| Author | Message | ||
     Mark (Roverwrecks) New Member Username: Roverwrecks Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2003 |
Naw that the list groas and grows on things to do to the XD, how have you working with wiring the roof rack with lights. Where are you drawing your power from and where is everyone tucking their wires? | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Senior Member Username: Newman Post Number: 515 Registered: 04-2003 |
Mark, there was a thread on this within the last 2 months or so...try searching the archives. Most people run the wires from the engine compartment up the A-pillar to the rack. Those threads contain much more info on the how-to's. Andy | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 181 Registered: 01-2003 |
Howboucha Mark! I tried to find the thread that Andy mentioned. Most of the respondents do the a-pillar. I chose to do something different so that I didn't harm the seal. I used the switch for the factory lights (on the XD) to supply power to my 4 Hella 500's. Photos below:    | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 182 Registered: 01-2003 |
Howboucha Mark! I tried to find the thread that Andy mentioned. Most of the respondents do the a-pillar. I chose to do something different so that I didn't harm the seal. I used the switch for the factory lights (on the XD) to supply power to my 4 Hella 500's. Photos below: | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2004 |
I did my wiring a bit different, the way i did it was first off i ran all the light wires through the luggage bar on the roof, then i dropped the headliner and ran all the wires to the driver's side, i popped open the plastic trim on the a pillar and ran the wires down that and then i ran the wires through a plug on the fire wall, finally i ran the wires around and connected them to the battery and grounded them as well. I really think it was a great job and the wires are very discrete as compared to running the wires down the outside of the a-pillar. I've got lots of pics if anyone cares to see. -Brian | ||
| Paul Kleinschnitz (Rovrjnky) New Member Username: Rovrjnky Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2003 |
i'd like to see the pix rovrjnky@yahoo.com | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 4 Registered: 01-2004 |
you've got mail paul | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 480 Registered: 02-2002 |
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/ics2/PA260088.jpg http://www.expeditionexchange.com/ics2/PA260086.jpg can you see the wires running up the A-pillar? Ho Chung | ||
| Jim Reynolds (4x4xfar) Senior Member Username: 4x4xfar Post Number: 289 Registered: 05-2003 |
oh yeah there they are .... NOT, thats the way to install, as perfect as it gets. | ||
| Donald McFarlane (Dsmcf) Member Username: Dsmcf Post Number: 66 Registered: 11-2003 |
I was wondering when someone would point out that running wires up the outside is crazy. Mine are run up the A-pillar on the inside, behind the molding. Then along the roof, above the headliner. Then through the roof. | ||
| Wes (Wes) Member Username: Wes Post Number: 235 Registered: 02-2002 |
Ho, What's the funny looking device on the passenger side of your disco? Is that a GPS antennae? thanks... | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2004 |
I'm with you donald i did mine the same way. and Ho i would have never noticed the shrink wrap going up the side of your a-pillar unless you would have pointed it out i think your wiring job is one of the best i've seen. i even thought to ask you about it before i did mine but then i just figured you did it the way i did. you did a really nice job | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Senior Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 327 Registered: 08-2003 |
I may be wrong, but I think I remember reading in another post that that's a video camera up there. Looks like one. Back to the lights. I ran mine up the pillar... not too hard at all. You only see the wireing where it goes from the gutter, to the rack. | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 481 Registered: 02-2002 |
on the disco 1... look closely in the A pillar. by the edge of the windshield. you'll see a slot running all the way up. buy the right size wire and it'll fit in there perfectly. well, almost perfectly. the device on the rack is indeed a camera. i am collecting footage for the next video.... micro-rubicon. Ho Chung | ||
| Mark (Roverwrecks) New Member Username: Roverwrecks Post Number: 27 Registered: 10-2003 |
Brian send the pics you have thanks... Mark | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 183 Registered: 01-2003 |
"I was wondering when someone would point out that running wires up the outside is crazy." Donald, since you are refering to mine, please explain to me why it is crazy? I would also like to know how you got yours "through the roof". BTW, I did my set up so I can have quick access to the wires (if needed), not risk damaging the the windshield seal, no cutting or drilling, and no pulled headliner. I can also peel it off if needed. Ho's set up is of course, excellent. Brendan 97 XD 98 LE | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 783 Registered: 03-2003 |
