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spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4660

Fitting rear work light

Anyone fitted this or something like it? Says it can be wired directly to the reversing light.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/163534060260?ha...Swe0tcXqbM 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

1st Dec 2021 9:56am

geobloke

Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

That lamp should (providing the details are right) only draw a little over 2 amps so would be fine to buddy up with the standard reverse light on a Defender.

1st Dec 2021 10:22am

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4660

Thank you. My daughter is interested in getting one fitted to her 90 for horse box stuff,

1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

1st Dec 2021 11:07am

geobloke

Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4410

Yup figuring on doing the same thing. Dark mornings and tight waller driveway.

1st Dec 2021 11:10am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

You might want to bear in mind that it is technically illegal to wire a worklight directly into the reverse light, although I have never heard of anyone getting into trouble for it (nor failing an MOT). It might be worth ensuring that there is an independent way to switch it off however, just in case, or even wiring it to a switch (with tell-tale) on the dash instead.

It is actually illegal to use rear worklights on any vehicle on a public highway or place where the RTAs apply unless an amber beacon is also illuminated, but again I have never heard of anyone getting into trouble for this.

I have rear- and side-facing worklights at gutter level, operated of dash switches, and regularly use them as reverse lights (I probably wouldn't if I knew a Police car was behind me though), and feel that their use is essential given the generally useless characteristics of the factory reversing light.

One tip that many forget, which I have found useful both with my Disco2 and Defender in previous years, is that if you need light at the rear you can put the main gearbox in reverse and the transfer box in neutral so the reversing ight is on but the vehicle is stationary. This has helped me shut gates behind myself without falling in mud and bovine by-products for years.

1st Dec 2021 1:05pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4660

I was talking to a mechanic today about this. He said if he was doing it he would put a separate switch on it. It is only to be used when my daughter is in a yard coupling or uncoupling the horsebox.
I am well aware of how annoying it can be driving behind a vehicle (usually a tractor) with the work lights full on!
Thanks

1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

1st Dec 2021 4:45pm

Dinnu

Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black

If you wire the working lights to the reverse light, you backup to the trailer with plenty of light, and then you need to get out of the cab to hitch the trailer, so you put the gearbox back in neutral, and you couple the trailer in complete darkness? Or you keep the main box in reverse and put the transfer case in neutral?

My old 90 did not have working lights, and was always a pain hitching a trailer in complete darkness. My newer tdci have working lights installed by previous owner, powered through a dash switch (no link to reverse switch). Love them. Only thing I want to do is change the switch/wiring to have the indicator light when they are on. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black

1st Dec 2021 4:57pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4660

I intend to get this done properly by a mechanic with it's own switch etc. Good to hear the input from actual users.

1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

1st Dec 2021 5:34pm

donmacn

Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1841

Like many, I have a scenelight S17 in this role.

I have it on a 3 way switch.
It can be completely off (I do this for MOT purposes)
It can come on automatically with reverse (I tend to leave it like this during the winter months)
It can be separately switched as a work light. Handy for campsite use, or just trailer related stuff once you pop the box out of reverse. (Hadn’t occurred to me to leave it in gear and drop the Transferbox into neutral!)

I get that it’s not correct to have it wired to the reverse circuit, but up here there maybe aren’t just so many streetlights and even an upgraded LED reverse light doesn’t always give you the visibility you’d like. Donald

1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong
(The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html )
2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8

in the past..
RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi
1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box
1993 Discovery 300Tdi

not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper...

1st Dec 2021 6:25pm

Mini Landie

Member Since: 23 Sep 2015
Location: Basingstoke Massiff
Posts: 159

Browsing this forum gives ideas for what to treat myself to next.

Not really suitable for your daughter but when reversing sometimes I put a little pressure on the brake pedal so as to light the brake-lights up. It's by no means great but it's a bit better than just the reverse light. 2003 90 TD5 Hardtop

1st Dec 2021 6:33pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

I find work lights invaluable for reversing in the dark but I've got mine wired in a slightly complicated but hopefully idiot proof manner. Firstly, they only come on with the reverse lights lights when it's dark, i.e. when the side lights are on. I've got a button to isolate them for MOT's or other times when they might be anti-social and they can also be switched on manually. However, so I don't forget to turn them off again, they automatically switch off when the brakes are pressed for the first time. That way, I can't realistically drive more than a few yards with them on.

Click image to enlarge Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

2nd Dec 2021 9:06am

Balvaig

Member Since: 19 Feb 2016
Location: Fife
Posts: 730

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 Landmark LE Corris Grey

The LR work light I have is simple to wire to a switch on the dash.
LR wired it without relay along the nearside (LH) headlining, down the A pillar and into the dash. The feed is picked up from the permanent live at the rear of the "cigar" lighter.
You can pop the switch wherever is handy for you.

The scariest bit is drilling into the roof panel. Make sure the exposed metal is protected by paint + grommet and sealant.

Operation is fully manual, so no worries about dazzling when reversing normally on the road.

2nd Dec 2021 9:36am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

My rear and side worklights are presently all connected together to a single switch on the dash. Since my Defender is a 110DC it left the factory with all the wiring for a heated rear window fitted except for the relay, fuse and switch, despite not having a rear door, let-alone a rear window (it also has the wiring for the rear wiper)! By fitting the relay, fuse and switch I gained a ready-made high-current feed at the rear of the vehicle. Although having a HRW symbol on the switch isn't particularly intuitive, this doesn't matter since I am the only person to drive the vehicle (other than the MOT man). A bonus is that the HRW symbol illuminates on the dash to remind me that the lights are on (with 4 LED floodlights a reminder is hardly necessary except for legal reasons).

For a long time the "to do" list has included rewiring the lights so that the rears and each side are on separate switches (there are times when you only need one aspect lit), and I have finally started working on this project, and the new switches will be fitted in a panel in my MUD roof console. The HRW switch will then be repurposed for heated mirrors.

2nd Dec 2021 9:46am

kenzle8a

Member Since: 12 Feb 2020
Location: None
Posts: 1074

^ Are the wires just tucked away in the rear panel? Having read that its tempting do the same on my DC

2nd Dec 2021 10:14am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

They were on my 2007 DC, but it is possible that they were "value engineered" out of later models I suppose.

2nd Dec 2021 12:48pm

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