My lightbar is coming along...

[Aquamander]

But I have a question;

My latest creation is a removeable lightbar for the rack. I've decided to go with 4 of the 6" 100watt KC's. I have bought the first pair, however I'm worried about running 400 watts worth of light up there.

Can I run that much wattage? I'm thinking about switching both pair seperately so I won't be constantly using all four.

Can the alternator take that kind of workload?

[ChuckH]

It can take it but will be loaded pretty good. I've had 660 watts of lights on at once but only for a short period. The alternator was whining a little about the workload but for short periods it should be fine. If you turn them all on at the same time you might want to turn off soemthing else like the stereo.

Obviously the best answer would be to step up to a 180 amp Mean Green alternator. Then you can have everything on at once!


No sense putting 4 lights up there if you're only going to run two at a time!

[Aquamander]

Thanks man, you're always a helpful voice on the board!

I think I'll have to run them 2 at a time until I can get a mean green. My idea was to point the center two downward and out about 10 degrees or so and the outer two I was going to aim outward about 20-30 degrees.

Think they will see me coming?

I actually do alot of wheeling at night, but the procomp 130's on my bullbar still are limited in how much of a overall spread they give me. This bar may be a little overkill, but I've designed it to be a quick disconnect so I can remove them when I'm not using them. I got the idea from Rick. The brackets are similar to the ones he made for his roof rack.

I originally wanted to use a factory crossbar, but I've found that people love them a little more than I'm willing to pay for one. I was also concerned with the strength of the aluminum holding four lights. I'll try to post some pics of what I come up with soon. :smoker2:

[RedX]

Chris....I'm running (get this)....4-100 watters up top, 2-100 watters on the ARB, 2-55 watt floods on the ARB, 2-55 watt fogs on the ARB, 2-55 watt backup, and 2-55 watt rocklights. I have turned them all on at once to guage the strain on the system. The alternator started squealing like a stuck pig, and my voltmeter dropped down to about 11.5 volts.

So, needless to say, I don't run them all at once...ever. But on our trail run last weekend, I was running one pair of the roof lights, my pair of 55 watt floods on the ARB, and my parking lights. My voltmeter was still reading about 13.1 volts. So....I wouldn't run it for a long time like that....but it was still providing a positive charge to the battery.

Just add a Mean Green to my ever growing list of must needs.....

[Aquamander]

Damn dude, I thought I was going to be bright! Yeah, I need a Mean Green too.

Mom always says your wants won't hurt you...

[nflxterra]

i'm running 4 100watters up top for the past year and a half with two switches, i have the 2 outside ones to one switch, and the 2 inside on the other. have had no probs at all. i've run them at night for a couple hours without turning them off with no ill effects, i am using a red top optima, and stock alternator.

[X-Phile]

Originally Posted by RedX

Chris....I'm running (get this)....4-100 watters up top, 2-100 watters on the ARB, 2-55 watt floods on the ARB, 2-55 watt fogs on the ARB, 2-55 watt backup, and 2-55 watt rocklights. I have turned them all on at once to guage the strain on the system. The alternator started squealing like a stuck pig, and my voltmeter dropped down to about 11.5 volts.

If I upgraded to the 180 amp Mean Green would the system run all of them without any troubles?

[Aquamander]

I would run the stock one, only thing is when you run all the lights it probably will make the alternator hum a little. No doubt, the green meanie would probably carry the load better...

[X-Phile]

Mean green this, and mean green that, but does anyone actually HAVE one?? Ive looked over the internet and I can find one for the X.

If ya got it, whered ya get it, and what'd ya pay?

Thanks

[evergreen]

Originally Posted by X-Phile

Mean green this, and mean green that, but does anyone actually HAVE one?? Ive looked over the internet and I can find one for the X.

If ya got it, whered ya get it, and what'd ya pay?

Thanks

not many people have them, cause they ain't cheap.

http://www.4x4parts.com/public_html/...529bbef644989d

[OffroadX]

Carlton has one I believe...