TooQForYou Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Alright, I'm a total newbie to this so please bare with me; I'd like to get some offroad lighting mounted up on the roof of my Q. I'm thinking two lamps will do for my purposes. I'd like to run them off the same switch for the factory fog lights. What kind of power limits am I looking at if I don't want to upgrade/add batteries or alternators? Also, considering those limits, does anyone have any recommendations on what make and model lamps would provide the best bang for the least buck? I'd like to go HID (with internal ballasts) if possible- to match my HID low beam lamps. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 well, HID's use less power than a regular lamp, but you'll be spending alot on them... I believe hella has some nice HID offroad lamps... Personally, I'd just put a pair of hella 500s up there...not too costly, work well, and its not like you're racing in the baja 1000 or anything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I run two hella 500s and two hella 500ffs up on my roof, two fogs and two spots. Lots of light, more than you will ever need. Pics of how I ran wires, switches relays and connectors are in my build thread, page 2 post 29 http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=28224&st=20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I run two hella 500s and two hella 500ffs up on my roof, two fogs and two spots. Lots of light, more than you will ever need. Pics of how I ran wires, switches relays and connectors are in my build thread, page 2 post 29 http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=28224&st=20 which did you get as fogs and which as spots? Just curious.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 which did you get as fogs and which as spots? Just curious.. The 500F's are spots 500FF's are fogs....or so I have been told Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooQForYou Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 (edited) Would it possible to move the roof rack all the way forward and mount the lights on the rack instead of fabbing up a custom rack? Would it be forward enough to where the roof wouldn't cut off any of the emitted light? And according to Hella, both the 500s and 500FFs are available in driving or fog variants. Edited January 12, 2011 by TooQForYou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Yes, FF stands for Free Form(ing lense), whether it is a fog/driving light depends on which you buy A very common misconception, just letting you know On another note- From most people I've talked to, you will get a little cutoff from the roof/hood mounted lights, as well as SOME glare depending on how you aim them, I would put fogs closer to the road, but driving lights up there wouldn't cause much of an issue, the cutoff angle would only make a difference for about a foot past your visible view of the front....barely make a difference in their effectiveness in other words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skulptr Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 what i did with mine originally, was took the front roof rack rail, unscrewed it, flipped it around (so it goes forward a few more inches), then slid it all the way forward. it was about even with the front of my sunroof. i eventually changed my setup to accomodate more lights, but the rack itself is more than capable of holding them. plus if you peel back the rubber liner inside the rail, theres a nice channel to tuck the wires into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooQForYou Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Thanks for the info everyone. I went with a Hella Micro FF kit with two lamps. I mounted them on my roof rack. I didn't want a big bulky light so I went with the micros which are like 3x4 rectangular. I just went ahead and gave them their own switch which I installed where the optional heated seat buttons would go. I bought a touch switch that looked great with the interior but had problems with it (see http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=29296), so I just used the ugly generic switch that came with the kit. New question; the lamps use h3 55w bulbs. Would I run into any problems if I were to use 100w bulbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exit34rocker1017 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Let's see some pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooQForYou Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 (edited) Edited January 27, 2011 by TooQForYou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekazgtr1984 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Boss! Those two lights look like they could a couple more buddies at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooQForYou Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Yeah I plan on putting two more up there at some point. Those two are kinda looking a little lonely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WOT Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Do they have good light output?? They look a bit out of place where they sit, maybe just the pic, curious on there function though My friend has the 6" Hella lights (4of them) on his F150 and god damn do they ever throw light as far as you can see!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooQForYou Posted January 27, 2011 Author Share Posted January 27, 2011 (edited) They're surprisingly bright for what they are. I think it's the background and the roof throwing it all off because the lights don't look that awkward in person- but yeah I noticed that in the pic also. It'll probably look better once I get two more up there. I'll ask again in case it was looked over; but would I need to worry about anything if I were to use 100w bulbs instead of 55w? EDIT: I did a quick photoshop, how's this look? Edited January 27, 2011 by TooQForYou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0nkeyprince Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I run two hella 500s and two hella 500ffs up on my roof, two fogs and two spots. Lots of light, more than you will ever need. Pics of how I ran wires, switches relays and connectors are in my build thread, page 2 post 29 http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=28224&st=20 LOL dept of defense registered vehicle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tekazgtr1984 Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 They're surprisingly bright for what they are. I think it's the background and the roof throwing it all off because the lights don't look that awkward in person- but yeah I noticed that in the pic also. It'll probably look better once I get two more up there. I'll ask again in case it was looked over; but would I need to worry about anything if I were to use 100w bulbs instead of 55w? EDIT: I did a quick photoshop, how's this look? Looks good with the four lights. More even for some reason... The reflection on your hood is priceless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esy Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 running 100w lights will produce more heat, obviously. can burn through bulbs faster, melting wires, etc. 55w bulbs get the wires pretty hot already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 (edited) Not to be rude or anything but I always thought off road lights always just looked out of place on a stock rig. But as long as they serve a purpose thats reason enough to have them. Edit: Have any reflection off the hood and how did you wind up running the wires into the cab? Edited January 28, 2011 by 01silvapathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Not to be rude or anything but I always thought off road lights always just looked out of place on a stock rig. But as long as they serve a purpose thats reason enough to have them. Edit: Have any reflection off the hood and how did you wind up running the wires into the cab? Lighting is lighting, doesn't serve any less of a purpose no matter how your rig is built...some people might say that IFS rigs look out of place with 33's on them....just sayin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Lighting is lighting, doesn't serve any less of a purpose no matter how your rig is built...some people might say that IFS rigs look out of place with 33's on them....just sayin Which is why its called an opinion..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Which is why its called an opinion..... I was just opinionat-ing along side your opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Towncivilian Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 How about theft prevention? What's stopping some prick from simply unscrewing a couple bolts and running off with your lights? I know the roof rack crossbars are held on by some Torx bits, but what mounting hardware is included (if any?) with a typical pair of lights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01silvapathy Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 My actual mount is bolted down with a torx bit, and the lights themselves need a deep well socket to be taken off and the wires would probably need to be cut since they are all connected inside the mount. So it would have to be someone who knows what they are doing and have a good set of tools around. Not to mention my truck is parked in a garage every night and it would look weird in a parking lot for someone to be climbing on a roof unbolting stuff. But nothing much is there to stop them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverPath Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 They make special nuts for theft prevention. One I got mine where I wanted them I just put a tack on the nut to keep it from unscrewing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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