"I was wondering when someone would point out that running wires up the outside is crazy. Mine are run up the A-pillar on the inside, behind the molding. Then along the roof, above the headliner. Then through the roof." Poor Disco. | ||
| Greg Bright (Gregd2) Member Username: Gregd2 Post Number: 127 Registered: 06-2002 |
Brendan, "through the roof" means he drilled a hole through the roof. Unfortunately, my XD was wired this way too. One of the previous owners ran the wiring this way. I wouldn't recomment it or do it this way myself, but fortunately I haven't had any problems with it. I re-did it of course, it was done very badly. I made the hole a little bigger so that I could use a rubber grommet out of the back of a busted Hella. I siliconed the grommet in and it hasn't leaked at all. Still, not the best way to do it. | ||
| Jack Edwards (Olered) Senior Member Username: Olered Post Number: 477 Registered: 04-2002 |
I ran my wiring up the windscreen. Email me for pics. I can't get them to re-size. I'll explain how I ran them using molding from Home Depot. Cheers | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 10 Registered: 01-2004 |
 | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 184 Registered: 01-2003 |
Thanks for the clarification. I would never consider drilling a hole in my roof to run wires, especially in my close to pristine XD. Hell, I wouldn't do that to my junky Samurai. I would also think that as soon as one "pulled the headliner" that it would be succeptable to falling down or at least become loose. To each his own, that is what makes us so special. B.K. 97 XD with no holes 98 XD with no holes | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 885 Registered: 02-2002 |
Brendan, agreed. Drilling holes in the roof is not an elegant solution. True enough, it gets the job done, but why stop there? Why not take the extra effort to make it look nice? http://www.expeditionexchange.com/pismo2003/pismo0056.jpg http://www.expeditionexchange.com/pismo2003/pismo0064.jpg http://www.expeditionexchange.com/pismo2003/pismo0058.jpg http://www.expeditionexchange.com/alcruz/DSC01808.jpg The nicest wiring jobs I've seen for the 24K have been the ones where the wiring has been painstakingly thought out with an eye for aesthetics. It's been said here once and it'll continue to be said... This ain't no beater Jeep. There's a reason all of us chose Land Rovers over Jeeps. Don't fuck up your rig. | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 483 Registered: 02-2002 |
brendan, you bring new meaning to being special. LOL Ho Chung | ||
| Paul Kleinschnitz (Rovrjnky) New Member Username: Rovrjnky Post Number: 29 Registered: 11-2003 |
Craig, Do you know what was used to hide the wires? Those are some CLEAN installs and I'd like to mimic them. thx | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 14 Registered: 01-2004 |
thanks for the pics Koby...personally i think that is an ugly job but as Brendan said "to each his"...well said. | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 786 Registered: 03-2003 |
Unreal. | ||
| Matthew A. Barnes (Discoveryxd) Senior Member Username: Discoveryxd Post Number: 336 Registered: 08-2003 |
There's cleaner, better, and all around easier ways to run wires to the rack. Installing lights doesn't justify drilling holes in the roof of a discovery. | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 888 Registered: 02-2002 |
../2/41644.jpg LOL I'd love to see the full-res version of that pic. While you may think the install pics I posted are ugly, I think that pile of jizz you got by the factory roof rail is a fucking joke. | ||
| Bob Shinn (Bshinn) New Member Username: Bshinn Post Number: 16 Registered: 01-2004 |
Craig, You mispelled HEEP! | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 891 Registered: 02-2002 |
Paul, the black and white rigs are D2s. The yellow rig is a D1 but the installs are nearly identical in execution. You lift up the gasket resting on the windshield and tuck the wires in underneath. There is a space there that will easily accomodate the wiring for four 4Ks. On my truck (D2) I opted to run wires for two 2Ks up each A-pillar, but you can sneak wires for all four up the PS A-pillar if you are careful. | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 15 Registered: 01-2004 |
hey koby if you want full res pics of the install i'll be gald to deal them out i don't see how it can be a "pile of jizz" when all i did was offset a hole by the factory hole for the roof bars that already sits a good 2 inches below the roof also i ran the wires over the gasket and sealed where the wires come up so no water leak there. i dont see why your getting anal about all this i just suggested my version. i'm just wandering when your going to quit running the pics from EE through the board i swear to god i've seen those same pics you post over and over. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 1487 Registered: 02-2003 |
i dont see what's so eligant about any of these solutions. on the "nicest" one there is still this thick black rope of wire going around the roof rail, that's cheezy too. | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 894 Registered: 02-2002 |
You see the same pics posted on the board repeatedly because they're actually pics of nice rigs, not your swiss cheese shit. | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 189 Registered: 01-2003 |
