Where to put the switch...

[jtucker]

I just installed my first set of lights in my
1994 exp sport and I have one problem,
I dont konw where to put the switch

I thought bout it while doing everything else
but just cant decide where to put it, any
ideas?

This is what the switch looks like, about,
its as close as paint will allow in 2min lol

the part thats giving me trouble is the part
that has the pins to connect the wires to,
Im trying not to cut holes in my dash, I dont
have a saw =\

any ideas would be great!

thanks

 

[Commtech]

I put mine beside my CB wich is mounted direclty below ashtray. I used one of the scews holding the bottom pannel in place and drilled another up from the bottom to keep it from twisting. I have 3 switches there on a custom made bracket of black plastic.
Eventually I would like to have a overhead console for switches and the CB, but havent seen what I want yet.

 

[MO_GUY]

show us pics of your interior and maybe we can find a spot for you

 

[ahhjaws]

Here's a pic of my setup.

Dead Link Removed

 

[jtucker]

My inside looks like that, minus the electronics,
I have made no other mods so far, no cash lol

Im planning on installing more lights, so would
maybe making some sort of small box to put
under my ash tray be a good idea to just
mount them and others like it their?

wish I had a digital camera...WOW....
lol just went out and checked and those
things are bright as hell lol

Anyways, I need lots of ideas to see if
any would work for me.

thanks

~james

 

[AlaskanJack]

I was lucky I had a switch for my fog lights just under my defroster and rear wiper switch so I just wired my lights there. You can switches there if the space is open

 

[2K1Xplorer]

Mine is mounted in the panel below the stearing wheel below the headlight control.

 

[Fish Man]

take the surround off of that switch and mount it inside your ash tray. i just installed a 2nd switch in my ashtray last night and still love the idea.

 

[AlaskanJack]

Originally posted by Fish Man
take the surround off of that switch and mount it inside your ash tray. i just installed a 2nd switch in my ashtray last night and still love the idea.

Oh so very 007 of you! Why not go with the one from "Fast and Furious". The fasle end in the cigarette lighter opens to expose the switch.

This brings something else to mind has anyone seen the sunvisors that have the three butons in them that can be used for opening garage doors? I wonder if you could wire them to operate your lights? I've got some pics somewhere I think I'll start a thread on it.

 

[jtucker]

OMG, I feel like such a moron lol, take the surrounding off lol

Ok, I know what to do now

Thanks for all the ideas guys, I'll post back here where
I put it and maybe have a pic too =)

Thanks again! =)

 

[hawaiianexp00]

you have more electronics in there than the USS Enterprise had on the Bridge

 

[udmsvt]

assuming you do not have the switch for factory fogs, on the left side of you steering column, you have 3 flat panels...the first has the rear window defogger, the second has your rear wiper. the third should be blank. all you need to do is remove the black mounting bracket from the switch, remove the trim piece from the dash, and drill a hole. i used to do stuff like that in my last car for my neons and it worked great...besides, what are the odds you will remove them if you ever get rid of the truck?

personally, i just wire my fogs in-line with the parking lights so i wont foget them. the factory wiring can handle the additional 55w bulbs if you do it like i did. (or you could always set up a relay so it will power itself but still work with the parking lights)

 

[mattadams]

for my Explorer, I mounted them all over the place! My F-150 has them organized a bit better .
For Explorer light info:
http://www.mattstruck.com/explorer/explorerlights.html

For F-150 light info:
http://www.mattstruck.com/f150lights.html

 

[jtucker]

LOL thats a lot of lights, actually i plan to put
a bunch more on my truck as well, after some
saving and other mods of course. I want to
be able to blind the jerk that cut me off in
the red sports car *joke* Im going to use
them for offroading once I get my 4x4 working
again.

Is your alternator stock or did you have to replace
it to power all those lights?

 

[udmsvt]

alternator

..yeah, i was wondering the same thing...how do you power that much?

 

[mattadams]

in my Explorer I upgraded to a 135 amp alternator, they came stock in some model year explorers but you can also use the one out of a crown vic and it works fine. For my F-150, it came with a 135 amp stock, so no need ot upgrade (though I would like ot at some point)

 

[jtucker]

Thats what I thought, I have a 300 watt amp and a 160 watt CD deck, then my normal lights and the two 55watt lights I installed and I think my alternator is bout maxed when sitting at a light with my breaks on,
the little power need sits on the N in Normal lol

 

[udmsvt]

i know that feeling.....

i'm running a 200 watt deck with an amp that pumps about 410w max plus 55w fogs and 85w APC hyperwhites. at a stop at night, when the bass hits, i can see my lights flicker (and thats only at half volume!)

i dont know what my alt puts out, but i'm looking at upgrading to a 200-amp alt.

anybody know what alt came stock on a '93 sport 4x4 5-speed?

 

[mattadams]

probably somewhere between 85-100...

 

[2K1Xplorer]

A 1 farad cap should stop the lights from diming. I have a .5 farad and they never dim on me.