Under-hood lighting project

I think I've probably seen something like this somewhere on this site before, and have wanted to do it for a while.
SO, a trip to Advance Auto Parts, and $35 later, I went from this...


(this is a picture of the hood open at night - no way to work on the truck without an external light source, right?)

to this...




the lights themselves...



This pic is a bit misleading because they are actually super-small flexible LED strips, not some crazy stupid light bar, but they're so bright, they look enormous. The whole install is really stealth... when it's not on, and when it's not dark of course.

the switch...



Overall I am very happy with the result. The light is 100% usable and draws next to nothing, they could stay on for WEEKS and it would be just fine.
For $35 between the "extra bright" LED strip lights, and the switch, and an hour or two snaking the wires around and shrink wrapping, the results are worth it.

 

pics in the daytime would be much better to show the actual setup, but the nighttime pics are the most impressive in my opinion.

D

 

Very nice!

Assuming it's not too much trouble I'd also like to see a little more of the wire routing and a parts list.

 

not a problem man...

I used these lights...
http://www.alpena.ca/Product.aspx?id=1073

with this switch...
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Metal-Bat-Toggle-Switch-Pre-Wired-10-Amp-(120W)-On-Off-Dorman---Conduct-Tite_5470137-P_N3138_A|GRP2037_____

and then some 12/16 gauge wire I had on hand. Shrink wrapped it directly from the battery to the lights and the switch... - the lights draw next to NO current, so you don't need an in-line fuse or relay, so it was really easy.

as far as the routing, I will post some more pics tomorrow during the daytime.

 

Great Install- I might have to give this a shot! Did you use an add-a-circuit?

 

Pics from daytime (see below):

Mounted light detail from passenger side of hood...


Same light, different angle...


Close-up of driver's side hood light...

(Attention was paid to use existing seams and holes, no holes were added for this install - except for the switch mount on the plastic radiator shroud).

Shot of light configuration during daytime to show positioning, (green line shows where wires were routed behind bodywork).


Another green line-enhanced shot of the wire routing down the side of the hood...


A shot of wire routing at hinge (green line shows route to body seam)


Piggy back shot of wiring just zip-tied to existing wires for switch (improved visual with green line)

No add-a-circuit here, just wired straight to battery, not enough amperage draw to necessitate any extra stuff.

Notes to route behind body seams (especially where high-strength, one-time-use adhesive is used) - simply snake the wires behind the adhesive points, using some solid core wire as a snaking hook/hoop works really well. The routing of the wires took the most time, other than that, it was a pretty straight-forward and quick install.

 

Green highlights make this very easy to follow/understand. Thank you!

 

looks good i put 2 small leds on my with a push switch to turn on when the hood opens.

 

thought about the pressure switch route, but decided against it for simplicity's sake and it was not the easiest thing to find.

 

So you have the positive and negative go to the toggle switch?

 

If anyone is looking to do this, Ford F150's have a hood pressure switch on their vehicles. The part is $20. If anyone is looking for a way to make their lights come on when the hood is opened, that switch wouldn't be a bad option.

No, power into the switch from the battery, then power from the switch to the lights. The switch itself doesn't need to be grounded and the lights can be grounded where they are mounted.

 

Thanks man!

 

Man I feel like this is one of the most under-rated and cheap mods you can do for the taco to make life much easier. I bought

LEDMO® 5630 LED Strip, Daylight 300pcs SMD 5630LEDs 16.4Ft DC12V Waterproof IP65, 25Lm/LED, 2 Times Brightness Than SMD5050 LED Ribbon, LED Light Strip

these leds from Amazon for $11 bucks prime and had the rest. IMO the flat spot close to the front of the hood is the best spot to mount the strip so they're angled towards the rear of the vehicle and not full blast in your eyes. Also, I had to use double sided tape because the 3M sticky tape on my roll wasn't good enough.

 

Thanks to the OP @wordtothis. I just finished this. Basically the same way. Just a little different with the wire routing.

Before


After


Lights








Switch


Wires coming from the switch to the battery and lights


Ground wire from lights


Red wire on the right is coming from the switch to the battery. The one on the left is for the alarm /remote start.


This is coming from the switch. The left one goes to the battery and the right one goes up the fender to the hood along with the ground wire.


There's a small hole in the hood right there that I used.



I snaked the wire through from one hole to the next closest one and used a curved pick to grab it and pull it through.
The lights were $20 at Walmart. The switch was $5 at Advance. Everything else I already had.