How to: Run wires up to roof rack for lights etc.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 384
Likes: 15
I've been wondering the same thing since about a day after I bought my D2
Thread Starter
|
Mudding
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 192
Likes: 29
From: Cobourg, ON, Canada
Another idea I just had is to drill for one cable gland on the roof, and use a 7-way trailer wire. Use one wire for common ground, and the other 6 should be plenty for whatever lights you want to put up there now and in the future
the trailer wire only has to be like 6 inches to a foot long, just need a common interface to get from the cab to the roof. Better than doing multi-wire cable glands
the trailer wire only has to be like 6 inches to a foot long, just need a common interface to get from the cab to the roof. Better than doing multi-wire cable glands
When I installed lights on police cars we used glands and drilled the roof, make sure you seal with silicone after and paint where the hole was drilled before installing gland so it doesn't rust.
Overlanding
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 18
Likes: 7
From: SE Michigan
awesome tip! thanks!
Tanks tcr6v1
I was scratching my head for 2 hours this morning trying to figure out how to route wires to my overhead lamps attached to my new Bajarack. I actually came dangerously close to removing that A-pillar trim. Your advice of snaking an electrician's fish tape or similar cable to pull wires through the A-pillar trim without removing it worked like a champ. It took me all of 15 minutes to get wires from the engine compartment to the roof.
For anyone interested in my set up. I didn't want a janky PIAA switch velcroed to my instrument panel so I tapped into the pasenger's side fog lamp power at the fog lamp connector. My overhead lamps are now tied in with fogs. I can turn them on with the binnacle fog lamp switch. This means i can't run fog lamps on the highway since overhead lights aren't street legal but i never used fogs before anyway. My Overhead lamps are 2 x PIAA LP560s. Each one has two 7-watt LEDs so a total of 28 Watts up top which is 2.3 amps. I used 16 ga wire which is the same gauge as the OEM wiring to the original fog lamp. My google-fu tells me that 16 ga is good for 50 ft at 5 amps and 20 ft at 10 amps. The OEM fog lamps are 21W each per the electrical library. so total on that passenger side of the circuit is 49W or 4 amps so I think i should be good. Adding the driver's side fog lamp load of 21W gives a total circuit power of 5.8 amps which should be within the 15 amp fuse limit.
I was scratching my head for 2 hours this morning trying to figure out how to route wires to my overhead lamps attached to my new Bajarack. I actually came dangerously close to removing that A-pillar trim. Your advice of snaking an electrician's fish tape or similar cable to pull wires through the A-pillar trim without removing it worked like a champ. It took me all of 15 minutes to get wires from the engine compartment to the roof.
For anyone interested in my set up. I didn't want a janky PIAA switch velcroed to my instrument panel so I tapped into the pasenger's side fog lamp power at the fog lamp connector. My overhead lamps are now tied in with fogs. I can turn them on with the binnacle fog lamp switch. This means i can't run fog lamps on the highway since overhead lights aren't street legal but i never used fogs before anyway. My Overhead lamps are 2 x PIAA LP560s. Each one has two 7-watt LEDs so a total of 28 Watts up top which is 2.3 amps. I used 16 ga wire which is the same gauge as the OEM wiring to the original fog lamp. My google-fu tells me that 16 ga is good for 50 ft at 5 amps and 20 ft at 10 amps. The OEM fog lamps are 21W each per the electrical library. so total on that passenger side of the circuit is 49W or 4 amps so I think i should be good. Adding the driver's side fog lamp load of 21W gives a total circuit power of 5.8 amps which should be within the 15 amp fuse limit.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wisconsinoverlander
Discovery II
3
Apr 26, 2012 10:24 AM
discoguy
Retired - Private 'Wanted' Classifieds
1
Aug 12, 2008 02:41 PM
dinandan
General Range Rover Discussion - Archived
0
Jul 4, 2006 10:43 AM
dinandan
Modifications
1
Jun 22, 2006 07:22 PM
