Wiring my truck to run blacked out (no lights)

Has anyone wired all lights (instrument panel, front/rear, etc.) inside cab to one main on/off switch? I run classes where we sometimes drive using night vision and any light inside/outside make it very difficult. Any ideas? Thank you much...

 

Depending on what year your truck is that could prove to be quite difficult, you couldn't just turn the dimmer all the way down, turn the dome light to off, and turn the radio screen off?

 

Brake lights would take the most effort, but suspect a bypass switch tied to the pedal switch would do it.

 

Pull fuses........

 

You can identify all the marker lights, brake lights and install a switch or relay to open those circuits. You can likely identify the power circuit to the dash lights as well. I am familiar with blackout driving and understand how sensitive your eyes can get night driving.

 

Get the EWD for your Truck should be simple .A fused relay to interrupt all the power sources for all the light circuits just a matter to sit down and figure things out

Having one switch makes it simple to restore all the functions when needed .

Electrical Wiring Diagrams

 

The OP joined TW on Wednesday, posted 1 time and hasn’t been back to check. I find most posts like this to be 1 time posters or spammers. And its a kind of bizarre post. I hope I’m wrong.
Should he ever return I’d be most curious to know what kind of “class” uses Tacomas at night in complete dark mode using night vision optics. Other than military or law enforcement (and he ain’t either and they wouldn’t be asking us) the only purpose for this total dark mode is used by illegal poachers night hunting.

 

It is weird this is his first and only post but Ive taken a few classes for driving with night vision, usually they have a car equipped for it. (not a military or LE class)

Ive looked into doing this for my truck just because it would be a dumb neat trick. Same reason I spent a few thousand on night vision that ive only used 3 times.

 

Why oh why would anyone want to drive at night in total dark mode using night vision optics. You can’t do it on public roads and it would be dangerous and dumb as hell to do off road. I understand military and law enforcement but even for LEO it would be extremely, extremely rare. Poaching is the only reason I can think of. I certainly wouldn’t want to be anywhere near some dude driving dark.

 

You can hardwire kill switches for everything but that's doing it on "hard mode".

Easiest way is mentioned above. Use the stalk to kill all external lights, then dim the dash lights. Take a thick sheet of cardstock and tape it over the radio screen like a flap so you can lift it and change settings.

Tailights will still light up on brake press. That is useful even under nods, just dont want them to be that bright. Take painters tape and cover the entire tail light with a layer. Then cover the entire tail light minus just a small area a few additional times until sufficiently dark. Essentially makes your taillights "cateyes" that are functional but wont autogate your stuff.

 

One post and out? That is a little odd. The rest isn't an entirely uncommon question, a different person asked about this a few weeks ago on here and I've been asked the same by several folks in person as well from multiple professional backgrounds.

You can take NVG / Vehicle NVG classes as non-LEO / Non-Mil. Additionally, it takes basically zero effort/creds to become an instructor so its possible the guy is running a small training operation and happens to have a tacoma as a training vehicle. Pigs and coyotes are commonly hunted at night as well, and very skittish around visible light sources. All a just dandy reasons to ask.

Yes, there's a safety element to be aware of, but that can be overcome with an ounce of common sense. Usually the areas where hunting is good is where other people aren't as the default anyways. If for training use, its likely on a flat range where other traffic is likely non-existent.

 

Don't forget drug running and human trafficking.

 

What kind of Special Forces shit is this? Do you Halo into your driveway before driving your truck away?

 

You seem to be missing how badass this dude is.. clearly he plays CoD not Halo! /s

 

also useful for evading law enforcement. not that i recommend doing that.

 

Drug running > regular running

 

I can`t speak for others in my case it was just big Boy Toys !

Sometimes retired operators enjoy doing strange things just for fun.

When you live where you can drive for miles and only need to cross a public road now and then.

 

Likely English as his Second Language, the textbook grammar is a dead giveaway.