Topic: Big Rig LED side light bars

[BooomerX]

I need some wiring advice. I received a set of the Recon Big Rig LED bars for Christmas and will attempt to install them later this week. The instructions say to connect the turn signal function to the front signal light circuits, is this OK on the Avalanche to tap the harness at each side on the front? I am going to use the running light function as a courtesy light. I am adding the foot well courtesy lights to my '04 from OBB's write up and plan to tap these to make the LED's light  with the doors. Will this work this way without causing any gremlins?

[oHIobellboy]

LEDs are low amp draw so I BELIEVE it should work without problem. The running light function is also amber if I'm reading that correctly. Now that would be a cool way to light up the night parking lot. Amber instead of white. If you're unsure of the power draw for the courtesy light, you can always use the wire in the bcm to control a relay feeding the lights. Draw your power from another source and have the relay close the circuit to light them up.

[BooomerX]

I believe the running light function has a built in resistor to make it look dimmer than the signal light function but will illuminate the step bars great at night. I had actually picked the bars with the amber and white LED's but copied the wrong link to my better half on my Christmas wish list. I think I will like the amber with the doors better anyway after trying them out. BTW that's a great write up on the foot well lights.

[oHIobellboy]

I believe the running light function has a built in resistor to make it look dimmer than the signal light function but will illuminate the step bars great at night. I had actually picked the bars with the amber and white LED's but copied the wrong link to my better half on my Christmas wish list. I think I will like the amber with the doors better anyway after trying them out. BTW that's a great write up on the foot well lights.

Thanks, I wasn't the first to do it, just the first to do a write up for it. Seems like it takes me twice as long to do a mod because of doing the write up. 

[strobin01]

There was a guy on another site named AVnFUN or something to that name who had those or similiar ones and his AV almost caught fire.   

[oHIobellboy]

There was a guy on another site named AVnFUN or something to that name who had those or similiar ones and his AV almost caught fire.   

Wayne?? I've got him on Facebook. I'll have to ask him about that.

I know Donnie1 has had them for a few years now and hasn't mentioned any problems with them on his wife's Avy.

[strobin01]

Wayne?? I've got him on Facebook. I'll have to ask him about that.

I know Donnie1 has had them for a few years now and hasn't mentioned any problems with them on his wife's Avy.

yeah that's it.  I remember something like he stopped at a convenience store and some cops were there and he borrowed their fire extinguisher if I remember correctly. 

[BooomerX]

I'd appreciate any feed back on these, don't want to turn the Avy from Summit White to Toasted Marshmallow. The way I want to hook these up they will only be on with the tun signals and when the courtesy lights come on. That should keep the load minimal. The instructions don't show adding a fuse to the lights and I don't know what size to add if it really needs one.

[oHIobellboy]

I sent a note to Wayne. I'm waiting on a response. It might have been the installation that caused the problem also.


Ok, His were  LED strips and the wire that came with it was not thick enough to handle the load.

[Donnie1]

Been on ours the wife's for several yrs now with no problems whatsoever. Just running lights though and have never heard anything from any cops either.

Also, just wired them into the under hood fuse box with the supplied clips.

[BooomerX]

Thanks for the input from all.

[BooomerX]

I got the foot well lights installed today. It went off with out a hitch but just a little chilly in the driveway. OBB the write up was dead on and a big help. Looks like the weather is going to be an issue getting to put the LED bars on. The Avy will fit in the the garage but it's a tight fit and doesn't leave much room work around but if the weather doesn't cooperate I may have to try it. I'm thinking of using the 3M tape to mount them to the rockers to keep from drilling holes and the temp needs to be warmer for the tape.

[oHIobellboy]

I got the foot well lights installed today. It went off with out a hitch but just a little chilly in the driveway. OBB the write up was dead on and a big help. Looks like the weather is going to be an issue getting to put the LED bars on. The Avy will fit in the the garage but it's a tight fit and doesn't leave much room work around but if the weather doesn't cooperate I may have to try it. I'm thinking of using the 3M tape to mount them to the rockers to keep from drilling holes and the temp needs to be warmer for the tape.

Waiting on the weather stinks for sure. I have about two days of rewiring to do on mine after I get the second battery installed plus SPl's on Twiggy's truck to do. I have a two car garage but it has the two separate doors instead of one big one and that make's it a pain to wiggle a truck into to work on. That and the bike takes up a lot of room.

[BooomerX]

Had a nice 70 deg day here in WNC and was able to get the Recon Big Rig Ice LED side light bars on today. I used the 3M tape to mount them to the rocker panels. I wired them to only work with the turn signals and courtesy lights. I'll have to wait until it gets dark enough to take some pics so they will show up better. During the wiring I did find the amber coating on the front turn signal bulbs was starting to blister and come off in side the turn signal housing and was able to replace the bulbs while in there. Hopefully while off this week I'll get to start working on the Renegade light bar for the roof.

[oHIobellboy]

Had a nice 70 deg day here in WNC and was able to get the Recon Big Rig Ice LED side light bars on today. I used the 3M tape to mount them to the rocker panels. I wired them to only work with the turn signals and courtesy lights. I'll have to wait until it gets dark enough to take some pics so they will show up better. During the wiring I did find the amber coating on the front turn signal bulbs was starting to blister and come off in side the turn signal housing and was able to replace the bulbs while in there. Hopefully while off this week I'll get to start working on the Renegade light bar for the roof.

Can't wait to see the pix. I'm really interested in how well they'll work with the courtesy lights.

[BooomerX]

Here's the pix! They don't do justice for seeing them in person. The LEDs are noticeable during the day but really light it up at night. I think it turned out pretty good. Just wish I'd play with the camera enough to take some decent night shots.
First two are with the door cracked open using the courtesy lights.
The last one is with the turn signals.