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Switch panel using the overhead sunglass holder

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by BlackTacoUFO, Jan 6, 2017.

  1. Jan 6, 2017 at 8:20 PM
    #1
    BlackTacoUFO

    BlackTacoUFO [OP] Tacoma956

    Joined:
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    Member:
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    First Name:
    AJ
    Vehicle:
    2008 TRD Sport
    level kit, lights, tires, winch
    So this is my first thread.. I'm going to show how I put switches on my overhead sunglasses holder.
    If you're like me you like to have as much lights on your truck as possible :D then you have a lot of swithes on your left hand stock swith panel.. and I always hated seeing them there, all diffrent swithes. So I started looking into swith panels, like Spod, but they were way too much, so I started looking into making my own, and i saw a picture of swithces in the overhead sunglasses holder and I thought that looked really cool, so I went to Amazon and looked for swith panels and found this real cool 5 switch holder panel , https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B013OV4B4W/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ... < link, then I got that in and started getting to work.

    First I had to get all the supplies ready, like my new rocker switches from my local 4 wheel parts link > http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-...aspx?t_c=18&t_s=124&t_pt=5149&t_pn=DAYKU80013 ....wire to run from the recent switches to the new switches, but connectors, and female prong plug ins, lots of electrical tape to keep uncovered wire Covered. Or you can even use heat shrink wire covers.

    So first I took off the A pillar cover by taking off the grab handle with a 10mm socket, then I take off the whole over head panel with the lights, Lcd screen, and sunglasses holder, once off unplug the wires to the lights and to the Lcd screen, then get you handy dandy Dremel and trace the switch panel on the outside of the sunglass holder and cut out your rectangle, just file out the rest that you don't get off on the first try, and then on the black part of the over head panel cut a rectangle out where all the wires will be running, on this part you kind of have to guess where the wires will fit, then put the switch panel in, should slip right in, if not, file some more down. Now back to the inside of the truck, take out your current switches and unplug the current wires and cut them and cut the amount of wire you think you'll need to get to the over head panel and connect the wires using a butt connector, then wrap it in electrical tape, or put some heat shrink on it, do that till all your wires are all long enough to reach where you want your new switches, then run your wire from your fire wall up to where the A pillar begins, i used a straighred out hanger, taped the wires to the hanger and pulled it out and grabbed the wires, from there I took the hanger and ran it from where the new switches are going to be to the opening where the switches are, and taped the wires to the hanger again, this will take you a while expecially if you have a lot of lights like me, then once all the wires are there incase you haven't already done so, crimp the female prong connectors to the end of the wires, connect the over head panel to the lights wire and the Lcd screen wire so it can hang there, while you test the switches and wires, then run which ever wire in which ever switch opening in the panel and plug in the switch, make sure the light works, if so slide the switch into the panel, and repeat for the rest if the switches, then close the sunglass holder shut, and put the over head panel back into places, and then clean up the A pillar wires a bit, wrap them in tape a few times so they're close together rather than loose and separated, then zip tie them to the existing wire already there running to the over head lights and etc. Then cover up the A pillar again by putting back on the grab handle, and there you go a new switch panel for you ! :)20161229_134802.jpg
    And this will take a while, so I suggest starting early in the morning, I started at around 7 pm, and finished at 6 AM
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2017
    TRDjoe15 likes this.
  2. Jan 6, 2017 at 8:51 PM
    #2
    se7enine

    se7enine MCMLXXIX

    Joined:
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    Reno, NV
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    07 Lexus GX470
    Swith Panel?
    [​IMG]
     
  3. Jan 6, 2017 at 9:21 PM
    #3
    ChemDawg

    ChemDawg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    Welcome to tacomaworld.
    :wave:
     
    BlackTacoUFO[OP] likes this.
  4. Jan 7, 2017 at 12:16 PM
    #4
    BlackTacoUFO

    BlackTacoUFO [OP] Tacoma956

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2017
    Member:
    #206782
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    AJ
    Vehicle:
    2008 TRD Sport
    level kit, lights, tires, winch
    A picture once fully done

    20170107_141235.jpg
     
    Taco-Obsessed and TRDjoe15 like this.

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