7610 lighting refit

[Window Geek]

After spending way too much time thinking about it, I started on some new lights for my 7610. I plow most of my snow at night after work and get tired of not being able to see around the tractor or over the loader.

The first setup was to add some "cab" lights to my canopy. I picked up a couple of Wal Mart cheapies, but they weren't too bright. After visiting one of the sponsors from TBN, I ordered a 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" 9 hi intensity LED array. They're supposed to be all light and low heat. I tried one out, and the next two pictures show one light changed over and the second with two lights switched to LEDs. I didn't use a flash for any of the shots. It worked so well that I bought more LED bulbs for other uses.

 

[Rusty]

Window Geek -I also would like better lighting for snow removal. My set-up is very similar, except my B7500 has the fixed ROPS and a TufTop Canopy. Which TBN advertiser did you buy the lights from? Any chance that you could take and post photos from the operator's seat of your nightime view with the bucket at several typical operating heights? Photos comparing visability of the OEM headlights vs. your new set-up would be very interesting!

 

[Window Geek]

More photos coming Rusty. It was a whole overhead panel install. I wanted to keep the switches out of the rain.

 

[Window Geek]

Here's the pictures of the headliner.

It attaches to the sun shade frame by stainless piano hinge on one side, and slide pins on the other side. I hinged it so I could work on wiring from the ground and made it easy to add more stuff when needed. The buss in the middle is a power tap so adding switches or sraight taps is easy. The whole thing is powered from the keyswitched pigtail on the back of the tractor.

The headliner is made from double skinned aluminum panel with a corregated plastic inner layer. It's easy to ground and keep continuity for electrical connections. The LED rows in front give me close foreground light and bucket light that doesn't get shaded by the loader. Cab lights give me tons of light to either side of the tractor, and the switches in back run the rear worklight (also LED) and some LED clearance lights I'll add to the sides of the sun shade. The 12V receptacles let me plug in extra accesories like my amber LED beacon which is mounted on the top of the canopy by magnets. It comes off before I go banging around in the woods.

All the LEDs put together draw way less than the 55 watt bulb in the rear worklight which was also changed to a 9 Hi intensity LED bulb. Last but not least are the headlight bulbs changing to LEDs too. I didn't want to buy another alternator for the tractor so this was the next best thing.

 

[zmansmac]

Window Geek,

Like Rusty I have the same tractor setup and am thinking about upgrading the lights. I noticed that while you were kind enough to give the details about your setup with all those great pictures you never answered Rusty's question about which supplier you bought your LED lights from.

 

[Window Geek]

Sorry Guys!
Try superbrightleds.com
I also bought the row lights for the front loader from a local Advance Autoparts Store. They were billed as "driving lights" and came with all the wire harness work and lightup switch.

 

[mjncad]

Great minds think alike WindowGeek.

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Front Posts#

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Headliner#

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Lights, Camer...#

 

[4shorts]

Great minds think alike WindowGeek.

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Front Posts#

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Headliner#

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Lights, Camer...#

Matt I just spent the best part of an hour looking at your photo's. I am very impressed with the bends you make in all your hardware and your fabrication skills are second to none sir. All of it looks as if you picked up at the dealerships part department. Tip my lid to you my friend.

 

[Window Geek]

Great minds think alike WindowGeek.

Sir Matt,
I am truly honored that you would say that. While I clearly do not have your fab skills, I'll happily take your recognition.

Um, and as usual, you do incredibly nice work!

 

[Window Geek]

OK Rusty, here's a few shots from the operators seat. I'll get some with the bucket up in a few positions next.
That lamp in the middle was on the tractor when I got it. It lasted 2 weeks before the switch died. It gets in the way of removing the FEL too.
In the mean time, if you ever want to sell that tractor Matt, you gotta let me know. It would be worth it to truck it all the way to Massachusetts! The mods are just amazing. 4 Shorts, thanks for visiting and checking things out.

Paul

 

[Window Geek]

Here's some pictures with the loader in different positions and a from-the-front shot. Sorry for the blurry stuff. There's no flash on these shots so you get the best representation of the lights.

As you can see, the loader area fills in nicely even if you've got the headlights covered. If you're working up high with the loader, like dumping into your pickup truck, you can see the loader clearly without a lot of glare. Since the loader lights are under the edge of the canopy, they don't get affected by rain or snow.

I need to add some specific lighting to my 3 point hitch area next.

 

[mjncad]

Great minds think alike WindowGeek.

Sir Matt,
I am truly honored that you would say that. While I clearly do not have your fab skills, I'll happily take your recognition.

Um, and as usual, you do incredibly nice work!

In the mean time, if you ever want to sell that tractor Matt, you gotta let me know. It would be worth it to truck it all the way to Massachusetts! The mods are just amazing. 4 Shorts, thanks for visiting and checking things out.

Paul

Thanks for the kudos, and I'll be keeping Bambi for the foreseeable future as replacing her with a cab tractor doesn't fit in the budget. Besides I have more stuff to modify.

 

[mjncad]

Matt I just spent the best part of an hour looking at your photo's. I am very impressed with the bends you make in all your hardware and your fabrication skills are second to none sir. All of it looks as if you picked up at the dealerships part department. Tip my lid to you my friend.

Thanks Paul. I like rounded corners for a couple of reasons...they look better, and most important...they don't slice skin open like sharp corners do. I really dislike pain.

 

[Rusty]

Paul, thanks for the pictures! They certainly tell me a lot more than the manufacturers' descriptions and lack of comparative ratings.

 

[Window Geek]

I used the 1156-x18-T bulbs in the headlights.
The HP-WHP9 gets used in my back facing worklight. It's made to fit standard H-3 55 watt halogens. They're not as bright, but they use .065 amps instead of 4.6 amps like the halogens do. I might put a couple more of those in front.
Finally, the "cab" lights (T10-PCB-WHP9) are on a little printed circuit board. These are bright enough to light up the ground on either side of the tractor as well. I put one in each of the overhead lights.

 

[aczlan]

Great minds think alike WindowGeek.

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Front Posts#

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Headliner#

Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Lights, Camer...#

For your odd camera power connector, I would bet that it takes a Size M Coaxial DC Power Plug. Why do I this this? I recently installed some new security cameras at work and that is what they took.

Aaron Z