I'll make this as short and sweet as I can.
I've been wanting to put led strobes on my ranch hand grille guard for a while now because my truck is on the road-side a lot. I've searched all over on the internet on "how-to's" or instructions on how to install led strobes on an F150 or any truck for that matter, but have come up with nothing
So my questions are:
How do you wire them?
-Do you run a wire to the battery, then to a switch in the cab?
I want four on the front, and 2 in the rear window, so does that mean I need a power supply box? I know very little about wiring so bear with me here.
What is the best way to run wires into the cab?
-Should I run it through the firewall somehow? Or should I run the wires under the cab and through the front step plate where the wire bundle is?

Here is what I'm looking at using:
http://www.galls.com/style-GR182-gen...per-led-module

Any help will be appreciated because I really want this done as soon as possible and the more knowledge, the better.

 

The best way will be to wire them to a relay. Mount a relay near the battery, run power from the battery to the relay. Then power from the relay to all of the strobes. Then power from a in-cab switch to trigger the relay.

 

First off, there is no such thing as an LED strobe. You can either use LEDs or strobes. They are two different lights with different workings and overall operations.

What is your truck used for? What is your budget? Both of these questions will determine what kind of setup you need.

 

My buddy usually hauls our-sized equipment with his 18-wheeler and I'm kind of like an escort truck and since he has to park on the side of the road a lot, I wanted to make my truck more visible while on the road-side. It's nothing like police, ems, or fire related, but more "caution" related.
My budget is around $500. I don't know exactly what that can get me.

 

I found this kit on ledoutfitters.com
http://www.ledoutfitters.com/index.p...&product_id=54
It looks pretty good and is exactly what I want. I would honesty rather have a hide-away kit rather than surface mount led's.
I found a video on youtube with the same kit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pBud--eHOA

 

Next question before we go further: have you reviewed the lighting laws for GA?

 

Those are pretty easy to install, run the wires to where you want them mounted hook them up and hook power up to the switch.

You don't need to run a relay for those, they just don't draw enough amps to warrant it you are only talking about 10 amps for those. If he was going the be running a true strobe yes he would a relay because they would draw about 25 amps.

 

If he is moving contruction equipment amber is the color he is going to need to be legal. Most states have specific colors that you can run, I know Michigan I can get away with running clear on all for corners and an amber light bar up top. He may just want to get a Whelen mag mount strobe bar and call it a day just because of the labor to install Hide-Aways.

This is what I have in my truck for a strobe set up. I have $200 into my Whelen Hide-Away kit and $265 into my Whelen mini 12 strobe bar
.

 

I wasn't asking because I don't know...I was asking to make sure that he did. I have a legal and permitted red light setup in my truck and am well aware of the laws.

And if you're going to video your setup, get a camera (or borrow one) that is good enough to pick up all the flashes. I'm sure those videos don't do those lights justice.

 

I know the video does not do it justice and I don't have $500 to spend on a camera at the moment and no one I knew had one at the time.

 

check out ebay.. I got 6, 60watt stobes for around 100 bucks. They are pretty easy to install. Just run through the firewall for your switch, get some power from your battery and get a 1" drill circle thing with teeth & guided bit (sry don't know the correct name of tool).run your strobe wires to your strobes, put some all weather elec grease in the connections, and your done.

You can get them in what ever color you want.. I don't remeber what the laws were when I was running my clear strobes for constuction but then again I had the hazards going to for the the amber color... In atlanta I didn't care what color they were, I just needed something bright light to slow down the idiots up there!! Of course I didn't run red or blue... that is asking for a ticket.

I also picked up a two strobe dash kit for 40 bucks off of ebay that plugs into the cig outlet.. That one was really easy to install!

Note- If your power supply box is not weather proof install it some where that the weather won't get to it... FYI friend lost some money on that trip haha

 

If you want to install them on the grille guard just get some old KC lights and put those 1" holes in those and there ya go! The cheap wal-mart lights work to, just try and get the plastic housing lights if you can.

 

Don't buy the cheap E-Bay strobes if you are going to be using them frequently and depend on them to work when you flip the switch. There is nothing worse than needing them to move a piece of equipment and having them not work. I picked up my Whelen Hide-Aways from Ovideo and they are the cheapest place I have found on the internet for them. Plus I have already had a power supply quit on me and all I did was send it to Whelen they fixed it under warranty and had it back to me in about ten days from the time I shipped it out them.

Here is there site.
http://www.oviedosafetylights.com/Sh...ductCategory=1

 

If you do go with the hide aways make sure you put them in a close confined space that way it can reflect off of the light its self.... Don't put it out there inthe open in your head light because you won't be able to see it hardly at all and if you headlights are on then there is less of a chance you will be able to see them. I'd go with the fog lights and the reverse light on the tail lights. Good luck man.

If you want to get rid of the ranch hand let me know....

 

I had good luck with the ebay lights but then again I didn't use them a ton either. If I had the money i would go with Whelen..