BX Lights Upgrade

[Charliebrn]

Woohoo! I just replaced my 2 light addons with 6 lights. I tried to do a decent job of it, and I like the results. I wanted this much light for plowing snow in the winter. Seemed like light reflecting off the snow up front blew my night vision, and I had a hard time seeing around me, which is a problem when you know there are lots of cars around you. I end up plowing snow for many neighbors, and sure don't want to screw anything up. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

More tractor mods...

Anyhow, if you want' to add lights, this solution worked good for me.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Charliebrn]

Here is a close up of the switch box. I mounted it to the plate that holds the slow-moving-vehicle sign on the ROPS.

 

[Charliebrn]

Here is a close up of the lights on the ROPS.

 

[Charliebrn]

Here is the rear of the switch box while it was under construction. I used standard 14-3 w/ground run directly from the battery, up under the frame, up through the rear fender through a rubber grommet, to the inside of the switch box (a Hole in the side facing the rops). You can see the cable I ran at the bottop of the pic, it's secured with the blue zip ties and painted gray under the switch box. In the switch box, each switch has it's own in-line 15 amp fuse.

 

[Charliebrn]

Here is a pic of the top of the light mounts. the plates holding the side lights are just sandwiched between the two plates (friction holds it in place just fine). I siliconed everything of course. Yea, I know, its a mess, but what the heck, nobody sees that.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Oh yea, I put on the side lights in such a way that I can remove the whole side brackets, lights and all very easily, since I prob won't need them in the spring/summer. Even the wires for these are on with bullet connectors, so all i have to do is loosen the bolts for the main brackets, unplug the fog lights, slide the brackets out, and retighten the bracket bolts.

 

[Garrabo]

that may not be enough lighting /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[sandyc]

Good Grief Charlie Brown! with all that light you'll probably be spotted by planes overhead.
Did you upgrade your dyno? If not you might want to look into that so that you don't draw down your battery.
Nice job!

 

[JWE]

WOW Charliebrn! I'll be able to see the glow on the horizon from Pittsburgh.

What did you use for the switch box? I tried to find aluminum project boxes but no one seems to carry them anymore; everything is plastic. I plan to mount my box in the same location as you did but I will connect my two puny lights to the connector under the seat.

John

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I used standard 14-3 w/ground run directly from the battery, up under the frame, up through the rear fender through a rubber grommet, to the inside of the switch box (a Hole in the side facing the rops). )</font>

Are you refering to 14/3 romex type wire????? Nice lighting..... Junkman

 

[Pks]

I recommend testing at night before you need the lights to work correctly. You may find it difficult to look behind you while the two large forward facing lights are on. I have the same configuration and cannot look over my shoulder while backing up, unless the two big lights are off. They shine directly into my eyes.

 

[Jim_Becker]

Wow...that's not a tractor...it's a UFO!!

Seriously, Charlie, you'll not be wanting for light...and I do hope you have the updated alternator on your machine to handle all that wattage.

One other note: I had my aux lights and wiring mounted similar to yours and have to rethink it. Don't underestimate the ability of trees and bushes to totally destroy your handy-work. Anything that has even the smallest bit of space WILL catch on something. The garage door frame will also do a number on those light if you forget to lower the ROPs...DAMHIKT!!!

 

[Charliebrn]

Yea, I put in the Alternator upgrade kit this summer. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend more than two of these lights, as they pull almost 5 amps each. The upgrade alternator puts out 40 amps, so I still have some play room left... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Any suggestions???

 

[Charliebrn]

I used a plastic junction box from Home depot, made for weather. It had two conduit ports on it, and I hacksawed them off, one I used to feed in the wires, the other I covered with a chrome plug, which you can see in one of the pictures.

 

[Charliebrn]

Yup, 14/3 w/ground Romex type wire!

 

[Charliebrn]

Actually, the glare isn't too bad for me. I have the seat all the way back, so maybe that is why. I do get a little looking backward, but it isn't unusable by any means. I may end up buying a Canopy soon, so even that should take care of that issue.

 

[Charliebrn]

I've had two lights up there for a couple years now, and haven't had any damage to them. Over the years I've developed methods for each of my trees to avoid getting them hit, so I think I'll be ok, and if I do nail one of them, it won't be catastrophic...the lights were fairly cheap, I think I paid $12 each for them.

 

[JoeR]

Charliebrn:

Just a heads up... Keep an eye on that 14-3 wire if it runs near anything that has oil/fuel or extreme heat. It has paper on the inside which can be combustible. I know that solid copper wire can be difficult to run. If you notice the white plastic starting to discolor due to heat, I would replace the wire with automotive type wire which is heat and oil resistant. The wire is stranded is easier to route into tight areas.

I used 14-2 for my lights, but had to replace it when it started going from white to yellow/brown....


Overall, that is one good looking installation!!!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Just out of curiosity, are those switches waterproof?

Also, I noticed you used rubber gromets, did you also squirt in a dab of silicone to keep out rain?

 

[Charliebrn]

Thanks for the heads up. I couldn't find any automotive wire that was heavy enough and had enough conductors around here, and I was in a hurry to get the job done. I have my eyes open though, and planned on replacing the battery to switches cable as soon as I find one that will work, since that is the only one around anything hot. I was careful in routing though, it doesn't hit anything that gets overly warm.

 

[Charliebrn]

Yup, rubber grommets and silicone. Great stuff. The switches aren't waterproof. I'm looking for waterproof lighted switches, though I need to stay on some sort of budget. I figger I've got a little more than $100 into it. I'm already getting some awful looks from the wife.... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif