Some how-to guides - Fuzeblock, Top-Box lighting and LED running lights

[Martin#30]

Afternoon all,

I have recently been busy installing some extra lights for visibility, and a Fuzeblock to power these plus some heated clothing I am about to purchase. I thought it may help to take some photos along the way, and document what I went through.

So, if anyone fancies a look, they are up on my website - http://www.trackandrace.com/Workshop/ and follow the GTR link.

Martin.

[BigAlan]

I do like the look of the topbox lights, and the detailed way in whch you show the fitting has given me an idea, we have a well qualified electronics guy at work who designs LED stuff, i am going to show him on monday and see if he can come up with something similar at heaps less cost, $139CD is the cost from the site, hopefully my man can do it for a few quid.

Thanks
Alan

[Kwikasfuki]

Nice and clean installs Martin with excellent pics and instructions.

A question on the high intensity LED light. What size are these and would they fir under the wing mirrors horizontally?

[Martin#30]

Nice and clean installs Martin with excellent pics and instructions.

A question on the high intensity LED light. What size are these and would they fir under the wing mirrors horizontally?

Thank you. I forgot to say yesterday, for which I apologise, your own thread on the Hyperlites install (here) was a huge help, particularly as you had already identified the correct wire colours.

The lights I fitted on the front are deliberately large, they are 16 LEDs in each and about 9 inches long. These particular ones are too big really for under the mirrors. However, car daytime running lights come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and there are bound to be some that fit there perfectly.

I would make two comments however before anyone chooses:
1) Make sure they have a dimming night-time setting. They really are too bright at night, and will cause other road users to flash you. I believe that alll DRLs have to do this to be compatible with UK law, even OEM ones dim when the car lights are on.
2) My fear is that lights in the mirrors are too close to the headlights, and would reduce the benefit you get from having a separate, distinct source of light.

Just my thoughts however.

Martin.

[Martin#30]

I do like the look of the topbox lights, and the detailed way in whch you show the fitting has given me an idea, we have a well qualified electronics guy at work who designs LED stuff, i am going to show him on monday and see if he can come up with something similar at heaps less cost, $139CD is the cost from the site, hopefully my man can do it for a few quid.

Thanks
Alan

Alan,

I agree, I imagine the component costs are pretty tiny. In my mind though, the real costs in this are the R&D time and the willingness to put together a bespoke solution for a relatively small market - I am thus very happy to reward that investment with business.

As an aside, the LEDs they use are of a sort I had only ever seen once before - and that was on the side of Lewis' F1 car at a McLaren factory visit and thus I assumed hugely expensive. They are almost flat, and don't look like LEDs to me. They need to be this sort however, as there is no space really behind those red lenses.

Martin.

[BigAlan]

Alan,

I agree, I imagine the component costs are pretty tiny. In my mind though, the real costs in this are the R&D time and the willingness to put together a bespoke solution for a relatively small market - I am thus very happy to reward that investment

As an aside, the LEDs they use are of a sort I had only ever seen once before - and that was on the side of Lewis' F1 car at a McLaren factory visit and thus I assumed hugely expensive. They are almost flat, and don't look like LEDs to me. They need to be this sort however, as there is no space really behind those red lenses.

Martin.

Just how flat are the led,s as we have some with a height of 2.5mm at work so would that be to thick to go under the reflector?

Alan

[Martin#30]

Just how flat are the led,s as we have some with a height of 2.5mm at work so would that be to thick to go under the reflector?

Alan

Alan,

I am sure they would be fine.

Martin.

[BigAlan]

Just sourced two strips of 2mm high White 12V LED's and with the Electronics guys help with waterproof connections i shall endevour to complete the job at the weekend, i shall keep this up to date.

Alan

[BigAlan]

An update, LED's fitted into the top box, a row of six and a row of three each side, wire routed through a 1.5mm hole behind the main lid, a dob of black sealant applied inside to seal the small hole, heat shrunk together and down to a small waterproof socket, all heat shrunk and neat (thanks to our electronics guy whose soldering is WAY better than mine), 6.5mm hole in lower offside flat area of top box and its bolted in there again with a small dob of black sealant around.

The outside is wired up and in heatshrink and will be installed this weekend, all looks neat and tidy.

Cost in total so far, £12.40

Alan

[PCPeteUK]

An update, LED's fitted into the top box, a row of six and a row of three each side, wire routed through a 1.5mm hole behind the main lid, a dob of black sealant applied inside to seal the small hole, heat shrunk together and down to a small waterproof socket, all heat shrunk and neat (thanks to our electronics guy whose soldering is WAY better than mine), 6.5mm hole in lower offside flat area of top box and its bolted in there again with a small dob of black sealant around.

The outside is wired up and in heatshrink and will be installed this weekend, all looks neat and tidy.

Cost in total so far, £12.40

Alan

Hi Alan,
how did this go mate - any pic's? I'm considering doing this on my Kappa and would want to learn from your experiences.

[GTRTONY]

Hi

Really fancy those top box lights, but i am absolutely useless when it comes to doing any sort of electrics or wiring work. Does anyone know anybody on the forum preferably near Hull who may undertake the work for a fee. Also a fuse box

cheers

tony