Looking to add light kit on John Deere 4100

ducati996 · Oct 8, 2004

Looking to add light kit on John Deere 4100
I'm thinking about adding some lights -typical automotive PIAA type lights (maybe 50 watts 4amps each) or something small like that. On my JD 4100 I see some unterminated connectors coming out from the bottom of the ROPs, are they for the actual John Deere light kits? I intend to mount the lights on the top portion
of the ROPs where the hole is. I think I can snake wire all the way down providing the ROPs isn't solid...
I will meter those connectors hopefully tomorrow to see if they are switched with the light switch. I dont mind having them all connected...

Any thoughts or suggestions I guess is what I'm asking...
Thanks in advance

Ducati

pat32rf · Oct 8, 2004

I had the same problem on my 4300. I have the folding ROPS but put a roof on to give me a place to hold the tape deck, cig lighter and forward facing lights that wouldn't be blocked by the FEL. Yes, some of those connectors are switched, but being an electrician I was worried about the total load of my added lighting so I ran new wiring (fused) from the battery to carry the current and then used the original harness to provide power to a 30Amp headlight relay to turn on the lights. The radio and power outlet (cig lighter) stays hot so I can sit and think without the engine running.... All the wiring goes up inside the ROPS with no problem.

Cdash · Oct 9, 2004

Not a problem. You'll find it comes on the same times the front lights come on. Positions 1 and 3 or 2 and 3, can't remember, I just turn them until they come on.

I just added a trapezoidal worklight from tractor supply, ran the wires thru the rops and connected them to the harness, I think, under the seat. 4 years strong with no problems!

yellowsocks93 · Oct 10, 2004

Yea there will be a drain hole for water at the bottom of the rops you can snake through. I used this approach to hide my wires and it works well and looks even better. I ran through the factory light switch no probs. One tip of advice: Get PIAA lights with the rock guards on them. Not only look cool but adds protection! Same with the KC covers.

TerryinMD · Oct 10, 2004

There are a couple of different ways to mount the lights. I have a 4100 and put them on the brush guards for the lights mounted on the side of the ROPS and I put a rear-facing light on a bracket mounted under the top of the ROPS. The bracket also had two switches to turn on either the front facing lights or the rear-facing light.

Now for some reality. If your 4100 is like mine, you have a small alternator (can't remember the actual output). You should run a separate protected power supply to the additional lights and switches. If you are doing any work at night, especially in the winter when you need extra lighting front and rear, you could put a drain on the existing circuits and blow a fuse. Also, no matter where you put the lights, they will eventually get in the way of brush, branches, fences, etc and possibly be damaged (unless you have a property that is all grass). I can vouch for that.

Take a look at this post to see what I did for my 4100.

My 4100 lighting project

Good luck.

TerryinMD