Aux LED lighting

[Chief]

Purchased new BX2380 this past summer. One of the best purchasing decisions I have ever made (and I am old). As many have said, wish I would have done this years ago! The only thing I don't care for is the "easy over deck"...it isn't so easy. Anyway, took it in for initial 50 hour service, and had dealer install some LED lights I purchased at work, mounted on inside of ROPS. The way they are installed (tied into existing wiring harness at bottom of ROPS), they come on as soon as ignition is turned on. Was hoping that they could tie into the light switch, but was told by tech that is was not doable. Not a huge thing at all, but wondering if anyone out there has any idea if I could achieve this.

Have been browsing this site since I purchased and find it very informative.

 

[coachgeo]

Might be some good info in below thread

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23686

 

[85Hokie]

"but was told by tech that is was not doable."

The tech did not want to change anything in the "wiring" from the factory (he was told NOT to change anything that was already in place from the factory). It is doable and easily doable to have it switched by itself or in with the lights.

HOWEVER - as others will chime in, it is easy to do, but the novice or someone that has little understanding of electricity or the ability to get into those places to make the changes will have a huge time doing it, despite being "easy"

Question - can you SEE the connections at the bottom of the ROPS? IF so, there may be a way for you to simple place a switch inline with one of those wires. PM (private message) me and I can suggest a way that will allow you to have the power to cut them on/off when you desire.

 

[torch]

Was hoping that they could tie into the light switch, but was told by tech that is was not doable. Not a huge thing at all, but wondering if anyone out there has any idea if I could achieve this.

I assume that the tech was concerned that the current draw of extra lights would exceed the design capacity of the existing circuit.

The easy solution is to use a relay. The current draw of a typical lighting or horn relay coil is negligible -- milliamps worth. So you insert the relay contacts into the existing switched (and presumably fused) supply that the tech ran for the auxilliary lights and then run a wire from the relay coil to a convenient point in the factory light circuit.

 

[Chief]

Thanks, Guys...appreciate the responses

 

[Redbusdriver]

I bought a pre made up light wiring harness on Amazon. It had a +/- set of leads, a lighted switch on a long line with a connector in the middle, a relay and two sets of lines to hook up the lights. It was just big enough to work on my BX by running the switch wire along the under belly wiring and up to the dash next to the factory light switch. I ran the light leads up the left side of the ROPS with the relay under the seat assembly.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XZ2BSNQ

Nothing fancy, lots of zip ties. Hooked into the work light leads at the back. My LED pods are held on with magnets and zip ties, no holes drilled. It is not switched through the ignition switch, both good and bad. I can use it independently of the engine but run the risk of dead battery if I forget it or hit it in the daytime by accident.

It can be done with minimum effort and no holes in the ROPS. Used a step drill to size the dash hole for the switch, just plastic there.