LED flashlights for tractor lighting - Will it work??!!!

[beppington]

beppington
I've Quite a few of those same lights you are using . I'm mostly using them on firearms as they have a 1" OD housing and fit in "scope" rings easily. Some of the ones I have, have the on/off button on the end and can be swapped out to a pressure switch.I'm not sure you will get the throw out of them ?

In the cold last night I did turn all 6 lights on to get a quick preview of what the light will look like, & the throw appears to be sufficient. I really only need the ground pretty close in front of the tractor lit up, maybe 25-30 feet away, & off to the sides 5 or 10 feet, & these seem to do that. I hope I can get some pics that will accurately show what I see.

And you'll probably need to stock up on batteries .

Yeah, if these things eat up batteries too often I'll prob scrap this idea altogether & call it a failed venture. We'll see. I'm kinda thinking I won't use them that much that it will seem like I'm buying batteries all the time, but not sure yet.

But the Idea of being able to have a mounted flash light on the tractor that can be removed and used @ the machines is goodto have.

That's what I thought, too: Always nice to have a few flashlights around.

A few months back I bought a black 4 M candle power spot light @ tractor supply~$20 It was a p.o.s. Retured it and bought a 3 million candle power with a silver housing for $8.00 and it was a much better light. It's 12V rechargable and cig lighter plugable throws a beam out 300-400 yards x 30 yards flood.I have 2 100watt K/C lights on my tractor already but if they burn out I'll be using one of these spots on it then.
Ak9

Seems like there's a revolution on flashlights going on right now! Some places you can get really good cheap flashlights, & other places expensive flashlights that aren't very good ... & sometimes the same store has both!

 

[edlegault]

I have several AAA and a couple AA battery powered LED flashlights. Depending on the lumens output they last anywhere from a couple hours to 90+ hours of intermittent operation. My favorite is sold by coleman and is 90 lumens output and lasts for probably 70-90 hours of intermittent use.

Get some good low discharge NiMH rechargebles and a good charger. The batteries can sit around for 6-12 months and still have a charge, unlike regular nimhs or nicads.

 

[beppington]

Hi, I hope this will help you

I recently put 6 LED's in my Lawn Tractor (See Pix below). Got them on Ebay for $6.45 for 2 of them. It's called H7 Car 102 3020 Chip SMD LED about 400Lumen each Example... Ebay Item number: 330661662827.

NOTE: Do NOT get the one that is 3528 Chip SMD LED, they suck alot of power and give you less light.

I made 2 just regular light, and then 4 on High Beam with a switch on my Tractor. Mouse over the Pix to see Descriptions and Info. Also I enclosed a Sample of Solar Light Encloser I remade, maybe give you some idea...

I suggest you to buy the 10W LED Spotlight / Floodlight (Last Pix) also it's Waterproof, it's cheaper $24.00 on Ebay (Even Cheaper now $19.00 Item number:120827918357) and you can just hook it to your 12V Lights on your Tractor, just put a switch so you can turn off and on that is all, also rated at 1000Lumen Cool White, which is bright and I might put it on mine soon... For Back Up in the Snow Storm

I think you bought what I did at HD, it's called CREE LED if i'm correct. They are bright for their 1W. But they said the Battery will last only 2 Hours most, for 3xAAA. Another thing you can do with these is Connect them in Series... That way you can use them right from your Tractor 12V. Just connect them 3 each since they are rated 4.5V per bulb.

Any questions, just ask... I have done bunch of LED's... Including my house and I have pix to prove it, LOL

Hope that will help!

OK, it took me a while to digest your post, but I did now :thumbsup:

Are the LED's you put in your lawn tractor direct bulb replacements? Or do they require modifying the stock light fixture and/or modifying the wiring?

The LED floodlight you posted might work well if it can handle the bumps it will experience being mounted on a tractor roof. What do you think?

 

[rgs03833]

OK, it took me a while to digest your post, but I did now :thumbsup:

Answer

LOL

Are the LED's you put in your lawn tractor direct bulb replacements? Or do they require modifying the stock light fixture and/or modifying the wiring?

Answer

They are H7 Bulbs, look at the end of it, you see the Metal.. They are SPADE CLIPS, you can get them at Walmart or Automotive store, simple to do, just cut the wire and then clamp it. Or if you got a soldering gun, that would be a breeze... How else can you go wrong, Possitive to Possitive, Negative to Negative, LOL

The LED floodlight you posted might work well if it can handle the bumps it will experience being mounted on a tractor roof. What do you think?

Answer

All you need is Bolts, the side Bolts that is on there you can just tighten them to the angle you want, you can adjust in the future too, that is a +++++++. The other end where you would Bolt to your Tractor have 3 holes.. i think that would hold nicely.

I hate to see you waste your batteries... Also, you have to switch on and off 6 X, LOL

I also mentioned, you can open the Flashlights, drill holes and connect them in series and solder them... but NOT water or snow proof, headaches in future...

Like this... in 3's

1+ go to 2- and 2+ go to 3- then 3+ go to your battery +

Lastly connect your 1- to your battery -

Because they are rated at 4.5 volts, since you connect 3 of them you got 13.5 volts, your Tractorr battery is about 12.5volts ... So you can use them directly to your tractor battery. No need to buy AAA batteries,,, LOL

Also, you can put an on and off switch between the 3+ and your Tractor battery +, this way you can just turn them on with a switch.

TIPS

Instead of doing all that, just buy the Floodlight i suggested before... No Weather gonna get it, rain or snow, your light will be ok, adjust any angle you want and no hassels, and no batteries to buy... More money the other way.

PS. You are gonna get more and use it as you headlights, and back up at night too, you'll see lol

 

[texasjohn]

my experience with flashlights that look like that is that the spring in the end cap between battery and switch gives poor connectivity over time and thus intermittant operation. I'd be concerned about durability in your application but applaud your innovation:thumbsup:

 

[SPYDERLK]

This light attaches magnetically. Good bit of light. Im going to mount a metal strip on the front edge of my canopy and try a couple of them.
27 LED Portable Worklight/Flashlight

 

[texasjohn]

I have one of those, wouldn't give enough light for me in THAT application, but may meet your needs.