LED Light Setups (For Plowing)

[RKCrizzle 16]

Hi Guys, 

I just bought myself a Wheel Horse 312-8 with plow setup after my old smaller Wheel Horse died plowing in the last storm. I am curious as to if anyone has experimented with putting LED lights on one of these things and could share any insight with me. Preferably a setup that includes headlights or a LED bar and lights for the back too. I've attached a picture of the tractor for your viewing pleasure. 

[ebinmaine 67,508]

 

 

 

As we restore the Herd here we switch over all the lights to LED.  

 

My plow tractor lights up the whole area around it.  

 

 

On a 312 you'll want to be conscious that the electrical system MAY be a low amp output. Obviously LEDs would be fine there but you should wire directly to the battery.  

 

[RKCrizzle 16]

Thank you.

 

so do you replace the existing lights with LED or do you add an exteral light bar? any specific light items you recommend??

[JoeM 7,874]

If you want to replace the existing light you will need a PAR 36 Light in LED. 

Search the Ebay.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,562]

And I added a very bright red led on the rear and a plug in flasher on the hood... You can see both in the pics below...

 

 

Edited January 13 by SylvanLakeWH

[kpinnc 12,063]

Replacing the headlights with PAR36 12W LEDs is a smart upgrade. Direct plug and play, and pulls much less amps than factory incandescents. The pic below is mine. They are 4000K, which is close to white. Higher numbers lean towards blue, lower lean pink.

 

If you're thinking of adding more, then as has already been said- verify your charging system can handle it. 

 

Edited January 13 by kpinnc

[lynnmor 7,306]

Here is a comparison between original halogen and LED, as you can see the LED lights spread out evenly and the halogens are more of a spot light.  Be aware that the LED lights are available in different angles of coverage.  In this photo the LEDs are illuminating everything in the picture making the halogens appear better than they are.

 

[Handy Don 12,232]

We added the LED PAR lights to the front and then wanted rear-facing light.

 

This was our solution. Power and ground supplied from taps into the tail light wiring, via a waterproof two-conductor connector and up into the bottom of the seat between the pan and the cushion and on to the light. We added a separate switch next to the light bar so it can be on only when needed.

[Lagersolut 661]

My '85 416 8 headlights are powered by the stator  - brighten and dim to engine speed - are you guys changing that to power the LED's ? or are the LED's okay with variable voltage ?

[SylvanLakeWH 25,562]

Mine are direct to the battery...

[Moparfanforever 846]

I put LED headlights on my GT1848 and just hooked them to positive side of the battery with a fuse and toggle switch. 

[Handy Don 12,232]

15 minutes ago, Lagersolut said:

My '85 416 8 headlights are powered by the stator  - brighten and dim to engine speed - are you guys changing that to power the LED's ? or are the LED's okay with variable voltage ?

Couple of points here.

- The Onan P218 we’re running has the lighting connected directly to the battery (which is charging via a stator and voltage regulator) so the LEDs see only pretty smooth DC power within the 12-14 volt range and are unaffected by engine speed.

- LEDs require correct polarity to operate (the D stand for Diode!). Backward? No light. Switching polarity? They can flicker. As long as the input voltage is within the spec range for the LED, it’ll be on at full brightness. Outside the range low and it's off or high and it burns up. LEDs aimed at automotive applications are typically good up to over 25 volts.

- Note that LEDs will use only about 20% of the current needed by an incandescent lamp with similar lumen output

- I know that some 416’s used Kohlers and some used P216 Onans but neither should have lighting directly connected to the stator. Your dimming might be a sign of a bad battery that is not holding a good charge.

[ebinmaine 67,508]

2 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Mine are direct to the battery...

Really??

On an electric tractor??

 

Baffling.....

[JoeM 7,874]

25 minutes ago, Lagersolut said:

or are the LED's okay with variable voltage

 

 

I would say they will, that is AC on the stat-or. i believe. Have to get the AC/DC one that are dim-able.

But I would still go to the battery connection.

These are the 9 watt ones but they come in the brighter 12 watt ones like kpinnc has and are much brighter

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,562]

Just now, ebinmaine said:

Really??

On an electric tractor??

 

Baffling.....

RE: the C105 there buddy... runs on good ole dino juice.

 

The E's now they run on love, peace, and ...

[Handy Don 12,232]

3 minutes ago, JoeM said:

I would say they will, that is AC on the stator.

Stator output on a P216 at full throttle can be 40+ VAC. Suitable as input to a voltage regulator but not to an LED with a 30 VAC max.

I can’t speak to Kohlers for this.

[Lagersolut 661]

4 minutes ago, JoeM said:

 

 

I would say they will, that is AC on the stat-or. i believe. Have to get the AC/DC one that are dim-able.

But I would still go to the battery connection.

These are the 9 watt ones but they come in the brighter 12 watt ones like kpinnc has and are much brighter

 

 

If and when I tackle it I'll probably chase the stator feed - eliminate it and wire a battery feed - that would give me brights all the time not just operating revs . 

[WHGuy413 2,687]

20 minutes ago, Moparfanforever said:

I put LED headlights on my GT1848 and just hooked them to positive side of the battery with a fuse and toggle switch. 

I did the same on my 753. I mounted LED lights on the headlight bracket and ran the wires direct to the battery with a toggle switch. 

[JoeM 7,874]

Some WH tractors came with a duel stator. One dedicated to lights the other for charging.

I am not sure which ones but figure some magneto engines came this way. 

One issue with using the AC side, no lights if the engine is not running. 

[RED-Z06 2,221]

I did the PAR36 led upgrade on my 416 and 312, one had the flood pattern, one a spot pattern..both incredibly bright.  Did a dual led tail too.

[kpinnc 12,063]

As I said before (several times), I'm a big fan of LED upgrades. This is especially true of tractors with single cylinder charging systems. Onan powered machines have high enough electrical output to make incandescent (halogen) bulbs competitive, but with a power penalty if not on an Onan. I still say LEDs are better. If nothing else, they last forever by comparison.

 

Just make sure you run a ground strap from your hood to the frame to prevent flickering. 

 

Edited January 14 by kpinnc

[ebinmaine 67,508]

8 hours ago, JoeM said:

Some WH tractors came with a duel stator. One dedicated to lights the other for charging.

I am not sure which ones but figure some magneto engines came this way. 

  

 

There were Kohler single cylinders built in the early to mid 80s with that system. 

Also the GT Series with the Briggs during the same time period.  

 

 

[peter lena 8,629]

@RKCrizzle  and all others responding to the light upgrade , great time to ENHANCE  / IMPROVE  total tractor grounding , like electrical , BOLT ON LUGS , clean off  mount area , of any rust / paint , etc. like a solid bolt to frame or battery ground point , don't count on engine cooling tins  , or any  issue point . have this on my 3 horses , lights are very bright / crisp , pete

[RKCrizzle 16]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

 

There were Kohler single cylinders built in the early to mid 80s with that system. 

Also the GT Series with the Briggs during the same time period.  

 

 

I'm not overly familiar with the mechanics of it all, is there a way to tell if mine is is a single or a double? 

[ebinmaine 67,508]

3 minutes ago, RKCrizzle said:

I'm not overly familiar with the mechanics of it all, is there a way to tell if mine is is a single or a double? 

 

Single cylinder engine.  

 

Being a 312 you'd have that.