Need Help, Lights, I must be dummer than most

[Freds]

Well, I said I would post a few pics when I got my lights done. Yesterday got up into the forties with the sun shining, so I finally finished installing the work light project I started over a month ago on another "warm" day. I'd like to thank all the members who gave me some very useful info I got in this post.

I went with 4-55w trapezoid pattern lights I got at Autozone. They are mounted to a 3x3x1/4" pc of aluminum angle that is mounted to the threaded holes on the front of the ROPS hinge. I notched the angle so the leg I mounted the lights to would be within the ROPS. I figured this would somewhat protect them rather than having them on top of the ROPS and if I have to duck for something, then I can pretty much count on the lights getting hit so maybe I'll think twice.

And if my tractor looks shiny and clean, thank Mother Nature. She washes my tractor for me during the winter months. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Freds]

Here's a shot of the flex conduit on the mounting angle. The hardest part was trying to keep it "high and tight" underneath the tractor. I never knew that I could loop a wire zip tie around an existing wiring harness, push my conduit up next to it and thread the pieces and tighten it... all with one hand. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif It runs along other factory wires and is wired to the alternator post.
All my connections on the power side are soldered.

 

[Freds]

Another shot. I used a small hole in the angle and a wire tie to hold the conduit in place underneath the angle. You can see the female end sticking out where I threaded it through. I used 12 ga wire for everything.
The electrical tape holding the conduit to the ROPS will be replaced when I pick up some black ties and nothing interferes with folding the ROPS down

 

[Freds]

Finally the switches. They are marine grade with rubber boots on them. The local hardware store had them, as they did most everything I used. Ya gotta love a complete hardware store in your own backyard. The wires leading from them are also in conduit and scoot out a couple factory holes that are located behind the clutch pedal. I don't foresee any wiring getting yanked on and where everything meets, the power wires, the wires from the lights and the switch wires, are in the cavity right behind the floor board where the holes are located and easily accessible by removing the lower side panel on the left side of the tractor.

Now I need something to do at night! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Hey Freds are those lights hot on the back of your head? Just kidding! They actually do look kinda neat, and I like the switches too.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hey Freds are those lights hot on the back of your head? Just kidding! They actually do look kinda neat, and I like the switches too. )</font>
I was wondering the same thing. That, and, how do you see with your shadow in the way? I usually mount my magnetic flood up on top of the ROPS and it's just high enough that it doesn't cast my shadow! Very nice looking job though, and neat looking lights. John

 

[Freds]

Thanks, guys.
Granted, I haven't done any actual night testing with these lights yet. I had wanted to last night, but didn't feel like going outside in the snowstorm we were getting.... No doubt directly related to me taking down my snow fence, driveway markers and removing the rear blade the day before. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The lights only generate heat that I can feel on the back of my hand when my hand gets to about 8-6 inches directly in front of the light. My head sits about a foot ahead and a little more than a foot to the side of the lights that face forward, so no, I don't feel any heat at all on my head. They also don't blind me when I look back, so I know I'm not catching any direct light.
Doing the hand test again, no light hits my hand held directly in front of my face/head until it is up by the dash, so the pattern doesn't spread quickly enough to hit me in the back of the head and cast shadows. In theory and limited testing anyway... only night use will actually tell, but I don't expect things to change much unless I have to angle the lights so much that they do point to the back of my head.

Forgot to add:
There is no brightness change in the lights with all four on between running off the battery and when the engine is running. There is also no difference in brightness or engine pitch, at idle, when all the tractor lights are on and I flip the halogens on. Seems to be plenty of amps generated to run them.

Now... I wonder if a landscape rake will clear 3" of snow /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Dirtnut]

nice job on the lights been thinking of doing that to my tractor. dittos on the snow storm got 10" over here last night and just put my plow away. guess ill have to take the loader off and put the plow back on. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[skivt]

Nice job on the light bar. Any chance of bumping your head? How much were the lights at Autozone?

 

[Freds]

Thanks skivt.
The light bar is far enough behind my head that I don't think there's any chance of hitting it and I have the seat all the way back. I can't hit it when I stretch in the seat anyway.
The lights were a *whopping* $13.99 ea. Pretty reasonable I thought, but I had to go to 2 stores to get 4 of them. They call them tractor lights and they are near the other off road lights.