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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: Mozman68 on May 08, 2006, 10:28:51 AM
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I've been seriously looking into this as I think they look cool and are safer, but my biggest issue is being able to see when I back up.
I've thought about going with the standard red 4" round LED lights and then adding an oval white LED light to the bumper or driver's side.....and then I ran across these on Jeeps Unlimited.
Any thoughts?? Expensive, but basic bolt on application for my 2000 TJ and gives me everything in one light...and a fairly low profile....AND it looks like I'll be able to keep my CB antenna bracket I just installed.
http://northridge4x4.com/proddetail.php?prod=ORO-DOTS
(http://northridge4x4.com/prodimages/ORO-DOTS.jpg)
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I have to doubt, you'll be able to see the light they produce. LED's don't have a wide pattern and the reverse light is more for others to see. Those LED's by Northridge are $$$ too. I'd hate to smack one against a rock or tree. :?
I use a 55w driving light as my reverse light. It's only one light and is connected to the OEM harness. Works pretty good and no one will everr say thye can't see it day or night. Although if I was going to do it again, I migth use 2" round LEDs for the turn and brake lights. I still might add some 2" yellows on the sides so everyone can see. Currently the only side signal that is visable is the OEM front fender. I've been thinking about putting a light behind the front wheel opening like most European and Japanese cars.
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Jeffy...I saw that you wanted to do the 2" lights...but I havn't been able to find them anywhere. Plus...I could also easily do a back-up driving light with these as well as an add-on...I guess I just really like the idea of not cutting into the Jeep for two 2" lights (if I can find them). Any links for a 2" light would be greatly appreciated!!
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Moz, they are expensive, but I like mine 8)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/lutzke21/CIMG0248a.jpg)
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whoa
$200/pr for those lights?
i'm stickin to my $49/pair led's when i do my conversion. 55w driving lights for reverse shoudl be fine :)
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Moz, they are expensive, but I like mine 8)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b398/lutzke21/CIMG0248a.jpg)
those are too hot...
Jeffy...no chance (at least in the next year) of me hitting any trees or rocks..I'm in Michigan and it is all sand and mud...and I love it that way.
I'll get these and then wait on additional back-up lights until I replace the bumpers.
Thanks Lutzke...half the time I've already decided and just want someone to say they are complete crap or that they like them.
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I saw the 2.5" LED's at PepBoys. I'm not certain of the brand though. There are several companies that make LED's for trucks and they do make 2.5". They are marker lights. I did some searching and found them for you. Here are several online sources.
https://www.uatparts.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=uatparts&Product_Code=M11300RY&Category_Code=MAXX
https://www.uatparts.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=uatparts&Product_Code=ASL-25200R&Category_Code=ASL
http://www.buytruckstuff.com/product.asp?selcategory=34&p_gpID=139
http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/catalog.cfm?dest=dir&linkid=96&linkon=subsection
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search.html/103-2761665-5055003?_encoding=UTF8&node=15736321&price=%240-%2424&brand=Maxxima&rh=a%3A15736321%2Cp%2Ct
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=LED+Clearance+Marker+Lights
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I saw the 2.5" LED's at PepBoys. I'm not certain of the brand though. There are several companies that make LED's for trucks and they do make 2.5". They are marker lights. I did some searching and found them for you. Here are several online sources.
https://www.uatparts.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=uatparts&Product_Code=M11300RY&Category_Code=MAXX
https://www.uatparts.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=uatparts&Product_Code=ASL-25200R&Category_Code=ASL
http://www.buytruckstuff.com/product.asp?selcategory=34&p_gpID=139
http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/catalog.cfm?dest=dir&linkid=96&linkon=subsection
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search.html/103-2761665-5055003?_encoding=UTF8&node=15736321&price=%240-%2424&brand=Maxxima&rh=a%3A15736321%2Cp%2Ct
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=LED+Clearance+Marker+Lights
Kewl....Thanks!!!
Want those to possibly do turn signals on the front...a la CJ.....any experience with Xenon bulbs ($200 in Quadratech) or $1k for HID???!!!!