From Ho: "brendan, you bring new meaning to being special. LOL" Ho, you are tack on, that's why I am driving a little british short bus! www.stumpy-bus.com | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 16 Registered: 01-2004 |
it's a shame your rig isn't part of your picture selection mind if i see pics of your wiring job? | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 1093 Registered: 04-2003 |
I'll be wiring lights through hole(s) in roof. But it will be a true stealth Jedi job. | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 190 Registered: 01-2003 |
Hey Ho, will you post more pictures of your truck.  "That Swiss Cheese Shit" Excellent! Discoweb Theater: Brendan became very frustrated one day when trying to find out how to wire up his lights. "Brian and Donald thought my idea for my XD was dumb, I don't want to drill a hole so what should I do? I don't want to be dumb". The trepedation over this delemma caused Brendan to go into a frenzy. "Fuck it" he said. "I am going to rip off the roof so I don't have to worry about it anymore" Brendan quickly ran a strap through the windows of his beloved disco and attached it to the bumper of his mighty Montero. "The roof will be gone!" he yelled while popping the clutch and stomping on the throttle. The sound of ripping metal could be heard for miles as the Montero tore the roof off the disco and dragged it into the woods. "Ha, I showed them, no one will tell me how to wire my lights again!  | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 191 Registered: 01-2003 |
Brian-Whose pictures do you want to see? | ||
| Lance Cowley (Duckhunter) New Member Username: Duckhunter Post Number: 9 Registered: 01-2004 |
If you have not drilled holes yet the way to go is to wire into your lug.. rack and put a hole in that... I did it in less then 4 hrs and it is clean that way and no holes in your disco! | ||
| Ho Chung (Thediscoho) Moderator Username: Thediscoho Post Number: 485 Registered: 02-2002 |
don't run wires. do the the poseur thing: http://www.expeditionexchange.com/hoshos/DCP_0556.jpg sorry brian, yet another pic from ee. LOL Ho Chung | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 192 Registered: 01-2003 |
So Jennifers LE (SVD) has 4 Hella 500's on it, but get this, no wires. Of course it is how we got it and I haven't gotten around to installing them yet. Now I am scared because I want to do the right thing. I need to call my doctor. Brendan 97 XD with 4 Hella 500's that are wired and work 98 LE with 4 Hella 500's that are not wired, but does have the LR lights on the brushguard that are wired. | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 789 Registered: 03-2003 |
Brian, you're wasting your time. Craig's wiring is nicer than the wiring in those pics. Craig, you're wasting your time. You're arguing with someone who thinks bogging is cool. | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 147 Registered: 08-2003 |
While you may think the install pics I posted are ugly, I think that pile of jizz you got by the factory roof rail is a fucking joke. Is Jizz a factory installable option | ||
| Wei Quek (Apohis) New Member Username: Apohis Post Number: 37 Registered: 04-2003 |
Nice job, Craig, two questions: - what gauge wires are you using that would allow you to tuck into the weather strip? - Did you run ground up the a-pillar with that or did you ground your lamps elsewhere? TIA | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 896 Registered: 02-2002 |
I used 12 gauge wires for both +12V and ground for each lamp. I powered one pair of light per A-pillar, for a total of 4 wires per A-pillar. | ||
| Ron L (Ronl) Member Username: Ronl Post Number: 248 Registered: 11-2002 |
That Black P.O.S. with the crappy wiring job is for sale. Sorry yet another picture from EE http://www.expeditionexchange.com/bbrr3/DSCF0019.jpg Wiring included, and no I will not part it out. I consider it to be priceless since its the most posted D2 on the web. | ||
| Jack Edwards (Olered) Senior Member Username: Olered Post Number: 478 Registered: 04-2002 |
Here are some pics of the molding that I purchased at Home Depot. The side profile of the molding resembles a lightening bolt. I think it's called transitional molding. I may be wrong. I placed two strips of double-sided outdoor tape on my windscreen. I placed the wires on the tape one by one. I then placed another strip of tape on top of the wiring. I ran the thinest part of the molding underneath the windscreen molding and attached it to the windscreen. These pics are of the first try. I cleaned it up a little a year later. The molding was around $5 plus tape cost. Took about 10 minutes to complete. I had no problems with wind or rain. Worked like a dream. Very strong. www.discoweb.org/jackedwards/ | ||
| Eric Thatcher (Discodork) New Member Username: Discodork Post Number: 5 Registered: 01-2004 |
