 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Increasing reverse light illumination |
 
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| AndyTunn Member Since: 10 Jan 2015 Location: Auckland Posts: 313   
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I've pretty much decided I'm going to go with this approach using a single Scenelite mounted centrally, so now I'm thinking about wiring options. I'd like to use the existing aux +12v feed (the "purple wire") and also have it switched so it can be always on/always off/linked to reverse light. I'm a complete novice at auto-electrics but reading up on the 'net makes me think that the wiring below is technically the "correct" way to achieve this:  Click image to enlarge However, given that the Scenelite only draws 1.25A, could I get away with the simpler version below?: Click image to enlarge (Please excuse the crappy drawings, like I say I'm no expert!) Any advice gratefully received. Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  |
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22nd Jan 2015 8:34am |
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| jayaway44 Member Since: 04 Nov 2011 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 111 
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You did through me with your earth symbols at the end of all the wires to begin with, what does SPDT stand for though? 2.2 2012 110 utility Orkney Grey
Also Range Rover Evoque - Surprising but I like it. Previous Freelander 2 SD4 HSE - Black 90 TD5 Discovery 3 Early Discovery. |
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22nd Jan 2015 9:11am |
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| Anderzander Member Since: 08 Feb 2011 Location: Lancashire Posts: 999 
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I can't see the pictures for some reason ..... But with such a low draw you can switch it directly without using a relay.
SPDT stands for Single Pole Dual Throw |
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22nd Jan 2015 9:29am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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In option (2) I'd put the fuse before the switch rather than after it.
If you look at the wiring diagrams it will tell you all the cable specs so you could probably work something out from there as to whether you could just put it in parallel with the reverse light. For safety's sake I'd be inclined to only do that if I had an LED reverse light fitted too, but I like over-specifying things 
Edit: hold on, am I being silly... don't some Defenders have a pair of incandescent reverse lamps? If so, then of course you can just put the extra light in parallel (through a switch). |
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22nd Jan 2015 5:30pm |
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| mark_d Member Since: 07 Sep 2013 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 265 
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I am using a relay with a permanent live supplied to the coil. The earth is switched to activate the relay. There is an On-Off-On switch between the front seats to allow for Off, On or On with reverse lights. I have another switched ground wire running to the back door so the lights can be switched on at the back door. Another relay is in series with the 3 way switch which is activated by the reverse lights to ground the first relay. The switches came from ebay. This is the On-Off-On switch This is on my list to write up on my blog so I'll try and get it done if you want more info. The circuit is protected by a 10A fuse and most of the circuit uses 1mm2 or 1.5mm2 cable, but the switch only has 0.75mm2 cable which is 6A rated. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like. Regards, Mark http://defender90xs.blogspot.co.uk/ |
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22nd Jan 2015 8:46pm |
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| AndyTunn Member Since: 10 Jan 2015 Location: Auckland Posts: 313
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Following on from a few of the guys above, I've fitted a single Scenelight S17 mounted centrally...
Click image to enlarge I've wired it to a 3-way rocker switch on the rear speaker panel so it can be On, Off or linked to reverse. I added a pilot light to indicate when it's in reverse-linked mode. Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated |
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7th Feb 2015 9:15pm |
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| Stiff1 Member Since: 09 Dec 2014 Location: Cornwall Posts: 578 
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How do you find the illumination from the one central light?
Was considering one above each small window but would be expensive? Only interested in from a reversing perspective. Thanks in advance. |
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7th Feb 2015 10:53pm |
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| AndyTunn Member Since: 10 Jan 2015 Location: Auckland Posts: 313
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I haven't done any particularly challenging reversing since I fitted it, but on a quick test up and down the drive it really helped. The lens is slightly curved on this model so it throws quite a wide spread of light - certainly enough to light things to either side of the drive that I could then clearly see in the door mirrors.
I'll have a look tonight and see if I can get a photo showing how the light looks when reversing. Having a single light does mean you get a bigger shadow from the spare wheel, but this isn't an issue reversing. I did contemplate the two light option as per mark_d's post earlier in this thread. That looks like an awesome set up, but I decided it was a bit of overkill for my needs. EDIT Photo added... Click image to enlarge Sorry I couldn't get a decent photo from within the car looking in the mirrors. The shot above was taken 10m from the back of the car and it was still just about light enough to read. It's a pretty dark night over here and the nearest streetlight is over 50m away so the light you see is all coming from the Scenelight. Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated |
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7th Feb 2015 11:49pm |
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| consumerize Member Since: 27 May 2014 Location: Berkshire Posts: 121 
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Here is a good shot for the light output of 2 Scenelight S17 on the back of the Defender.
