Added a dome light

ffr1910 · Post by **ffr1910** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:37 pm

My M37 is currently my daily driver due to a DA driver in ATL crushing the wife's G35 (all okay). This has left her driving my 1997 Tahoe and me in the M. I am not complaining but I did find myself needing a domelight. Saw on SteelSoldiers where the guys were putting dome lights from armor in their M35s so I went for it. NOS lights go for $79 but I found this one used on ebay for $18 shipped:

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:37 pm

Great Idea, please tell me how you wired it?

Thanks

Carmen

ffr1910 · Post by **ffr1910** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:49 pm

Carmen,

My truck's wire was butchered when I got to it. I did a "functional" restoration on it making it safe and reliable to drive. To this end, I did a complete rewire on my truck. I put in a ENOS fuse panel (many companies make a comparable panel with modern blade fuses) and I wired the positive side to the dome light terminal on the fuse block. I used two conductor lamp wire to do this as I wanted to include a ground wire. The ground wire I secured to one of the mounting fasteners for the fuse block. Ran the wire down through the vertical center windshield post with grommets. Light has the built in switch shown with one way turning on the blue light to save your night vision. Pushing in a lockout button and turning the switch the other way turns on a bright white light that illuminates the whole cab. Bill

rixm37 · Post by **rixm37** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:06 pm

That is a cool little project. Sorry to hear about the wreck glad your wife is ok. So where on the old EPAY did you find the light ? I am currently rewiring my truck so could work one in.

jjefferson · Post by **jjefferson** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:06 am

Looks like the word is out and the Bill might have started a run on the lights - time to buy some stock in overhead dome tank lights.

http://cgi.ebay.com/military-tank-dome- ... 4a9d92ea24

Jim

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:02 am

the way the roof curves down and connects with the top of the window frame on an M43 creates the perfect spot for a linear LED light for the cab. It's hidden from sight and most LED fixtures are 24v already. I'll control mine with a discrete switch under the dash somewhere. I'll post some pics eventually!

ffr1910 · Post by **ffr1910** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:44 am

I do need to mention that the bulbs in my unit were 24v but my truck is 12v so I had to replace the bulbs. I did a search using the MS number MS-51073-1 and mine has a green night light. I think the -2 version has a red night light. Bill

HingsingM37 · Post by **HingsingM37** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 2:47 am

Nice job. Looks factory

SOTVEN · Post by **SOTVEN** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:55 am

COOL FEATURE INDEED

. AND PRACTICAL TOO. I NEEDED A DOME LIGHT ALSO, BUT NEVER GAVE IT MUCH THOUGHT YET. SO FOR UNTIL I WAS DRIVING MY M, THE DUTIES OF THE DOMELIGHT WERE PICKED UP BY A "MAG-LIGHT"