Auxiliary light setups
- Thread starter srch4me
- Start date
Simplest backup lights are to replace your incandescent reverse light bulbs with high power LED lamps. I'm running 5w CREE bulbs that came with lenses on them. Think 'surefire' copycat flashlight brightness. x2. Plug n play if the bulbs fit your housings.
If you need more reverse illumination than that, you can wire aux reverse lamps using fog lamps or utility lamps, either using a toggle switch, or a relay off of your reverse lamp wiring. Or both.
If you need more reverse illumination than that, you can wire aux reverse lamps using fog lamps or utility lamps, either using a toggle switch, or a relay off of your reverse lamp wiring. Or both.
jeep-N-montero
Expedition Leader
Easiest thing to do is to srch4it....just saying. Tons of existing threads discussing it.
WagoneerSX4
Adventurer
I have 7.5w cree LED's in my reverse lights, those alone have increased back-up visibility by a HUGE amount.
I also have 4 Hella 500FF driving lamps on the front of my car. Whoever needs more forward facing light than that is crazy. I made my own wiring harness with heavier gauge wiring in case I ever wanted to upgrade to 100w bulbs. I'm also in the process of wiring up some LED lamps on each side the vehicle, just to aid in campsite setup or for side light when wheeling in the dark.
With all that covered I think your lighting needs should be satisfied. Just research on how to wire things up before you tackle any wiring. And wiring is never something to be half-a$$ed, so do it properly the first time. And if you hate wiring, don't even start with aux lights.
I also have 4 Hella 500FF driving lamps on the front of my car. Whoever needs more forward facing light than that is crazy. I made my own wiring harness with heavier gauge wiring in case I ever wanted to upgrade to 100w bulbs. I'm also in the process of wiring up some LED lamps on each side the vehicle, just to aid in campsite setup or for side light when wheeling in the dark.
With all that covered I think your lighting needs should be satisfied. Just research on how to wire things up before you tackle any wiring. And wiring is never something to be half-a$$ed, so do it properly the first time. And if you hate wiring, don't even start with aux lights.
Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
Most of the lighting that is suggested/used/popular in the 4X4 community is referred to as "light-shaped toys" by lighting professionals & enthusiasts.
Look on this forum first:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?87-Automotive-Motorcycles-Included
Always keep in mind that the human eye is incredibly easy to trick. Light intensity is a very subjective measure and you cannot trust your eyes to determine brightness or effectiveness of lighting.
There are hundreds of ways to waste your money on lights these days ---- even more ways to rig your lights dangerously and/or illegally.
When shopping for a light, think of how bright you want it, where you want it to shine, and especially where you don't want it to shine.
It's easy to make a bright light, fool people, ballyhoo it and sell it to the masses. It's not so easy to make one that has a good useful focus.
Look on this forum first:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?87-Automotive-Motorcycles-Included
Always keep in mind that the human eye is incredibly easy to trick. Light intensity is a very subjective measure and you cannot trust your eyes to determine brightness or effectiveness of lighting.
There are hundreds of ways to waste your money on lights these days ---- even more ways to rig your lights dangerously and/or illegally.
When shopping for a light, think of how bright you want it, where you want it to shine, and especially where you don't want it to shine.
It's easy to make a bright light, fool people, ballyhoo it and sell it to the masses. It's not so easy to make one that has a good useful focus.
keezer37
Explorer
Study, study, study. Don't rely absolutely on the recommendations of others if you want to get it right for your vehicle and the results you want.
I spend a few hours just looking for the proper LED replacements for my dome, directionals, and license plate. Lumens, candela, beam patterns. Oy!
I spend a few hours just looking for the proper LED replacements for my dome, directionals, and license plate. Lumens, candela, beam patterns. Oy!
barlowrs
Explorer
Front:
2 - Lightforce 170 with No filter (spot beam throws out FAR)
1 - 50" Alien Lightbar in Eurobeam (throws a Stupid Bright wall of light at midrange (just past headlights adn in ALL direction)
2 - 60/75 watt Osram headlight bulbs (if your harness can handle extra power, they are nice, just aim them a lil low to not blind ppl)
2 - Blitzpro LED light pods for fogs (work great, when following friends, I will drive with these only to not blind them)
Sides:
2 - Blitzpro 6" LED bar (one per side, perfect camp light)
Rear:
2 - LED upgrade reverse light bulbs
2 - Alien 10W Cree Light Pods Aux Reverse Lights (VERY bright)
1 - LED Flood light from AT mounted to flippac
(All reverse lights are switched as well to make nice camplights when needed)
2 - Lightforce 170 with No filter (spot beam throws out FAR)
1 - 50" Alien Lightbar in Eurobeam (throws a Stupid Bright wall of light at midrange (just past headlights adn in ALL direction)
2 - 60/75 watt Osram headlight bulbs (if your harness can handle extra power, they are nice, just aim them a lil low to not blind ppl)
2 - Blitzpro LED light pods for fogs (work great, when following friends, I will drive with these only to not blind them)
Sides:
2 - Blitzpro 6" LED bar (one per side, perfect camp light)
Rear:
2 - LED upgrade reverse light bulbs
2 - Alien 10W Cree Light Pods Aux Reverse Lights (VERY bright)
1 - LED Flood light from AT mounted to flippac
(All reverse lights are switched as well to make nice camplights when needed)
Carlyle
Explorer
Anyone heard reports on these lighters?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ARL1HH2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A15H3UKRB6RHF9
Pretty good bang for the buck, but I can't find any reviews...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ARL1HH2/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A15H3UKRB6RHF9
Pretty good bang for the buck, but I can't find any reviews...
4x4junkie
Explorer
I can't bring myself to buy anything LED until they start using actual white LED chips instead of the bluish-tinted ones they all currently seem to have.
It's commonly said that LED lights don't "throw" a beam as far as HID or even incandescent (halogen) lights, I believe this is why. The bluish light creates more glare up close than anything else for me. (too bad I got a perfect place on my bumper for a LED bar too
)
As for my setup, it's fairly simple (one pr. driving lights, one pr. fog lights tucked underneath, one pr. aux reverse lights mounted within the rear bumper, all halogen). I put each pair on a 3-way switch w/relay and wired it so they will turn on with the high-beams (driving lights), low-beams (fog lights), or the aux reverse lights when in reverse, or I can turn each one on manually or off completely.
It's commonly said that LED lights don't "throw" a beam as far as HID or even incandescent (halogen) lights, I believe this is why. The bluish light creates more glare up close than anything else for me. (too bad I got a perfect place on my bumper for a LED bar too
)As for my setup, it's fairly simple (one pr. driving lights, one pr. fog lights tucked underneath, one pr. aux reverse lights mounted within the rear bumper, all halogen). I put each pair on a 3-way switch w/relay and wired it so they will turn on with the high-beams (driving lights), low-beams (fog lights), or the aux reverse lights when in reverse, or I can turn each one on manually or off completely.
MakersTeleMark
Adventurer
They make pleanty of LED's without that blue light. Soft white, yellow (no bugs), etc. They are all over. I hate the LED death ray. But I'm fully converted over. Their time has long arrived.
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