Click image to enlarge It was actually pitch black, despite the sky looking light in the picture. I do love it when people dump sawn up Ook on my drive  |
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9th Feb 2015 7:49pm |
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| AndyTunn Member Since: 10 Jan 2015 Location: Auckland Posts: 313
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Replaced my non-functioning reverse light gearbox sensor today so I was able to take some comparison shots showing the difference between the standard reverse light and what I have now...
Click image to enlarge All shots were taken from just within the rear door with the camera on a tripod. I used the same exposure values throughout (8 seconds, f5.6) so the difference you see is all due to the lights. TL: Just the ambient light, i.e. not much! TR: The original incandescent bulb reverse light BL: I replaced the original bulb with an LED one - one 5w Cree and 12 radially mounted SMD LEDs. The light is certainly whiter, and a bit brighter too, but it has a more distinctive pattern in the spread as you can see. BR: LED reverse light plus single centrally-mounted Scenelight S17 - that will do for me I reckon! Hope this helps. Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated |
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21st Feb 2015 9:53am |
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| HardCharger Member Since: 03 Mar 2013 Location: Manila, SFO, Amsterdam Posts: 680 
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So I reckon these lights can also be mounted to the sides of the roof so that you can have 360 illumination on the truck while on the tracks even with no roof rack?
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24th Feb 2015 4:36am |
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| AndyTunn Member Since: 10 Jan 2015 Location: Auckland Posts: 313
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HardCharger - I agree, these lights would be good for that. They have a reasonable spread of light and would be pretty robust too.
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24th Feb 2015 10:46pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816  
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I like this set-up very much, so one Labcraft Scenelite LED S17 plus switches were ordered from Mud UK today by a friendly UK based def2 member. And it will be delivered in person here to Geneva FH March at the time of the car show. That's service. :thumbsup: Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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24th Feb 2015 11:01pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816
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So, after bpman was so kind to hand deliver the Labcraft Scenelight S17 with a few MudStuff switches back in March at the Geneva car show, I finally had it all installed by my dealer. They did a good job, running the wires via the headlining to the front, and then putting the switch in the spare place available at the right side of the steering column which standard is fit with a rubber grommet. The illuminated Mud switch fits that hole perfectly as is. Here is the result, and you will see the light output is incredible. Just what I need for reversing in the dark where even the SVX Le Perei LED reverse light is leaving us,..... well, in the dark.
This is what I provided to my dealer together with the Scenelight itself. Stainless bolts, washers and nuts from a good local hardware store, a tube of Duralac, and a Mud switch. Click image to enlarge Autobritt nicely put to the side the rear window washer which sits there perfectly as the water from it is directed straight downward. Click image to enlarge The switch installed. Mind, this was before it was all finished, in the end the wires are not even visible anymore now. Click image to enlarge Mud switch in the on position.... Click image to enlarge Detail view Click image to enlarge Detail view with the light switched on Click image to enlarge General view in daylight Click image to enlarge Now, the real test. After dark pictures. 
Iphone picture without flash, and only light is from a lamp post accross the street... Click image to enlarge Same picture with the Scenelight switched on. 
Click image to enlarge Another view in the dark from accross the street with only light from the same lamp post Click image to enlarge And again from same position, but with Scenelight on.
Click image to enlarge Conclusion, this is one of my most useful mods to date. Incredible light, and the set up will allow me to use this as additional reverse light at times when I am somewhere really in the dark. The set up is also fully legal, as essentially it works as a work light with illuminated switch. That is fine with the law here. My dealer said that they love this light, and that it looks like this Scenelight is just made for the Defender, looks like it always should have been there from the factory onward. Apparently another Defender driver who was at my dealer today saw my truck with the light being installed, and he wants the dealer to get the same for his own truck. Happy.
Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw Last edited by ericvv on 9th May 2015 6:32am. Edited 1 time in total |
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8th May 2015 9:53pm |
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