Yet Another Set of ROPS Lights

[rswyan]

Mike,

Thanks - ditto from this end.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If there is ever anything that I can do to help you just shout. Manchester is in our back yard. )</font>

..... hopefully just not near the septic .... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[rswyan]

LB,

Sounds interesting - you got any pictures of this setup ?

The one thing downside I could see to only have a pair of lights that you had to rotate to the front and rear would be if you wanted light in both directions at the same time. When we got that big snow a few weeks ago I cleared the driveway at night and used both my front and rear lights. Wouldn't want to have to rotate them every time I want to look one way or another and see something.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Use a dual direction light with a clear lens on both sides that will cast light to the front and rear at the same time. )</font>

This is a great idea and would solve the issue above - any sources for such a beast ?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

LBrown, I think you have given a lot of thought to the light bar issue, but I wonder if you may have overthought some of the issues?

You wrote: <font color="red"> (A) Allows adjustment of the distance the lights shine out from the tractor.
(B) Gives more clearance above the lights and more head room under them.
(C) Lessens the chance of catching the lights on something overhead.
(D) Allows the lights to flip down if hit rather than breaking them.
(E) You can just flip the lights down to work under low hanging branches instead of having to remove them from the rops. However you still have the option of removing the bar and lights and unplugging the trailer connector.
*Advantages of the 360 degree rotation *
(A) Permits two lights instead of requiring 4 lights, thus reducing current flow.
(B) Lights can be turned both to front or both to rear. Or they can be turned one to front and one to rear. They can also be used for side lighting. Swiveling lights can provide illumination 360 degrees around the tractor. </font>

I would tend to think that using 4 lights has some advantages that you might not be considering, and I would think that if switched properly, 4 lights will not draw any more current than 2.

Consider your point (A) above, if the 2 front lights are switched on 1 circuit and the 2 rear lights are switched on a 2nd circuit, then you are only drawing enough current to power 2 lights at a time. Or if you want more light, you can power all 4 by flipping both switches.

Consider your point (B) above, where you write about swiveling the lights to illuminate other areas, or for 1 forward and 1 reward. In my case I've used my tractor as a giant size flashlight to illuminate a work area while doing planting in the evenings. I actually have 2 mounted forward, 2 mounted rearward, and 1 rear facing light at the base of my ROPS and there are times when I wish I had more lights.

I'm really not trying to pick apart your thoughts, just trying to point out that there can be some advantages to the concept of more is netter, and may that still may not be enough!

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( LB,
Sounds interesting - you got any pictures of this setup ?
The one downside I could see to only have a pair of lights that you had to rotate to the front and rear would be if you wanted light in both directions at the same time. When we got that big snow a few weeks ago I cleared the driveway at night and used both my front and rear lights. Wouldn't want to have to rotate them every time I want to look one way or another and see something.
</font><font color="blueclass=small">( Use a dual direction light with a clear lens on both sides that will cast light to the front and rear at the same time. )</font>

This is a great idea and would solve the issue above - any sources for such a beast ? )</font>
~~~~~~~~~
<font color="purple">
1*Wouldn't want to have to rotate them every time I want to look one way or another and see something.
2* ( Use a dual direction light with a clear lens on both sides that will cast light to the front and rear at the same time. ) This is a great idea and would solve the issue above -
3*any sources for such a beast ?
rswyan
=============== </font>

<font color="green">
1* this is why each light is on a separate swivel so you can shine them separately in any direction
2*
3*Not really: It seems that nobody ever makes anything that I need or could use. They're to busy making all that useless stuff I don't need.

The closest thing I've seen to such a light is the dome light on my dodge D 50 Pick up
It is a one bulb light that has a lens that lights the interior when you open the door and another lens that lights up the bed of the truck at the same time. It don't make enough light to use on a tractor though it's fine for the truck.
Another similar light is the turn signal light for big trucks.
They have a yellow lens on the front and a red lens on the back.
Don't know if you could find a clear or white lens to replace the colored ones or not or if these lights would produce enough light or not.

</font>

 

[LBrown59]

I would tend to think that using 4 lights has some advantages that you might not be considering, and I would think that if switched properly, 4 lights will not draw any more current than 2.
Consider your point (A) above, if the 2 front lights are switched on 1 circuit and the 2 rear lights are switched on a 2nd circuit, then you are only drawing enough current to power 2 lights at a time.
1*Or if you want more light, you can power all 4 by flipping both switches.

2* In my case I've used my tractor as a giant size flashlight to illuminate a work area while doing planting in the evenings. I actually have 2 mounted forward, 2 mounted rearward, and 1 rear facing light at the base of my ROPS and there are times when I wish I had more lights.
Bob_Skurka
**************
1* this is the only time 4 lights draw more current than 2 lights.
I would put a switch on each one of the 2 lights - I don't think I mentioned that in my post.

2*you can always add 1 or 2 more swiveling lights to the light bar if you want them - In doing so I would seperate switch them also.
You could also place the extra swiveling lights on a sperate bar mounted to the front edge of the ROPS instead.

 

[PILOON]

What I used was:

From time to time the auto parts will have Fog Light Kits on sale, usually 2 lights to a box, about 3 X 4" in Halogen.
Often you have the choice of yellow or clear.Choose the clear.

Those lights are super bright and designed to shed a wide but low beam of light, all while a pair will draw less amps than 4 spot or floods.
Believe me only one is needed for the front or rear!
Also the mount/adjustement is quite stable.

Plus much easier to mount 2 than 4!