I finally got all the parts together and installed a rear work light and 12v switched power outlet on my 2305. I borrowed alot of ideas from you guys! I used the cutout that is meant for the cruise control sw for the sw that controls the 12v outlet. I installed a second sw in the blank left of the parking brake for the rear work light. Both circuits are fused and operate thru relays. The relay circuit draws it's power from the #1 wire at the key sw and is only hot when the key is on. It goes from the #1 wire, thru a fuse, thru the sw's and to the relay coils. The power to the light and 12v outlet come directly from the battery, thru a fuse, thru the relays, and out to the loads. May seem like overkill, but I think it's a good design. Sw's are John Deere as is the rear work light. The 12v outlet is a marine outlet I've seen used by a number of people on here. The relays are standard automotive relays. Almost all connector are heat shrink type or sealed with heat shrink tubing. It was dark when I finished and the rear light already came in handy backing into the shed.
work light and 12v outlet done!
- Thread starter hcallihan
- Start date
- Views: 5495
kennyd
Advertiser
Nice Job
lincolnvt
Silver Member
very nice - good write up and great pics. Thanks for sharing - good looking snow machine!
Brad
Brad
cast_and_blast
Platinum Member
Nice work - that 12V outlet would come in very handy for a lawn sprayer plug-in too! Is that a JD or aftermarket folding ROPS?
Scott
Scott
BloomingtonMike
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2004
- Messages
- 788
- Tractor
- John Deere 3320
Really like your setup!
The ROPS is a Femco. The JD ROPS barely cleared my shed door especially if I backed in because I have a slight ramp into the shed and I knew with tire chains the JD ROPS was not gonna clear the doorway. I considered a JD rops from the 2520 but it was twice the money and I like the way this one folds better. I've read some of the arguments about liability and I have to think that Femco probably would be exposed if anything ever happened? My property is very flat and I am not planning, and hope I never have to find out the answer to that. My Dealer assured me it would not affect warranty on the rest of the tractor, and I trust that.
garth466
Silver Member
I need lights and I really figured it out a minute ago. I'd still be outside trying to spread the 34 tons of gravel that was just dropped off if I could see anything.
Are the lights mounted on the ROPS ever annoying since they are kind of behind your head? I was planning on installing lights out toward the front of my canopy because I though I might end up staring into a bright light when turning my head. The only thing I know for sure about the headlights is they are bright, but that bucket is almost always in the path of the light. It would also be very helpful to see behind me. This time of year around here it is dark enough to need lighting from 1500 until 0800. I usually only have the time to play after 1700.
Are the lights mounted on the ROPS ever annoying since they are kind of behind your head? I was planning on installing lights out toward the front of my canopy because I though I might end up staring into a bright light when turning my head. The only thing I know for sure about the headlights is they are bright, but that bucket is almost always in the path of the light. It would also be very helpful to see behind me. This time of year around here it is dark enough to need lighting from 1500 until 0800. I usually only have the time to play after 1700.
If you don't have a height issue, then absolutely the lights would be better near the top of the ROPS, or if you have a canopy, near the front of it. That will most likely be one of my next little projects, designing an adjustable mount for the lights so I can telescope them , or a shield of some sort. As it is, you have to be careful not to turn your head and look right into them. Definately blinding! I've seen where a couple of other guys have done it using various methods. Gets dark pretty early here too. Luckily I'm retired now and can work in the daytime if I need, although I typically like to do snow removal at night. Guess thats what happens when you work 3rd shift half your life!
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mjncad
Super Member
hcallihan:
Nice work. I got tired of my rear lights poking me in the kidneys, so I moved them up higher as shown in my photo gallery accessible via my signature.
All chained up and no snow to plow.
Nice work. I got tired of my rear lights poking me in the kidneys, so I moved them up higher as shown in my photo gallery accessible via my signature.
All chained up and no snow to plow.
Don Melcher
New member
Nice work! Very sanitary.
I installed jacketed cable from the battery (protected by a circuit breaker) with about 4' of it with Anderson Power Pole connectors on the end that I just wind up around the triangle on the back of the seat.
I use it with a hitch receiver adapter and a 3,000# electric winch mounted on a base that goes into the hitch receiver - real handy for getting to things that I can't safely access with the tractor. The connector makes a handy place to plug in a battery maintainer too!
Lights are something I have wanted to do - rear lighting would be just plain handy at times and as someone else said - the headlights are always behind the loader enough to be just about useless - so a set of lights on the underside of the ROPS would be nice too!
I installed jacketed cable from the battery (protected by a circuit breaker) with about 4' of it with Anderson Power Pole connectors on the end that I just wind up around the triangle on the back of the seat.
I use it with a hitch receiver adapter and a 3,000# electric winch mounted on a base that goes into the hitch receiver - real handy for getting to things that I can't safely access with the tractor. The connector makes a handy place to plug in a battery maintainer too!
Lights are something I have wanted to do - rear lighting would be just plain handy at times and as someone else said - the headlights are always behind the loader enough to be just about useless - so a set of lights on the underside of the ROPS would be nice too!
Skipholiday
Platinum Member
Very nice tidy job..
I think I will put my lights on my bucket.
I think I will put my lights on my bucket.
mjncad
Super Member
Thanks hcallihan, I try to make my stuff look as factory as I can with my limited tools and shop space. I've seen some stuff done by others here at TBN that is down right outstanding.
