Cab work lights changed over to LED units

moship · Aug 2, 2017

Just thought I'd share with the group in the event it helps any one.

Like some folks, I have been changing over most halogen applications to LED as I simply like the extra light output and coverage.

Currently changing the front and rear Kubota cab work lights on a L4740 to LEDs. For the front I am using 6.5" 36 watt flood lights as they are very similar in size to the Kubota lights, but the light output is considerable moret. Example of what I used:

Amazon.com: Nilight 2PCS 6.5" 36w Flood LED Work Light Off Road LED Light Bar Super Bright for Jeep Cabin Boat SUV truck Car ATVs ,2 Years Warranty: Automotive

To illuminate the rear 27 Watt 4 square flood units are being utilized.

(Example: Amazon.com: KAWELL 1 Pack 4.5" 27W Square DC 9-32V 6K 18LM 6 Degree Flood LED Work Light Lamp for Off Road High Power ATV Jeep Wrangler 4x4 Rv Trailer Fishing Boat Tractor Truck (pack of 1): Automotive)

And to illuminate the sides, 18 Watt flood lights.
(example: Amazon.com: KAWELL 2PCS 18w LED Work Light Off Road Led Lights Bar Fog Driving Bar Jeep Lamp (2 Pack Flood Black): Automotive).

Why did I use this combination? The 6.5" matched the front nicely and the other two styles were left over from some other projects.

Since the old Kubota lights are no longer needed, the electrical connector was cut-off and soldered to the new LED lights. The front switch will provide power to the front while the rear switch will power to both back and side lamps.

Current draw for each lamp was measured using 12.60 supply voltage. Not surprisingly the claimed wattage fell short of reality. Not saying this is bad as the light output is many times better than stock, but the actual current draw is less. Below are the test results per work light, so if using them in pairs the values would need to be doubled.

Claimed Watts___Actual Watts___Amps/Light___# of LED's
___18_____________9.5__________0.75__________6
___27____________14.5__________1.18__________9
___36____________26.0__________2.06_________12

Over the last two years I have been using the 18W and 27 W units on my JD Gator and as backup lights on a number of vehicles. Out of 10 units I've had one go bad due to moisture and salt intrusion (auxiliary backup lights mounted off the trailer hitch). The failed unit was replaced under warranty.

These lights are inexpensive at <$25 per pair.

Do I believe the claimed lumen output? No way. But the light output is multiple times better than stock 55 watt halogen bulbs.

moship · Aug 2, 2017

Found some pictures to demonstrate the difference... Not the greatest, but might help.

First is looking out the side with just the front LED's on. You'll notice how dark it is.

Second picture is with the side LED on.

Third picture is the left rear halogen (stock Kubota) on (no light on right).

Fourth is with the right rear LED on.

Last picture is of the simple bracket fabricated to attach to the stock mounting bracket from Kubota.

FatTire · Aug 2, 2017

Thanks for the info. What is the width of the mounting bracket on these lights? Same as the Kubota, or did you have to add some spacers? Also, do you have an FM radio in your 4740? I tried one pair of cheap LED lights, they completely wrecked the FM reception. I added a big ferrite and a capacitor to the power lead, it helped quite a bit but still added just a enough interference that I couldn't live with it, so I swapped back to the factory lights. But I need to solve the lighting issue before winter rolls around, those factory lights aren't going to cut it.

EDIT: I just saw your photo, so I see how you handled the bracket situation. Are those LED lights 30 mm width on inside of bracket? (Kubota brackets are 38mm if I remember correctly.)

moship · Aug 3, 2017

1. Bracket Width: Not certain of the exact width, but thought they would fit inside the Kubota bracket. Problem was the spacing of the light against the cab. Used 1/8" thick by 1" wide flat stock that was laying around to bend a bracket to obtain the desired spacing as shown in the last photo.

2. Radio: Yes, I have an AM/FM radio. Haven't used the tractor at night, so don't know if the lights cause an interference or not. My speakers are so bad I'm not certain I'd hear it. I'll try the lights to see if they do, but it will likely be a few weeks given my travel schedule at work. Light use is predominately in the winter when blowing snow.

FatTire · Aug 3, 2017

Ok, thanks moship!

Gordon Gould · Aug 4, 2017

Interesting info because I am thinking of changing to LED. My work lights have a built in push button switch on each light. They are not sealed switches so it doesn't take long for them to fail.

I wonder what wattage you would measure at 14.2 Volts instead of 12.6 Volts. Your battery charging system runs at 14.2 while operating.

gg

Fallon · Aug 4, 2017

I installed a 46" (front) & 52" (rear) light bar on my L4060. Search on my name & with LED or what not to find it (on phone now otherwise I would). I'm really happy with a portable sun mounted to my mirror brackets in front & hazard brackets in the rear. Looks almost OEM. You might be able to run them on stock wiring but I went way overkill on wiring & put in an extra relay/fuse box in the headliner next to the radio. To facilitate future projects as much as the lights.

I think 1 was rated at 300 watts & the other 250 watts or so. When I hooked them up to my bench power supply the 300 watt bar never cracked 200 watts actual draw. Wattage bounced around a bit in a non-linear fashion as I fiddled with voltage. I want to say +-50 watts or so. Odd & almost interesting, but makes little practical difference.

As a practical matter the LEDs cause no radio interference. I can hear them through the radio in or next to the barn. But my barn is a fareaday cage & blocks almost all RF when I get a tractor length from the door. I had to mount an external antenna for the stereo in the barn. It barely got reception until I got new florescent fixtures. Went through a pile of different fixtures from different stores trying to find ones with a ballast that didn't kill the radio. Gave up because it was so marginal with lights off & easier to mount an antenna outside. No cell reception inside either until I put a microcell in there.

ArlyA · Aug 4, 2017

Thanks for the light report. We work at night, so we add lights to all our UTV's and ATV's and like you, found there advertised output is be unrealistic. Nonetheless, you can get LED lights with a reasonable good output (lower than stated) that can seriously light up your nights and at a pretty low cost. Like you, we'd get a couple of 27 watt light for around $25 which claim to be dust proof and water resistance and we've yet to burn a single emitter out of them. We run them for about 6 years before the machine is retired.

JLwoodworks · Aug 4, 2017

Very nice. I replaced mine front and rear with the 9" lights. Remarkable difference. But I found a cheap pack of plugs that match the factory wiring so nothing on the tractor is altered.

Jay

moship · Aug 4, 2017

"But I found a cheap pack of plugs that match the factory wiring so nothing on the tractor is altered."

Can you share info what you used and how one goes about procuring? I have another tractor I'll be converting the work lights and it would be nice to match up with the stock Kubota connectors.