Gents, Such a rowdy group! I have yet another way of getting the power to the rack. I ran a nice thick black 12 gage wire right from the positive battery terminal post connector to a 25 amp in line fuse & high beam relay under the hood, then through the fire wall just beneath the dash on the passenger side (a big ass rubber gromet is already there). I removed the passenger kick panel, and the inside windshield pillar molding, dropped the headliner, and pulled the headliner console right out. I put two Hella relays and two "lit when on" green rocker switches inside the headliner console. And found a nice clean body screw up there for a ground. By doing so, I only had one wire to route up to the headliner. From the relays, I went out the old LR suitcase rack (removed) hole with a nice 1.25 dia chrome electrical enclosure hole cover, with a 3/8" rubber gromet inserted and black RTV silicone. Now I have two rocker switches. When off, the highbeams are just highbeams. When on, the lights come on with the highbeams. The reason I went with two rocker switches was so that I could enable just the passenger side lights, driver side lights or both. We drive through winding canyons at night, two lane undivided roads. I like to keep the passenger lights on to watch for deer that might jump out from the trees. So with the two switches I can do that without blinding the occasional on coming traffic. The wiring took two days to install doing ot this way. So far it seems to work well going on two years. | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 898 Registered: 02-2002 |
If you're running 4Ks, that single 12-gauge wire is not large enough to deliver maximum current to four 100-watt lights. If you're running Hella 500s with 55W bulbs, then the 12-gauge wire is sufficient. | ||
| Eric Thatcher (Discodork) New Member Username: Discodork Post Number: 7 Registered: 01-2004 |
"220... 221... whatever it takes" Michael Keaton holding a chainsaw wearing work gloves and safety glasses... doing some remodeling on his house in the movie "Mr. Mom" | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 899 Registered: 02-2002 |
Oh man. Please don't post pics of your setup. Choosing wire gauge is hardly a "tomato - tomahto" issue. If you settle on wire gauge, I'd hate to see what the rest of your setup looks like.  | ||
| Eric Thatcher (Discodork) New Member Username: Discodork Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2004 |
Yes friend, you are correct. They are 55w bulbs and the relays at the switch are the Hella units, as are the switches. The in line fuse and highbeam relay were 25 amp units. One helpful hint on wiring in the nooks and crannies, ring type connectors, solder joints and lots of tape. You don't ever want to have to tear everything apart to fix a connector that has vibrated loose. Sorry, I don't have any pics. | ||
| Mark (Roverwrecks) New Member Username: Roverwrecks Post Number: 28 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ah, another question and possibly a new thread. What type of lights is everyone running? Hella? PIA what else. I am looking for something that won't stick up past the top bar on the roof rack | ||
| Jack Quinlan (Jsq) Senior Member Username: Jsq Post Number: 536 Registered: 10-2002 |
wiring? someone (gee, who was it again?) once recommended: "why don't you just fucking tape fucking maglites to your fucking roof!" advice that rings just as sound today as it once did in the lightforce thread. | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 17 Registered: 01-2004 |
well i was asking for pics of Craig's wiring job but i guess i'm not worthy. john lee i just like the tires. | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 903 Registered: 02-2002 |
Why do you need pics of my wiring? You planning on emulating it? I honestly doubt you have the eye for detail to pull it off. Anyone who claims that your wiring job is subtle obviously doesn't have any sense of style therefore wouldn't be able to pull off a nice wiring job even if they wanted to. Let's say for the sake of argument you did manage to wire up your lights nicely. You're still left with a damn hole in your roof. Now what? How do you seal it up without it looking like an eyesore? No pics for you. NEXT! | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 18 Registered: 01-2004 |
Well don't diss my pics if you don't want to show yours and no don't flatter yourself i'm sticking with my job. | ||
| Ron L (Ronl) Senior Member Username: Ronl Post Number: 254 Registered: 11-2002 |
Craig Post your pics....If Brian has something to say about your wiring I would certainly be interested in his opinion. | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 905 Registered: 02-2002 |
I would expect nothing else from a person who chooses "Discobogger96" as a login name. You can't handle my pics.  | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 1109 Registered: 04-2003 |
just don't post any more money shots | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 908 Registered: 02-2002 |
Money shots like this one?  | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 1113 Registered: 04-2003 |
Junior, when we get home, remind me to smack your mama. | ||
| Matt Taylor (Whodatmatt) New Member Username: Whodatmatt Post Number: 8 Registered: 09-2003 |
Technically, Blue, that should read "...punch your mama in the mouth." Jackie Gleason fanatic, here. | ||
| Brian (Discobogger96) New Member Username: Discobogger96 Post Number: 19 Registered: 01-2004 |
  nice job craig | ||
| Eric Thatcher (Discodork) New Member Username: Discodork Post Number: 9 Registered: 01-2004 |
Hey, Just curious. Has anyone tried HID lamps? I mean as long as you are tearing things up and running wires from here to there... I understand they are not cheap though. Also, how many who have wired lights on a roof rack have decided to ground the lamps at the roof rack verses running two conductors all the way up to the lamp housing? Just curious... | ||
