Connector for adding beacon warning light?

[countrybumpkin]

Ok yeah a pic or two would be great, going to fix up a mount for mine over the next few days.

 

[Threepoint]

Ok yeah a pic or two would be great, going to fix up a mount for mine over the next few days.

CB, I've attached a couple of pics of how I mounted my HQRP beacon on my NX-series, in case you or anyone else want to do it this way to use the nifty Kioti factory beacon harness. Don't know if the beacon is the same one you bought. I wanted a post-mount style, since the magnetic mount-style doesn't work too well on polymer roofs. Here's a link on Amazon, although I ordered direct from HQRP on eBay for a little less. Amazon.com: HQRP 12V DC Emergency Amber LED Strobe Mini Light Beacon Flexible Pipe Mount / Low Profile, Tow / Plow Escort Safety for Truck Car Auto plus HQRP Coaster: Automotive

The mounting plate is 3/16" mild steel plate that I already had in the shop, cut to 2-3/4" x 7-1/4 with a portaband. It attaches using the two existing bolt holes in the factory bracket that is welded to the cab's left rear window post to hold the SMV sign, so no modification is necessary. However, the factory bracket protrudes at a compound angle, so the mounting plate must be leveled front-to-back before marking it for drilling (pic 2). Otherwise the beacon's mounting post won't be plumb. Even then, it was necessary to make a slight bend adjustment to the bracket that comes attached to the beacon's mounting post in order to bring it plumb side-to-side.

I mounted the beacon as high as I could without running into clearance issues at the doors of my tractor garage and barn. It's still visible from 360 degrees around the tractor, but a bit less well from the front than from the sides or back. If clearance weren't an issue, I would just flip my mounting plate bottom-up to raise the beacon another 4" or so.

The rattle-can Kubota factory gray that I had on hand is a bit lighter than the Kioti gray, but it was close enough.

BTW, when I moved the SMV sign to the bracket on the opposite side, I had to realign the sign to keep it vertical because the angle of the right-side bracket is just the reverse of the left-side. Rather than make shims, I just redrilled the top hole in the face of the sign 5/8" farther to the left and adjusted it that way.

 

[countrybumpkin]

I have a PSE 550 rotator , I thought about ordering a new strobe light but figured I use this one sense it didn't cost anything.

 

[Threepoint]

That'll sure do the job. The new LED beacons are pretty slick, though. No moving parts. Under the amber lens there's just a cylinder covered with white LEDs that are perfectly synchronized so that the flashes march around the surface, simulating a 360-degree rotating beacon. With the lens on, it's hard to believe nothing is actually turning. A micro-switch lets you change the function to fixed strobe, either rapid or slow flash. The beacon is on a flexible stalk that plugs into the post/pipe mount. Loosening the wing nut lets you lift it off, leaving the mount and harness undisturbed. I figure I'll need that feature the first time I drive into the woods.

 

[ttriff]

For reference the connector referenced earlier is a Molex connector. There are many types of Molex connectors. You'd need exact measurements to find it's 'mate'

https://www.google.com/search?q=Mol...rEdHhoATGjYDABw&ved=0CFEQsAQ&biw=1432&bih=948

 

[countrybumpkin]

Tested my plug today, and it has power in both positions of the light switch, first position which is position lights and second which is position lights and headlights. So I guess I will need to install a separate switch to control the beacon, really don't need or want it flashing just because I have the headlights on.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Ended up making this out of stuff lying around the shop.

 

[Threepoint]

For reference the connector referenced earlier is a Molex connector. There are many types of Molex connectors. You'd need exact measurements to find it's 'mate'

https://www.google.com/search?q=Mol...rEdHhoATGjYDABw&ved=0CFEQsAQ&biw=1432&bih=948

Ttriff, thanks for this. I'd already snipped off the modular connector and replaced it with bullet/bayonet-style plug-in connectors. But it may help out future NX series owners. :thumbsup:

 

[Threepoint]

Ended up making this out of stuff lying around the shop.

Nice! :thumbsup:

 

[RockyNY]

Ended up making this out of stuff lying around the shop.

Did you wire in a separate switch?