Additional dome lighting, Jim style

[Ksjrb03]

Yup, gotta admit defeat on this one. Damn light is controlled via canbus. WTF Ford??

Next move is to rig up a light sensor and go that route.

It’s actually LIN, but ya a digital communication protocol to control lights. Silly, but common these days.

I’ve reached out to some lighting vendors, and they have no interest to develop a solution for added auxiliary lighting on a LIN network, citing development costs and anticipated demand.

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[Roll Sound]

It’s actually LIN, but ya a digital communication protocol to control lights. Silly, but common these days.

I’ve reached out to some lighting vendors, and they have no interest to develop a solution for added auxiliary lighting on a LIN network, citing development costs and anticipated demand.

A little complicated, and old school, but if you wanted to build in a hard wired solution, could you use a relay on the rear light, and bring power to the back, and have the new lights come on with the rear domes?

 

[Just_Jim]

A little complicated, and old school, but if you wanted to build in a hard wired solution, could you use a relay on the rear light, and bring power to the back, and have the new lights come on with the rear domes?

That was what I had been trying to do. The problem is the LED is actually a network node and the computer tells the lights what to do via carrier signals.

So I'm going high tech and putting one of these in the mix: Light sensor relay

I'll see how crazy a new light module is at the dealer and then decide if I add another to the circuit in parallel or if I just add the sensor into the dome light body.

 

[Ksjrb03]

A little complicated, and old school, but if you wanted to build in a hard wired solution, could you use a relay on the rear light, and bring power to the back, and have the new lights come on with the rear domes?

No. That’s the problem we’ve been discussing. There is not anything available in the lighting circuit that can trigger a relay. The lights are controlled by a modulated signal. The 12v that actually powers the lights is the battery saver circuit, which stays hot an hour after the lights turn off.

 

[Roll Sound]

No. That’s the problem we’ve been discussing. There is not anything available in the lighting circuit that can trigger a relay. The lights are controlled by a modulated signal. The 12v that actually powers the lights is the battery saver circuit, which stays hot an hour after the lights turn off.

Thank you. I didn't catch that. Laser sharp. Haha. That all makes sense. Selective reading.

 

[Roll Sound]

That was what I had been trying to do. The problem is the LED is actually a network node and the computer tells the lights what to do via carrier signals.

So I'm going high tech and putting one of these in the mix: Light sensor relay

I'll see how crazy a new light module is at the dealer and then decide if I add another to the circuit in parallel or if I just add the sensor into the dome light body.

Funny, my next thought was a light sensor... Sorry I didn't read the posts clearly.

 

[Just_Jim]

No worries.

My only concern is with ambient light (daylight turning them on), but with how lame the trunk light is, I might just black out one of the lenses with electrical tape with the sensor sandwitched in the housing.

 

[Ksjrb03]

That was what I had been trying to do. The problem is the LED is actually a network node and the computer tells the lights what to do via carrier signals.

So I'm going high tech and putting one of these in the mix: Light sensor relay

I'll see how crazy a new light module is at the dealer and then decide if I add another to the circuit in parallel or if I just add the sensor into the dome light body.

Talk about old school lol. I’m interested to see how you do this with ambient light.

 

[Just_Jim]

Talk about old school lol. I’m interested to see how you do this with ambient light.

It's more a matter of despite ambient light rather than with it. Gotta account for sunlight hitting the sensor. Obviously, the most fool-proof option is an additional light buried in the side panel where it'll never see the light of day, but if that proves cost prohibitive or perhaps I just can't get an additional light module in a timely manner, then I'll just go with forgoing the function of part of my trunk lamp (it's been relegated to just being a cute little blue bronco anyway).

 

[broadicustomworks]

I'm still sorting out the relay issue to overcome the PWM dome power, but hope to have that resolved in the next couple days (waiting on parts to arrive).

I used these: LED lights

I tucked them up just below the rollbar airbag covers on the B&C pillars.

They fit beautifully in the little recess' on the cross bar cover for additional cargo area coverage.

The difference is remarkable!

I didn't take any progress shots, but I'll update with a couple tips when I get the relay issue sorted.

+1 extra "good planning" point for them being marine grade.
Nice touch, and I'll be adding it to my "look at this again" list.

 

[Tarheel_Wes]

I'm still sorting out the relay issue to overcome the PWM dome power, but hope to have that resolved in the next couple days (waiting on parts to arrive).

I used these: LED lights

I tucked them up just below the rollbar airbag covers on the B&C pillars.

They fit beautifully in the little recess' on the cross bar cover for additional cargo area coverage.

The difference is remarkable!

I didn't take any progress shots, but I'll update with a couple tips when I get the relay issue sorted.

How did you mount them ? Did you use 3m tape?

 

[Tarheel_Wes]

About an inch of Velcro on each side. Don't use too much or they will be hard to remove. Haha. This is a photo of the back of a smaller one I use over the drivers area. The velcro just sticks to the carpet on the MIC roof. If you look at my video, you can see the one over the driver. That one I set to ON or OFF. And, it's so slim (flat) I just leave it on when I remove my roof panels. They store fine.

Looks like you got the 7.5" version not the 12.5"?

 

[Roll Sound]

Looks like you got the 7.5" version not the 12.5"?

I got both. The small one I use over driver. Two larger ones on rollbar.

 

[Tarheel_Wes]

I posted a video above. I don't think i have any pics. Also, I couldn't open the tailgate and film it by myself. But the lights come on when you open the tailgate.

I couldn't figure out why yours looks different from mine in the back but now I realize you have a 2-door....

so the "very back" location of mine wouldn't be on the roll bar...

I could stick it to the MIC top with velcro as you said....that'd be closest to the back, or if I used my roll bar it's more toward the middle of the vehicle....

I wonder if this would still trip the motion sensor when opening the tailgate.

 

[Roll Sound]

I couldn't figure out why yours looks different from mine in the back but now I realize you have a 2-door....

so the "very back" location of mine wouldn't be on the roll bar...

I could stick it to the MIC top with velcro as you said....that'd be closest to the back, or if I used my roll bar it's more toward the middle of the vehicle....

I wonder if this would still trip the motion sensor when opening the tailgate.

It's pattern is so wide, It would probably work on rollbar. But I bet both spot would be good.

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