| carl seashore (Drcarl) Member Username: Drcarl Post Number: 110 Registered: 07-2003 |
4 IPF super rally (130's) with ground conductor running to solid ground under the hood, one for each light pair. 12 G. this thread is brilliant! at first i thought the guy was drunk... | ||
| Craig Kobayashi (Koby) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Koby Post Number: 916 Registered: 02-2002 |
You know you love it. | ||
| Blue (Blue) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Blue Post Number: 1123 Registered: 04-2003 |
Matt, I stand corrected. I was trying to portray a kinder, gentler Jackie Gleason by switching "smack" for "punch". Craig has a quality setup there. First class all the way. | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 796 Registered: 03-2003 |
"john lee i just like the tires." Exactly. That alone speaks volumes. | ||
| Eric Thatcher (Discodork) New Member Username: Discodork Post Number: 11 Registered: 01-2004 |
I had a buddy with an old beater VW Baja bug. He scored on some surplus military landing gear lamps from some army navy surplus yard. He paid $15 a peice for them complete with the housing and pigtails. He blew one fuse after another until he figured out they were 24volt units. The bug only had a 6 volt generator. So back he went to the same bone yard. Instead of taking them back the store mgr gave him a 24 volt alternator off some other military truck or something... Anyway to make a long story short, he showed up at my house a couple of days later with a big smile on his face. It was after dark and we ran outside to try out his setup. He fired up the engine (no engine no juice) and flipped the lights on. The engine actually ran slower with the lights on, almost died. The whole street lit up just like high noon!! Before we could even get the bug moving we saw some blue and red lights flashing at the end of the street. Busted!! The LA County Sherrif did not enjoy the aircraft landing lights as much as we did. Although he was impressed with the creativity. Just one more story to top on this whacky thread!! Give it your best shot... | ||
| Brendan Kearns (Howboucha) Member Username: Howboucha Post Number: 198 Registered: 01-2003 |
 Now those are some lights! I wonder what guage of wire to use, and what is the best way to get the wires to the lights. I am thinking a sawzall would work. | ||
| Eric Thatcher (Discodork) New Member Username: Discodork Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2004 |
Well... if you are using the GE Stadium Powerblitz Sodium Lamps with the non-diode 4160vdc carbon arc delithide filiments, which it looks like you are... You are gonna want some double oght, or perhaps even triple oght, pure copper buss bar. I would suggest running the buss bar on the exterior... Then of course you will want the vacuum/mercury disconnect breakers positioned between the front seats, since it will likely take two people to throw the knife switch... I highly recommend wearing sunglasses or some type of eye protection as the back glare could have a blinding effect... Exposed skin should be coated with some SPF 200 to reduce the chance of burning... And the hum from the disconnect when you first throw the knife switch can be distracting but you get used to it after a while... Oh yeah, and one last detail. The magnetic field is strong enough to erase all the stips on your credit cards and stop your watch. It goes without saying, any one with a pacemaker should stand clear... Hope that helps. | ||
| Donald McFarlane (Dsmcf) Member Username: Dsmcf Post Number: 67 Registered: 11-2003 |
Wow. Just getting back to this thread. Who knew so many people would be opposed to drilling holes in sheet metal. I guess the general thought process must be that Discos leak enough without introducing more opportunities for same. Now, I'll be the first to admit that when I did my wiring I did *not* do a nice job of it, nor did I try to. I did an adequate job with the parts I had at hand, and among other things that meant that instead of using the right grade of wire I used too small gauge; poor grade insulation (PVC that's not specified for arctic temperatures); a bundle of two cables not one cable with the right # of conductors; a grommet that was cheap and cheerful and unfortunately not an IP56 rated bulkhead compression fixture which would have been my preference had I had one handy; and a connector which is also not rated waterproof; and a bunch of silicone. I do not regret this one iota. It served a purpose, and has continued to serve the same purpose without failing or leaking for 3.5 years. One of these days I expect to redo it "properly". Which will probably coincide with my getting a new roof rack, and possibly moving the location of the hole. I suppose there will be much criticism of these actions on this thread, but I can't say that I am particularly bothered. What I am bothered about is the most important thing: it works. quite well, actually. | ||
| Mike Rupp (Mike_rupp) Senior Member Username: Mike_rupp Post Number: 300 Registered: 02-2002 |
Donald, I think the idea is that one shouldn't resort to butchering the truck if another non-butchering solution is present. |
