Lights, Switches, & Preparation (1 Viewer)

[milkyxj]

So I wanted to add some lights to my 200 and went ahead and pre-wired for future plans. Added in-bumper LED lights on the rear (Amazon), dual 10" light bars in the grille (China). Added a Blue Sea fuse block, Circuit Breaker, and switches from CruiserHeads. Light bars are generic chinese 10" models I ordered from Alibaba. Once I get my ARB bumper in place I will replace them with something else on the bumper.

I used some 9 conductor speed wire to make the passage into the cabin, more than enough switches in it for what I am using. Still have 2 wires available for future use.

The CruiserHeads switches are ok, but the green is much too bright for the OEM dash lights. (Edit: easily toned down with sharpie/tint stickers) I plan to open up the switches and try to tone them down some.

Down the road I plan to add a second battery and dual ARB air compressor. Switches, fuses, and relays are in place, just need to get the parts from Slee when I have the cash. I also have 4" 35w HID spots that I plan to put on the roof when I have the money for my GOBI rack.

Pictures here: 200 Lights

 

[MScruiser]

That looks good. I've been looking at those switches too and was wondering how they were going to look. I have an aftermarket switch and it is also too bright. Someone suggested adding a resistor to the circuit to dim the light. I wonder if that might work?

 

[milkyxj]

I have some pre-cut tint stickers from Amazon I'm going to try on the LED's inside the switch. I'll post results after. Currently they are way too bright.

LightDims Black Out Edition. New Packaging - Light Dims Led Light Blocker - Amazon.com

 

[hankinid]

That looks good. I've been looking at those switches too and was wondering how they were going to look. I have an aftermarket switch and it is also too bright. Someone suggested adding a resistor to the circuit to dim the light. I wonder if that might work?

What if you tie into a wire that dims? As an example, the + and - on the ashtray bulb,

 

[milkyxj]

What if you tie into a wire that dims? As an example, the + and - on the ashtray bulb,

If my tint stickers don't work I may have to do that. Thanks for the idea

 

[linuxgod]

If my tint stickers don't work I may have to do that. Thanks for the idea

What did you end up doing to make the brightness reasonable? I bought a couple of these switches for my light bar and camping lights and I'd like to wire them up soon. I'd like to learn from your experience (and not have to pull the dash apart more than once).

 

[Markuson]

So I wanted to add some lights to my 200 and went ahead and pre-wired for future plans. Added in-bumper LED lights on the rear (Amazon), dual 10" light bars in the grille (China). Added a Blue Sea fuse block, Circuit Breaker, and switches from CruiserHeads. Light bars are generic chinese 10" models I ordered from Alibaba. Once I get my ARB bumper in place I will replace them with something else on the bumper.

I used some 9 conductor speed wire to make the passage into the cabin, more than enough switches in it for what I am using. Still have 2 wires available for future use.

The CruiserHeads switches are ok, but the green is much too bright for the OEM dash lights. I plan to open up the switches and try to tone them down some.

Down the road I plan to add a second battery and dual ARB air compressor. Switches, fuses, and relays are in place, just need to get the parts from Slee when I have the cash. I also have 4" 35w HID spots that I plan to put on the roof when I have the money for my GOBI rack.

Pictures here: 200 Lights

Nice work.

I feel your pain on the "waiting for the cash" part, as that's what keeps my build going slooooowly.
On my 100, I basically did one huge build...but on the 200, I have to be very patient with my pocketbook.

On the bright side...doing it piece by piece makes you really appreciate each new mod.
It's also made me really think about which mods are most immediately useful and prioritize.

It's FUN, ain't it?

 

[Markuson]

What did you end up doing to make the brightness reasonable? I bought a couple of these switches for my light bar and camping lights and I'd like to wire them up soon. I'd like to learn from your experience (and not have to pull the dash apart more than once).

Years ago I had a similar issue on another device with an LED that was too bright.

