Idea for rear work light...

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 1, 2002

beenthere, I'd sure appreciate it! It seems so weird that the JD dealership simply couldn't make this work and told me it couldn't be done! Tomorrow, at work <sigh>, I'll call the other JD dealer and see what they think about it. There has to be a way to do this right.. I can't believe that only the factory can do this job.

Thanks!!

Anonymous Poster · Jan 1, 2002

{my worklamps, I installed and used the existing "rear worklamp circuit wires sitting under the seat..."

Hi Bob,

I can't see how they wired your worklamp... but I'll assume for the quickest job, the dealer would splice into your taillamp wiring harness for convenience... that would cause the worklamp to only work with the rest of your lights and never in the rear "worklamp" switched position...

The switched position harness will have extra pigtails usually wrapped up under the operator's seat sitting there waiting for you to tap into.../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

John Deere doesn't have different harnesses, like an auto company, the wiring is all the same, even though you may not have purchased all the options... it's still there for you to use...

DDT · Jan 1, 2002

Bob
To find that hidden wire. flip the set up and star at the bottom of rops trace wires to the seat. You should find a insulated green ( i think) wire with a female connecter. use a test light and turn the lights on to make sure you have the right one.

jyoutz · Jan 2, 2002

Why don't you just cut the wires and install an inline switch. This is easy and cheap to do.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 2, 2002

…Why don't you just cut the wires and install an inline switch. This is easy and cheap to do…

Jim,

That’s been suggested to Bob, multiple times since he first mentioned his problem… /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I don’t think Bob realizes how simple it really is to wire a switch and be done with the problem…/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

If you look at my picture at the left work lamp… on the bottom, I mounted and wired a switch… as this method would be “ideal” for Bob’s situation as 99% of his work is already done…/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jan 2, 2002

Hi Dana,

I don't know if John Deere stays with a consistent wiring color code or not, but on my JD model the aux. circuit is purple...

But like you've already mentioned, it's fairly easy to determine none-the-less... just look under the seat, observe some "loose" wire pigtails that aren't hooked up to anything and being used, with a simple 12 test lamp or multimeter... measure for B+ at the pigtail end while trying different positions of your main light switch... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 2, 2002

…Why don't you just cut the wires and install an inline switch. This is easy and cheap to do…

Jim,

That’s been suggested to Bob, multiple times since he first mentioned his problem…

I don’t think Bob realizes how simple it really is to wire a switch and be done with the problem…

Exactly, John.. I would go out and look at the lights, notice the nice clean looking install, and think to myself "Self, you don't have a clue what you're doing! You'll mess up your new tractor!" /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

I picture myself taking off the light, having to find the right wire to cut, having to find a correctly rated switch that will fit, figure out where to mount it, solder the connections, try to get the whole thing water tight again, etc., etc. I guess it isn't all that hard, from what you're saying,but you guys know what you're doing and I don't. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Besides, I figure I already paid somebody to do this for me. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

Sorry I've been so resistive to these suggestions. /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif I'm a chicken.

I'll go try to find the correct wire, under the seat, and see how it all looks as far as getting the wire up to the light. Plan B will be to come snivelling back here and ask for details about adding a special switch to control this light independently.

Thanks Folks, and sorry to be a pain about this!

Bob

TerryinMD · Jan 2, 2002

Bob,

Or you can install a new circuit just for the auxilliary lights. That's what I needed to do to control the rear/front facing auxilliary lights. Takes some planning and effort, but is very clean.

On the JD4100, the main lighting switch gives you all or none when trying to control the lights. So, I installed a different circuit with it's own relay and fuses. Now, I can run with the all of the lights on, or the headlights and auxilliary headlights, headlights and rear flood light, or auxilliary headlights or rear floodlight.

Terry

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 2, 2002

Hi Terry,

...Or you can install a new circuit just for the auxilliary lights. That's what I needed to do to control the rear/front facing auxilliary lights. Takes some planning and effort, but is very clean.

It sounds great, but as you can see from my previous post, I'm a bit challenged in this area. What I'll probably do is go the simplest way I can find.. see how hard it is.. and then think about getting fancy later when I have some confidence built up. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Your lashup sounds super, though!

Thanks,
Bob

TerryinMD · Jan 2, 2002

Bob,

It really isn't all that difficult. I'm somewhat electrically challenged and have played around with adding lights and stereos, but not relays and the such.

So, I enlisted the help of my friend and we tackled the problem. Field engineering rules! /w3tcompact/icons/king.gif

After my toolbox post, I got some additional ideas from our friends here on TBN. The key was using a relay, some waterproof fuse boxes, and a couple of single pole switches. I bought a relay kit intended for fog lights and adapted it to my situation. The kit provided a good diagram of the circuit which then allowed us to modify it to suit my needs.

I will create a diagram and make it available soon.

Terry