Kiroi Hako . . . . LandCruiserSteve's Sun Fusion

[FJ-Ollie]

Very functional build. Where'd you put the switchology for your lights?

[Mitch01]

LandCruiserSteve previously said:

GPS install.


After much deliberation, I decided to go with the Garmin 276C GPS.

Care to share your reasoning? My Street Pilot is in need of replacement, and the Nuvi models look interesting, but there's so many GPS models these days it's almost paralyzing trying to choose one.

[LandCruiserSteve]

Mitch01 previously said:

Care to share your reasoning? My Street Pilot is in need of replacement, and the Nuvi models look interesting, but there's so many GPS models these days it's almost paralyzing trying to choose one.

Hey Mitch.

Obviously, Amazon's great price for it had quite a bit to do with the decision. And, the fact that the 276C not only does an excellent job of supporting the topo maps for off-road (compatibility with all of Garmin's Topo map software), but it's also of the "old school" design and functionality that I became so accustomed to with my two most recent previous Garmins (the GPS III and GPS V).

(It's also the very same unit that most of our agencies use out in the field, as well as, the unit we use for training down here. Good enough for Uncle; good enough for me. )

Anyway, with its high marks from many other off-roaders and its familiar operation (to me at least), that's why I went in that direction.

[LandCruiserSteve]

FJ-Ollie previously said:

Where'd you put the switchology for your lights?

Ollie, I'll post up some pics of the switches and wiring this evening.

[LandCruiserSteve]

FJ-Ollie previously said:

Where'd you put the switchology for your lights?

Here's the simple wiring and "switchology" scheme that I used for the Pro-Comp off-road lights. Wiring-wise, I'll start at the lights and work my way backwards to the light switch.





The lights themselves are wired directly to the 12v lighting relay . . . .




. . . . which is mounted on the inside rim of the engine compartment near the battery. (Ground wires from the lights were connected directly to the metal mounting brackets of the lights.)




Primary power to the relay for the lights is sent from the Pos+ terminal of the battery, which is fused en route via a 15A fuse.




Secondary power (relay activation) is supplied by a lighted rocker switch . . . .




. . . . which is mounted on the left side vent panel below the XM radio receiver. (This particular switch is from a marine supply store, but Radio Shack sells a very similar one.)




Power to the switch is provided by an Add-A-Circuit on an engine-on switched fuse terminal to allow the off-road lights to be powered only when the engine is turned on (to prevent an accidental battery depletion).




Labeling for the switches is from a labeling sticker kit. (This particular kit came with an emergency lighting system switch box. However, there are numerous other switch labels out there on the market.)




I hope that helps.

[FJ-Ollie]

Very nice Steve... I'll be getting mine posted up soon. Since my son set my train horns of in my garage I need to safety them a bit.

[frogeye]

Looking good Steve. I like the location for the GPS and your labeled switches.

[LandCruiserSteve]

FJ-Ollie previously said:

Very nice Steve... I'll be getting mine posted up soon.

frogeye previously said:

Looking good Steve. I like the location for the GPS and your labeled switches.

Thanks, guys!!

[LandCruiserSteve]

Coming up next . . . .


Installation of dual post-mounted spotlights.




This pair of 245,000 candle-power black Unity spotlights will (hopefully) go in this coming weekend (Sunday & Monday).


Right now I'm taking care of painting the mounting hardware gloss black to match the rest of the spotlights' housing.




Be watching the "Interior/Exterior Visual Tech" section for the full installation thread.

[LandCruiserSteve]

And, here's a teaser for a full instead thread "coming soon to an FJ Cruiser Forum near you!!"

(As soon as I get the second one mounted on the passenger's side.)