DIY: "Raptor" Style Lights

Who wired it to the parking lights instead of the DRL's, and why one over the other?

I got a new grille that came with lights, and I'm deciding where to wire them.

 

The right thing to do would be use an add a fuse, which is actually faster, neater and safer for a few bucks plug it in the accessory fuse and the other end to - or a convenient spot on the frame.
Check this out: AutoEC ATO ATC 21AMP Add-A-Circuit Fuse Holder Fuse Box Tap Kit ...

AutoEC ATO ATC 21AMP Add-A-Circuit Regular Fuse Holder Fuse Box Tap Kit

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013JU4K76/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_CqhfBbX0QJ7PT

 

Yeah, I was looking at this, so I'd have a couple spares on hand, too:

$11 KOLACEN Automotive Car Truck Low-Profile Mini Blade Type Fuse Assorted Kit 60 Pieces + 3 Pieces 16 Gauge Add-a-Circuit Low Profile Mini Fuse TAP Adapter

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071WKMX1Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2HGPUDYNZFAMU&psc=1

 

Ya good. My link was an example. You'll want low profile mini fuse if it's a late model. Good luck.

 

Can you elaborate on the use of the rectifier diode? I'd like to wire mine to the DTRL and parking lights so that they are on whensver the Amber lights in the headlight housing are on.

 

Got mine installed today!

 

Got my “raptor” look completed today. Shout out to @TortyB on the superbrights recommendation. They match the OEM ambers perfectly!

 

@MadRiverTaco, how did you mount them with the Pro Grill? Any details / Picts would be appreciated

 

I didn't take pics of the install along the way due to a time constraint. But I started by measuring and drilling the 2 holes on the sides. For the light in the center, I used a Dremel to remove the piece of the grill that the light would replace.

After I got all 3 of the lights mounted, I spliced them all together and brought the positive wire (red) to the add-a-fuse circuit and then grounded the black wire to the engine bay of the truck. I used a 10 amp fuse for the raptor lights because it was the smallest I had, but I'm quite confident that these don't need more than 5 amps.

Tested the setup to make sure it worked (it did), then ran the 1/4" wire loom throughout and dressed it up nicely with tie wraps so the wires weren't visible looking head on. I spent a little more time on this than I wanted to, but I'm an electrician and a bit of a neat freak when it comes to wiring. I'll get some pics of this soon.

All in all it was pretty easy to do. The hardest part was drilling the holes in a tight space. There's not much room to work with whether you have the grill on or off the truck, so be sure to take your time on this step if you decide to do it.

 

Cool, thank you for the info. I have the same LED,s that you have but been trying to figure out how to mount them.

 

It’s well worth the time to do so. Good luck and have fun with it!

 

I am a neat freak as well and a bit OCD. So everything I do takes me 10 times longer than it should. I have everything to do it, just finding the right way to do it

 

Brightest ones I’ve seen

 

Yeah, I wanted something different than the bolt LEDs that others are running. Nothing wrong with those. Just wanted something a bit more unique and much brighter.

I tried getting some night shots.....but they just washed out my camera.

This is them running on a 9 volt battery. So just imagine 3 more volts running through them.

 

Made some custom mounts for them. All the wiring is completely hidden from view.

 

They're juiced off the passenger side marker lamp. I'm a little anal about wiring. So it may not be obvious. But it's the the connection running downward from the factory loom...kind of forming a "T".



This is the ground, located at a factory point.

 

Here's my $15 dollar Mod, yes $15.​

I purchased a packet of 6 LED grille lights from Autozone. The wiring and loom were leftovers from my bed lighting, and aluminum strips leftover from FJ40 project including the waterproof connector.​

Here are pics of the fabrication and installation process: