Engine Bay Under hood lights

[Tleesmith14]

So I'm trying to wire up some under hood lights just simple led rock lights got them mounted fine but trying to find an easy way to have them come on only when the hood is open?  Any one done this yet?  I tried to tap into the B55 hood switch wires but couldn't get them to work right.    I tried hooking positive to battery and ground to pin C this produced the light to come on but all the time. So I tried the positive to A and ground to battery nothin..also tried positive to A and ground to C got nuthing.  Finally tried positive to B and ground to battery nuthing and positive to B ground to C got nuthing? May try and tap the wires on the other side of the connector this weekend as it has a solid red solid black and solid yellow on it.  If I could get one of them to work I plan to then run to a relay so Im not messing with the voltage on the hood latch.  Any ideas? Trying to avoid getting a mercury of hood pin switch 

[Sierra706]

Did you try using a multimeter to measure as opposed to using the lights as a reference? The voltage might be too low in order to trip a relay or power your led lights


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[Tleesmith14]

Nope didn't try that I will pull one out this week end and see

[bndawgs]

Could use the plunger switch from an alarm system as well.  

 

[Tleesmith14]

Yea I was trying to avoid adding one of those but looking more like I will end up going that route 

[Slabsides45]

When I added an LED strip light to my Toyota Land Cruiser, I ended up hating the auto on-off so much that I went back and just installed a manual on/off rocker switch.  At least I don't have to worry about battery issues that way....  I know, different animal.

[Tleesmith14]

Yea I’m actually going to do both whether I figure out the hood latch or get a plunger switch I’m going to wire a regular toggle switch in as well for cases of working under the hood during the day or if hood needed to be open long period of time 

[DEV1ST8R]

I'm working on the same thing. I ended up getting these lights:

 

...and this switch:

 

 

Haven't found the time to install anything yet though. Whereabouts is that hood switch located at in the engine bay?

 

[Tleesmith14]

It is in the front where you open the hood.  You have a to take off the black plastic cover with the push pins to get to it easily.

 

[Mike1220]

curious to see what you end up doing. I have mine on a switch that is sitting under the lip on the side of the bay. Planning to move it into the cab soon as it will also be powering a light under the engine bay, incase I am working at night and something falls to the ground

[Tleesmith14]

So ended up finding a thread about this on another forum trying to use the hood latch like I wanted. But after reading further into it seemed ppl were blowing their bcm by doing it so I ended up going a direct route.  I installed a hood plunger style switch but also added a push button switch into the ground as well. This way if the hood needs to be open during the day for long time you can just pressure the switch and turn them off also this way no need for a relay since I am only breaking the ground and not having the hot 12v constantly going through the actually switch.  Still have an in-line 7.5 amp fuse off the battery.  Ended up being way brighter than I was going for but what the hell lol. 

[Eddie 70]

There is a thread on this forum where a guy used a LED strip of lights under the hood.

 

OK, your lights turned out nice. I like that.

[Mike1220]

15 hours ago, Tleesmith14 said:

So ended up finding a thread about this on another forum trying to use the hood latch like I wanted. But after reading further into it seemed ppl were blowing their bcm by doing it so I ended up going a direct route.  I installed a hood plunger style switch but also added a push button switch into the ground as well. This way if the hood needs to be open during the day for long time you can just pressure the switch and turn them off also this way no need for a relay since I am only breaking the ground and not having the hot 12v constantly going through the actually switch.  Still have an in-line 7.5 amp fuse off the battery.  Ended up being way brighter than I was going for but what the hell lol. 

what lights did you end up going with ? Those look to have a great output

 

[Tleesmith14]

Originally was gonna to use these under my door but went with a led strip light instead. So I had these laying around very bright.  See link

Amak 4pcs LED Rock Light JEEP ATV SUV Offroad Truck Boat Underbody Glow Trail Rig Lamp Waterproof - White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ABPGAUC?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

[Crstfr]

you use 4.. or just 2... either way.. them jokers are bright!