TECHNOFILE
LRM workshop
by Lindsay Porter
in association with MCL (Mobile Centre Limited)
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The light fantastic
And Lindsay said, Let there be light (emitting diodes) on my Defender, and Lindsay saw the light emitting diodes. And they were good. Absolutely fantastically brilliant, in fact!
If you’re interested in the ultimate in work lights, you’re seeing them here! MCL’s LED lighting units are supplied to utility, military and railway companies and are made to withstand the harshest of working conditions while producing a huge amount of light and, at the same time, consuming a minimal amount of electricity. We decided that the space above the Defender’s rear door was crying out for one of MCL’s Model 9049 12 volt, four module work light units. At £771 plus VAT, it’s not exactly the sort of thing you’d pick up from Halfords, but there are less expensive LED options available from MCL, as shown later. This particular lamp gives the output of six halogen work lamps while using just over the power of one. PICTURE 1 Just after fitting these lightof-lights, I was trying to cram in a bit a last-minute lawn mowing when the blades grabbed a piece of wood and threw the drive belt. It needed fixing but it was getting dark, so what do you think? The beauty of MCL’s LED lights is that they can be left on for hours without running the battery flat, something you couldn’t do with a conventional halogen or other incandescent bulb.
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PicTURE 2 Ian started by removing the rear trim panel, found on Station Wagons. It simply unclips, as you’ll see later. PicTURE 3 The trim panel over the top of the rear door is held on with these push-in clips. You’ll need a proper trim removal tool, like a spoon with a fork in the end, in order to remove these clips with no risk of causing damage. PicTURE 4 After all the plastic clips have been removed, the trim panel is loose and ready for removal. PicTURE 5 Just one small example of the superior quality of these MCL units is the gland nut assembly used for passing the electrical cable through the vehicle’s bodywork. On the right is the nut that holds
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the unit to the body, while on the left is the gland nut that tightens on the gland in the body of the fitting, after the wire has been passed through it. PicTURE 6 During the offering-up process seen in the heading picture, we had marked the bodywork to indicate the best place for passing the wiring through. Ian used a stepped hole cutter to drill the correct sized hole for the fitting. PicTURE 7 Even though you’re dealing with aluminium, it’s best to apply primer to the edges of the drilled hole because, while aluminium doesn’t corrode anything like as quickly as steel, it does corrode in time.
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PicTURE 8 The connector on the MCL light unit is an industrial push fit plug and socket, waterproof to IP68. PicTURE 9 Ian pushed the cable through the gland fitting… PicTURE 10 …leaving an appropriate amount of cable for plugging into the light unit. First, he tightened the attachment nut on the inside of the body, then the gland nut which closes the gland into the electrical cable. Once the gland nut has been tightened, the wire can only be moved by slackening off before sliding the cable through. PicTURE 11 Meanwhile, MCL’s Tim Consolante was busy running the wiring into position.
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LAND ROVER monthly November 2011 91
TECHNOFILE
LRM workshop
by Lindsay Porter
in association with MCL (Mobile Centre Limited)
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Reversing lamps: The Law The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (SCHEDULE 14 requirements relating to optional reversing lamps). 1. Number: Not more than two 2. Position: No requirement 3. Angles of visibility: No requirement 4. Alignment: To the rear 5. Markings: (a) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured on or after 1st October 1985: An approval mark. (b) A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 and a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985: No requirement. 6. Size of illuminated area: No requirement. 7. Colour: White. 8. Wattage: (a) A reversing lamp bearing an approval mark: No requirement. (b) A reversing lamp not bearing an approval mark: The total wattage of any one reversing lamp shall not exceed 24 watts. 9. Intensity: No requirement. 10. Electrical connections: No requirement. 11. Tell-tale: (a) A motor vehicle first used on or after 1st July 1954, provided that the electrical connections are such that the reversing lamp or lamps cannot be illuminated other than automatically by the selection of the reverse gear of the vehicle: No requirement. (b) Any other motor vehicle first used on or after 1st July 1954: A circuit-closed tell-tale shall be fitted. (c) A motor vehicle first used before 1st July 1954: No requirement.
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Picture 12 If you want an option to use the work light as a reversing light, you’ll have to take a feed from the reversing light circuit. The road vehicle regulations prevent the use of the lights I’ve got fitted as reversing lights, but there would be nothing to prevent you from using a pair of MCL’s single-unit LED lights as reversing lights, as well as work-lights, if you wanted to. Picture 13 This is the bracket holding the light unit to the body. The threaded components supplied with the light are stainless steel so we used some of the stainless mounting bolts and washers which I buy in packs from Screwfix Direct.
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Picture 14 After attaching the two brackets to the ends of the light unit, Ian prepared the fixings to go onto the bodywork. There would be a nylon washer between bracket and body and, on the inside a plain washer, spring washer and nut. Picture 15 Tim held the unit in position… Picture 16 …and when all bolts were in place, Ian tightened the fittings and reattached the trim panel that goes above the door. Picture 17 Note that when refitting the window trims, all you have to do is lineup the spring clips with the edge of the
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aluminium panel to which they are being fitted, start them off with a push then bang them in place with the flat of your hand. Picture 18 MCL has supplied all the Carling switches fitted to the Raptor Dash panel and Tim found one to match the real work light, connecting it up to provide power from the auxiliary battery under the passenger seat. Picture 19 It wasn’t dark by the time the job was finished but the light was starting to go and it was obvious as soon as it was turned on just how bright are these new LED worklights. Picture 20 There are several more models of very high quality LED worklight from MCL including, shown here from leftto-right: Model 850, Flood: £49.99 Model 700, Extra wide flood: £59.99 Model 783, Flood: £99.99 PicTURE 21 The least expensive of MCL’s US-made worklights is the Model 830 – a great budget option to the other Speaker’s worklights shown here. Model 830, Flood: £129.99
Picture 22 As an alternative (or in addition, if you prefer) to switching the worklights from the dashboard, you could use a remote control wiring kit such as the Ring Automotive Remote Control Wiring Kit (RLFK300) – see inset. As Ring Automotive’s blurb says, the switches are: n Suitable for most 12v switch applications n Time saving, for easy wiring n Avoids the need to wire in a dashboard switch n Cut wiring time for accessories by half n Ideal for fitting accessory lights Picture 23 However you look at it, MCL’s high-powered LED worklights throw a whole new light on the business of getting jobs done after dark in the vicinity of your Land Rover. The final verdict – literally brilliant. LRM
CONTACT MCL (Mobile Centre Limited). For all electrical components shown here. Tim Consolante, PO Box 222, Evesham, WR11 4WT Tel: 0844 578 1000 www.mobilecentre.co.uk Thanks to IRB Developments for use of workshop facilities. Ian Baughan, Unit C, Middleton House Fm, Middleton, B78 2BD Tel: 0121 288 1105 / 0773 092 0431 www.irbdevelopments.com Ring Automotive Ltd. Gelderd Road, Leeds, LS12 6NA. Tel: 0113 213 2000 www.ringautomotive.co.uk
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