Light Bar Wiring Question

Nighthawk · 06-20-2002, 11:36 PM

Hi there...

I am looking at buying the lightbar from Maxi that comes with the four Value-Line lights for $159.95 from the latest Quadratec magazine (pg. 64). I have a few questions about this setup:

1.) What are everyone's thoughts on this setup? I won't be doing much off-roading so it's mainly for looks.

2.) How do I wire this? Won't I need a switch that goes where the rear wiper switch is mounted? How do I run the wires from the light bar and get them inside the car? Detailed instructions and ideas would be great!

Thanks a ton!!

Best Regards,

Deathdealer · 06-21-2002, 08:13 AM

You have a couple of options for this setup...

1. The easiest place to get power from the battery to the switch would be to go through the firewall through the place where most of the other wires run through. You will see it on the drivers side near the master cylinder. You might need a coat hanger or some sort of snake if you have one handy to poke through the rubber grommet.

2. Probably the hardest part I had was in deciding how to route the wires to the actual lights. Since I wasn't too keen on drilling into my windshield frame I opted for the following. If you use a small enough guage wire you can run it in the crack inbetween windshield frame and the body, in through the door jamb and up into the dash from there. The exposed part wire that goes up into the bottom of the light bar I used a small piece of black wire loom to make it look professional. Now that you have the wire into the light bar you can splice the lights into the wire that is now in the bar.

3. Lastly is the switch. I heard of people buying a second plate (the one for the factory defroster and squirter for hardtops) and wiring the lights to those switches (popular for people installing ARB switches too) and installing it where the cigarette ash receptacle is currently. If you can do without your ashtray this might be a good option for you. I opted to just drill some holes below to mount the switches I got with my lights underneath my factory switches I didn't know about the other option before I did this.

Hope that helps you in some decisions.

Nighthawk · 06-21-2002, 05:07 PM

Thanks!

Now, I have two open switches still where the rear window wiper switch is. Can I utilize those? If so, how exactly would I go about using one of those? They seem to be stuck in a locked position (or they are actually just place holders and not switches at all)?

Thanks!!

Nighthawk · 06-21-2002, 05:13 PM

Oh, and is the lightbar I am looking at a good deal? Or does anyone have a better suggestion for the money? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Thanks again!!

Nighthawk · 06-22-2002, 05:53 PM

Deathdealer · 06-24-2002, 07:31 AM

It looks like a decent deal especially since you could easily spend that much on the lights alone depending on the brand you go with. The Maxi lightbar is made by Olympic and I hear their stuff is pretty reliable. Not sure about those lights though, never heard of that brand before.

As far as those switches go. What do you currently have hooked up? Factory fog lights? Rear defogger? Rear wiper?

06-21-2002, 08:13 AM	#2
Deathdealer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 347 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	You have a couple of options for this setup... 1. The easiest place to get power from the battery to the switch would be to go through the firewall through the place where most of the other wires run through. You will see it on the drivers side near the master cylinder. You might need a coat hanger or some sort of snake if you have one handy to poke through the rubber grommet. 2. Probably the hardest part I had was in deciding how to route the wires to the actual lights. Since I wasn't too keen on drilling into my windshield frame I opted for the following. If you use a small enough guage wire you can run it in the crack inbetween windshield frame and the body, in through the door jamb and up into the dash from there. The exposed part wire that goes up into the bottom of the light bar I used a small piece of black wire loom to make it look professional. Now that you have the wire into the light bar you can splice the lights into the wire that is now in the bar. 3. Lastly is the switch. I heard of people buying a second plate (the one for the factory defroster and squirter for hardtops) and wiring the lights to those switches (popular for people installing ARB switches too) and installing it where the cigarette ash receptacle is currently. If you can do without your ashtray this might be a good option for you. I opted to just drill some holes below to mount the switches I got with my lights underneath my factory switches I didn't know about the other option before I did this. Hope that helps you in some decisions. __________________ [B]-DD[/B] Black '98 TJ 4.0 Sport, Teraflex 2.5", JKS 1" BL, Currie 1" MML, Dana 30/Ford 8.8, AA HD SYE, Teraflex QD, Teraflex Oil Pan Skid, Skid Row Steering Box Skid, Poorboy Front & Rear Bumpers (w/ Swingout), JCR Offroad Rocker Guards, Garvin Trail Rack, Borla Header, 305/70/16 BFG MT/KMs, [B]-Go Bruins![/B] [B]Black Jeep Club #666[/B]

06-21-2002, 05:07 PM	#3
Nighthawk Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 41 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks! Now, I have two open switches still where the rear window wiper switch is. Can I utilize those? If so, how exactly would I go about using one of those? They seem to be stuck in a locked position (or they are actually just place holders and not switches at all)? Thanks!! __________________ [b]Tim "Nighthawk" Admire [url=http://community.webshots.com/user/nighthawk98tj]1998 Jeep Wrangler 2.5L Automatic[/url][/b]

06-21-2002, 05:13 PM	#4
Nighthawk Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 41 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Oh, and is the lightbar I am looking at a good deal? Or does anyone have a better suggestion for the money? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Thanks again!! __________________ [b]Tim "Nighthawk" Admire [url=http://community.webshots.com/user/nighthawk98tj]1998 Jeep Wrangler 2.5L Automatic[/url][/b]

06-22-2002, 05:53 PM	#5
Nighthawk Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Rosa, California Posts: 41 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	bump __________________ [b]Tim "Nighthawk" Admire [url=http://community.webshots.com/user/nighthawk98tj]1998 Jeep Wrangler 2.5L Automatic[/url][/b]

06-24-2002, 07:31 AM	#6
Deathdealer Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 347 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	It looks like a decent deal especially since you could easily spend that much on the lights alone depending on the brand you go with. The Maxi lightbar is made by Olympic and I hear their stuff is pretty reliable. Not sure about those lights though, never heard of that brand before. As far as those switches go. What do you currently have hooked up? Factory fog lights? Rear defogger? Rear wiper? __________________ [B]-DD[/B] Black '98 TJ 4.0 Sport, Teraflex 2.5", JKS 1" BL, Currie 1" MML, Dana 30/Ford 8.8, AA HD SYE, Teraflex QD, Teraflex Oil Pan Skid, Skid Row Steering Box Skid, Poorboy Front & Rear Bumpers (w/ Swingout), JCR Offroad Rocker Guards, Garvin Trail Rack, Borla Header, 305/70/16 BFG MT/KMs, [B]-Go Bruins![/B] [B]Black Jeep Club #666[/B]