Disabling brake lights and dash lights for night vision use

Hoping some of you with a better understanding of wiring can help me.

I’d had a 2016 4Runner that I installed Rigid D2 IR lights on and was able to have a cut off switch for the dash lights and brake lights. The dash cluster lights need to go because they will create too much of a glare and the brake lights obviously eliminate the purpose of driving discreetly.

I can live with the instrument cluster being on, because I’ve already cut out a piece of cardboard that fits the glass and keeps the light out of the nods but wondering if there’s a fuse or way to switch off the brake lights. If there’s a way to shut off the cluster that would be great too.

 

only thing i can think of is a circuit interrupt on the brake light. wire in a on/off switch in between the connector and brake light connection. lights you can just turn off on the stalk and use a 3rd party switch to turn on the IR lights.

dash you can lower the brightness to lowest setting and install your card board shield

 

other option is to install a circuit interrupt on the brake pedal actuation switch to signal brake lights to the bcm maybe?

but that could cause issues with the brake assist module and a few other things i think.

 

4 NC relays (one on the grounds at each fixture) and power them from a cab switch would be my vote.

 

my best guess would be an interrupt at the connect on the brake light housing itself (inline adpater between the connector and the brake light housing connector). i dont think the brake lights have a canbus wire and should solve the issue with problems with the bcm and other brake pedal systems (crawl control, brake assist, abs, etc)

 

I'm curious as to why you would ever need to drive with NV?

 

hes looking for the yeti

 

If you were trying to outrun the police at night it could come in handy

 

Maybe pull a fuse or tape up the rear lights. For the dash use a cover. That’s what we do out in the field.

 

Why WOUDLNT you want to drive with night vision?!

 

My guess is he owns or frequents a large ranch, and probably hunts there as well. Very handy for predator control at night.

 

Cuz they would never think about using that kind of technology

Especially in a helicopter...


but wait, I flee on foot...



and we'll still find you

 

I run a couple of donkeys with my cattle herds. The donkeys will chase the coyotes down & kick the crap out of any coyote that enters the pastures. I have found the donkeys are the best form of predator control I can get.

 

My East coast brain can’t comprehend the idea of a donkey chasing down a coyote and putting its boot up the coyotes ass.

 

The donkeys are not pets & they tend to be territorial. When the farrier shows up to take care of the grandkids’ horses, the donkeys get their hooves ‘adjusted’ too. Running donkeys with the livestock is something my great-great-grandfather swore by & we’ve continued the tradition. I know we share our summer pastures with bobcats & the occasional mountain lion but we’ve never lost a calf, heifer or steer to one of those predators & I have to assume it’s because of the donkeys. I have had a few stupid hunters take shots at a couple of my steers & that’s never pleasant to deal with. My biggest concern is modern-day rustlers.

 

I got sucked into a donkey-knowledge rabbit hole a few years ago and it blew my mind. They seem to hate coyotes/wolves/hyenas by instinct and will aggressively go after them if they're around. They kick, bite, and thrash them to death.

I wouldn't go near a donkey now unless it was confirmed to be domestic. They're legit badasses

 

You could try removing the STOP fuse and see what all that effects.






Although it may also be needed for other system circuits..

 

I just got sucked into a donkey-knowledge rabbit hole...

 

Lol. Don't get me wrong. I would enjoy it. I was just curious. I've never had to drive with NV but I don't do any predator hunting.

 

Driving under NV is just plain fun. It's a whole new world. (Inset Aladdin song here)

Has anyone found a solution for this yet? I'm throwing around the idea of tapping NC relays into the light circuits at the fuse box.
Just wondering if a simpler solution is out there.

 

Funny you say this, I wasn't raised on a farm but not a "city slicker" either, lol. When we moved to Tn a few years ago, a farm near us has 2 donkeys with the cows and we were dumbfounded until we Googled it. It's pretty amazing, they are never far from the cows, no matter what part of the pasture they are in.

 

I'm not into hunting, but understand your purpose. As I'm looking at the badass photos, jealous of your gear, I read the comment of not outweighing the costs, made me laugh. Not to side track the thread, but what NODS and rifle optics you running?

 

NVG action !

 

dam drug runners

/s

 

Following this - I also want to drive under NV, any solutions to this?

 

bump...any blackout options yet?

 

I ran deep down this rabbit hole. Decided that I didn't want to hack up the wiring harness - easiest solution was duct tape over removable lense covers

 

Yeah right, every poacher's dream, don't ask how I know

 

Looks like TEMU night vision