? Any sign of the wiring?

 

[jdeitch]

How does the headliner look reinstalled? Any sign of the wiring?

Perfect. No sign of installation. I'm very happy with the result.

 

[burnttoastburgos]

what is the biggest wire gauge you can fit into the connector?

 

[jdeitch]

what is the biggest wire gauge you can fit into the connector?

The connector has solder terminations. Each set of contacts is rated for 25 amps. I soldered 12AWG to the terminals with no issues.

 

[The Jade Bean]

This is the most interesting way I've seen the lights hooked up and I'm thinking this is the way I'll go as well! I want the same option as you, that is to be able to remove the roof rack if I wanted to. Watching!

-Daniel Kent

 

[ontopofm]

What are the other 2 connectors? What kind of connectors on the lights side?

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[jdeitch]

What are the other 2 connectors? What kind of connectors on the lights side?

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

The other two connectors are 'N' connectors for coaxial antenna cable. One for CB radio, one for armature/ham radio. I incorporated mounts for the two antennas into my roof rack.

On the other end of the power cables I plan to use connectors that came with my RigidIndustries LED lights. They are very similar to WeatherPac connectors.

Sorry for the lack of progress, I'm away from home on Army orders.

 

[UZJ40]

Looks great... thank you for posting. How much did you pay for the cannon plug?

 

[jdeitch]

Looks great... thank you for posting. How much did you pay for the cannon plug?

I found it on eBay. As I recall about $20.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Looking forward see more progress! Your solutions have still been the best I've seen so far.

-Daniel Kent

 

[jdeitch]

Looking forward see more progress! Your solutions have still been the best I've seen so far.

-Daniel Kent

Thank you for the kind words. I hope to be home from my latest Army trip in early September. I hope to be able to get some work done and take Elsie to the Lucas Oil Off Road Expo in Southern California.

 

[LCroozer7]

Perfect. No sign of installation. I'm very happy with the result.

What year is your Cruiser? I am very interested in duplicating your work here to wire a light bar and a few spots as well. First I have to remove my factory roof rack (bunch of spinning nutserts and was thinking I could install the cannon plug right where the front foot (driver's side) of the rack sits. It's pretty close the the B pillar so my idea is to snake the wires down that pillar and under the driver's seat to the console and then to the dash and out the firewall. 1. Does this sound reasonable? And 2. How did you go about dropping the headliner? How did the reinstall go? Thanks!!

 

[Somebodyelse5]

How's this been holding up?

My only hesitation is dropping the head liner... should I be worried? I would definitely dynamat up there while it's down.