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No problem, if you can live with the price (I saved, or I should say, my wife saved a bunch of money while I was in Iraq) I'd say go for it, took me a whole 15 minutes to install them.
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Always fun to spend money after you've saved it up. :D
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Two 55 W drivers driven thru stock wiring and relay to battery. Works great.
(http://www.iismet.com/jeep/lights/Both1.jpg)
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Two 55 W drivers driven thru stock wiring and relay to battery. Works great.
(http://www.iismet.com/jeep/lights/Both1.jpg)
Sweet...that's the plan...but not until I get a new rear bumper. Have a local place that does custom bumpers and will offer a front and rear combo at a great price. Then I don't have to worry when I jump up to 33's next year.
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well....all these nice shots of back-up lights forced me to go out and buy a set...the KC ones...nice because they come with everything to bolt on to the bumper and tie into the back-up wiring.
(http://www.4wd.com/catalog/products/large/E100.jpg)
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I don't see a relay.
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I don't see a relay.
For the LED's i need to get one at Radio Shack...but they give detailed instructions on that and what I need to install in a link on their site.
Not sure about the back-up lights....says they tie right in to existing wiring....I don't think I need a relay for those, do I??
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I wouldn't worry about relays for the LED's. They are low amp lights. The real concern are those back-up lights. Those are 55w, if I remember right. That would mean, you're pulling 110w which is a lot when the original wiring is setup for under 50w. I think it's something like 25w each side. I run a single 55w for my back-up light. Still a better option would be to use a relay and a SPDT switch then you can turn the backup light on independantly as well as have it on when you go into reverse.
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I'll wait and see what comes with the kit...the description makes it sounds like it wires right in somewhere. I must admit, I do like the idea of being able to turn them on independantly though.
I need the relay for the LED's though to avoid fast flashing....you needed that as well, right Jeffy?
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What Jeffy said. The LEDS can run off of the factory wiring. The 55 W lights cannot. More than one guy has burned wire trying. You need to run the factory backup wire (purple and white if I remember right) to the relay and then run some heavy wire between the relay and the battery and the relay and the lights. When you put put the transmission in reverse the current thru the factory wire closes the secondary side of the relay and allows battery current to flow to lights. Some mount the relay forward but I did not as I did not want to slice into the wiring harness. I located the reverse light wire on the drivers side and pulled it back thru the harness where the harness goes thru the drivers side fender well. I mounted the relay on the rear wheel well behind the roll bar.
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I'll wait and see what comes with the kit...the description makes it sounds like it wires right in somewhere. I must admit, I do like the idea of being able to turn them on independantly though.
I need the relay for the LED's though to avoid fast flashing....you needed that as well, right Jeffy?
Yeah, the Blinker relay will be required. I think I have a link off my LED how-to for TJ's.
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Yup...finally found the instructions on-line. Lights arrive tomorrow and doesn't look like I will need anything. Relay and all wiring is included...psych!!! :D
http://www.kchilites.com/faq/instructions/517_backup.pdf
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FYI...if you install LED's be careful about altering or replacing the flasher.
Bought a replacement trico EP26 flasher and still had fast flashing....ended up altering the existing flasher by cutting into the circuit board.
Found out this morning that Trico has updated there replacement flasher recently so that it works for OEM lights AND LED's....here's a picture of it from another site:
(http://www.stu-offroad.com/electrical/led1/led-23.jpg)
Note how the new ones actually say "LED" on them.....the one I bought at NAPA last night was obviously a straight replacement for the OEM flasher as it flashed really fast.
I should also note that cutting into the circuit board, while slowing down the "fast flash", does not completely get the flashing down to the stock pace. Flashing is fine, but I would still like it a little slower.
Btw...here are mine installed:
(http://static.flickr.com/55/147545736_4bdbb1b7f4.jpg)
(http://static.flickr.com/46/147545737_658ac9f8d9.jpg)
Unlit area on the lights are the white back-up LED's....new pair of 55w back-up lights are arriving today as, like Jeffy noted, the LED's, while bright, really do not have a great light spread. Thanks for all the advice.