Installed lights! 6x Hella ff75s on the rack

Gris · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:44 pm

I just received the last of my 3 sets of Hella FF75 Driving lights. I installed them under the roof rack to help protect them and hide them from the casual observer. I like the end result.

I ran all 3 sets on 3 seperate power/ground lines from the battery and shared a common switch hooked to the dash lights. They are set up so that having the dash lights on (they come on with parking lights, or via the dimmer switch any time) will activate the switch hooked to the relays. I like this setup because I can have them on anytime, with our without headlights and they will turn off with the car, guaranteed.

They are driving lights, not fog, so they project a focused beam. I have the 2 outermost lights rotated every so slights towards the outside so they spread the light pattern a bit wider. With the 2 Hella 500s I plan to put on the bumper, the Jeep should make the night just disappear.

I'll snap some pics tonight when it's dark. They are rediculously bright.

jelohead · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:47 pm

very nice, neat install!! BRAVO!!

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:47 pm

Gris
I just won a set of these off eBay for $40. Have bids on 2nd & 3rd sets.
I wouldn't bid more than $40.
I'd be interested in exactly how u ran them.
Could I get some pics/description of how/where u ran the wiring? Entry into the vehicle, etc.
The cheapest I saw these was $75 online. Bunch of them for sale on ebay.

http://www.autobarn.net/helauxligff.html

callaway · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:49 pm

looks very sleek - great job!

Gris · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:51 pm

Catcher, if they are from 99centnoreserve, get them!

I got 1 of the 3 from him. very fast shipping. the box wa a bit dusty, but the lights were perfect. There is also a guy named "earthlinked" that sells them for a flat $22 + $12 s&h. I got the other 2 sets from him. refresh this page as I will be editing this post with instructions and such. My computer keeps dieing for some reason, so I am submitting often to avoid losing stuff, then editing...

The lights come with a wire harness with 4 wires.

1 & 2) Red and black go right to the battery for power. I used Corwyyn's method of getting through the firewall. I ran ONLY the red and black wires out this hole. I left the relays inside the cabin, under the kick plate with the hood release. This should keep them nice and dry as opposed to them being in the hood area. The red and black wires are easily lonh enough to get to the battery if the relay is behind the kick panel. I used some clear silicon to seal off the hole since I kinda destroyed the rubber peice that was in there

3) Blue goes to the lights, green goes to the switch. I ran the blue wire up the weatherstripping that runs right past the fuse area, then up to the rack at the back top corner of the drivers door. I used a weatherproof plug I found at Pep Boys on the blue wire so that I could esily disconnect them to remove the rack.

4) I soldered all 3 green wires together and ran them to the switch. I located my switch on the thing peice of trim between the instrument cluster cover and the large peice that goes under the stearing wheel. It's where the stock switch would go, and there is a conveneient opening right behind it that gives easy access for running the wires to it. The switch then goes to ground (anywhere really) and a power source. On the plug that goes into the intrument cluster there is a yellow/green wire it is the 12v that lights the instrument panel at night. I used a tap-in to pull power from that. Since the relays use such a small amount of power to trip them, I think I should be fine.

ok, now, the lights... The have 2 wires each, one goes to ground, the other goes to the blue wires. Since the rack has a good ground, I just used an eyelet to attach the ground for each light to the bolt that holds that light to the rack. Other than that, you just have to align them. I have done that yet, just eyeballed them. Tonight i'll aim em better.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:53 pm

Quote:

Catcher, if they are from 99centnoreserve, get them!

Yup! Hoping to grab a couple sets b4 other losters realize the deal! :twisted:

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:16 pm

Could I get a couple pics of the entry into the cabin area and the wire run under the hood?

kolesy · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:22 pm

I can't wait to see them lit up at night!!!

Sweet!!!

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:15 pm

Make sure you take a wall shot too! I wanna see where all that light is pointing.

kjhawaii · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:43 pm

The rack and mounts (Nice fab work), clean wiring job, Love it.

the Hella FF75s have a great profile

I want to build somewhat similar but I will be put a set in the rear, set facing forward and a set going side/forward

I like it lot. KjHawaii

nickmv · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:59 pm

yeah, some night shots would be great, preferably on some back roads in the woods if you can

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:32 pm

That looks great! How many watts is that...? 330??

Gris · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:54 pm

Using Corwyyn's firewall penetration that I linked to earlier, I pushed the wires through the firewall like so...

My tip would be to get the cover off this hole, then push a straightened out metal hanger through it from the cabin side into the engine side. Fish it out of the little nook it's in and pull it most of the way though. Leave enough in the cabin so that you can slide the eyelets for the battery wires over the hanger, then twist the hanger around them to make sure they don't slide off. Then push the hanger through the rest of the way from the inside so that you can help the eyelets through the hole. I didnput the silicon sealer in yet, but I will probably tomorrow so no water comes in when I go get lost.

inside

Engine compartment side

This is the switch. you can easily pass the wires from the fuse area to the back of the switch. and that trim peice comes off really easily.

This is what the battery looks like. I didn't realize how messy it looked until I looked at my pictures. I'm going to use some of the wire-wrap stuff leftover from the rack to tidy that up.

It's starting to get dark. I'm gonna go find a wall to align my light on. I'll take some pics once I get them lined up right. If I have time, I'll find some back roads to drive down and snap some pics. THe roads might not happen tonight. I go to college every other weekend, this is one of them.

Gris · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:24 pm

Apparently I really suck at taking pictures at night. The pics really don;t do the lights justice. I flipped them on in the middle of this back road and could see probably 300 yards before the road turned.

Just the high beams

Highs and overheads

View from the front

JFortier777 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:38 pm

We need more pics... MORE I tell you! More!

Sweeeeeet! :twisted:

Jeger · **Posted:** Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:40 pm

The view from the front gives a good idea of how bright they are. I like the reflection on the hood

Maybe your camera has a night shot option or something that will clear it up a bit? Probably dont need the flash either.

kolesy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:09 am

WOW!!!!!

Looks like you got a 100 million candle power spot light on the top of your KJ!!!!!!!!

Just

corwyyn · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:10 am

Gris, nice set-up! Real sweet

My only suggestion would be to route the power wires to the main relay box. This is what I did when I was wiring my Ham Radios:

I learned this trick from another ham. It will still let you pull the power required but keep the connections away from the battery and the corrosive effects of the acid fumes.

Makes me want a roof rack.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:13 am

corwyyn
A little more info on using the relay box, please? :wink:

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2006 9:14 am

I bought a couple sets of these. So, if anyone wants one, contact me. I may have an extra set or 2.

Installed lights! 6x Hella ff75s on the rack

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