What I used was a photo negative (you know...FILM?)...and it worked a charm not only for brightness, but also for making slight alterations to the color itself by moving the film negative around in front of the LED until I got the brightness & color I liked...then cutting that small part of the negative and fastening it in place over the light (and behind the housing).

If you have some old film negs, try it. Worked really well for me.

 

[linuxgod]

Years ago I had a similar issue on another device with an LED that was too bright.

What I used was a photo negative (you know...FILM?)...and it worked a charm not only for brightness, but also for making slight alterations to the color itself by moving the film negative around in front of the LED until I got the brightness & color I liked...then cutting that small part of the negative and fastening it in place over the light (and behind the housing).

If you have some old film negs, try it. Worked really well for me.

It's not so much the cost of those filters (they're ~$8) but the effort to take the dash apart to play with it. I prefer to disassemble and reassemble in daylight, but would want to see how bright the colors seem at night.

To be clear, I'm also thinking I would apply the filter to the *inside* of the switch rather than just sticking it overtop. Asthetics.

 

[Markuson]

It's not so much the cost of those filters (they're ~$8) but the effort to take the dash apart to play with it. I prefer to disassemble and reassemble in daylight, but would want to see how bright the colors seem at night.

To be clear, I'm also thinking I would apply the filter to the *inside* of the switch rather than just sticking it overtop. Asthetics.

Right. With my film fix, I took the device apart, and put it over the internal LED. No film stuck to my devices, thanks...

 

[Sinister]

What did you use for the yellow fogs?

 

[milkyxj]

What did you end up doing to make the brightness reasonable? I bought a couple of these switches for my light bar and camping lights and I'd like to wire them up soon. I'd like to learn from your experience (and not have to pull the dash apart more than once).

I used the film that I linked, as well as a black sharpie. The switches come out easily with a flathead on the bottom. Then I took them apart, colored the LED with a black sharpie, colored inside the switch where I could reach, then placed a film over the running light LED. There are 2 LED's per switch, one for running lights and one when on. I left the on bright. Matches the OEM switches nicely now, will post pictures later.

 

[linuxgod]

How did you guys pop the switch apart in order to apply the dimming sheet behind it?

Also, what wire(s) did you tap into? The AOB wiring diagram shows two 12V connections. Did you just wire the "headllight" wire to the fuse block (so you could run the lights even with the headlights off) or did you wire it into the high beams? Did you wire the backlight into a dimmer or did you omit it?

 

[NetJunky]

Where did you get the switches? I want to make sure I got the right size.

also when did the rear locker became a button? I don't have that button on my 09.

 

[Markuson]

Where did you get the switches? I want to make sure I got the right size.

also when did the rear locker became a button? I don't have that button on my 09.

No locker = no button. Those are after market buttons..added when a locker/compressor was added. You don't have buttons, but you have the spaces available to add them. Here's a link:
Slee - Electrical Switches

 

[linuxgod]

Where did you get the switches? I want to make sure I got the right size.

also when did the rear locker became a button? I don't have that button on my 09.

Toyota Switches -Air On Board

You can get switches that are labeled with pretty much anything, from "light bar" or "winch" to "machine guns" or "passenger eject"

 

[gaijin]

Toyota Switches -Air On Board

You can get switches that are labeled with pretty much anything, from "light bar" or "winch" to "machine guns" or "passenger eject"

That link does not list any switches specifically for the 200 series Land Cruiser

Do switches for one of the other listed Toyota models fit?

 

[linuxgod]

They aren't Toyota OEM switches but they do fit. I bought two (light bar and rear camp lights) off eBay that specifically listed the 200-series.

http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eB...6080&category=50459&pm=1&ds=0&t=1468274941836

32.5x22mm face surface

 

[Markuson]

BRAIN FART ALERT: No, the buttons don't change color. Just the screen. My brain=

 

[milkyxj]

Finally got my battery in. Strangely the top bar does not have SLEE cut into it like most. Anyways, next step will be adding some 12V outlets into the center console and back, CB install, then hopefully air compressor and roof rack.