So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and upgrade your vehicle with the very best Australian-made LED light bars available on the market. Good decision – this is one purchase you definitely won’t regret.
The next step to getting your light bar ready to take on the road is installation and wiring. We have a huge list of stockists and highly qualified installers all across Australia who can install for you, but if you’ve got the experience and the know-how, self-installation is possible with this guide to show you the way.
Depending on the year your vehicle was made, will impact how simple and straightforward your installation will be. For newer models of 4WDs, onboard computers are becoming increasingly advanced, which means there’s no high beam wire. So, how do you wire your LED light bar? That’s where the CAN Bus High Beam Output Interface: CANM8 comes into play. Read on as we walk you through the step-by-step process on how to wire your LED driving lights or light bar using CANM8.
1. Where to Mount Your LED Light Bar
The first step in your installation is to figure out the right mounting location for your new lights. For a secure mount, you want to choose a sturdy location like your vehicle’s roof or bull bar. We’ve seen a few out-of-the-box mounting locations in our time, but before you make the final decision, you must check out your local requirements for where your LED light bar can legally be mounted. Each state has their own requirements to ensure they are compliant with local laws, and you are not at risk of being fined. Once you’ve picked the best mounting spot, it’s time to secure your light bar using the brackets provided and make sure it’s fully secure before moving on to the next step: Wiring.
2. Safety First
The excitement of installing your new LED lights is the only jolt we want you to experience on this job. Before you begin, make sure you have disconnected the negative terminal of your battery to avoid any unexpected surprises.
3. Can I legally install my own LED light bar?
On the topic of safety, LED driving lights and light bars significantly improve your safety on the roads. Increased visibility means hazards are easier to see and your reaction time will be faster, but to benefit from this improved safety, you need to make sure your lights are correctly installed and don’t pose a safety risk to you or other drivers. Check out the current legislation to ensure your mounting position and LED lights meet the current legal standard.
4. Using the CANM8 High Beam Output Interface
Our man David says it perfectly when he says that installing the CANM8 turns your installation into a simple plug-and-play set-up. Watch the full clip below to learn more:
5. Why do you need a CAN Bus High Beam Output Interface?
Most new 4WDs have moved away from traditional 12V high beam wiring as they have become more advanced with onboard computing and more centralised functioning for all your vehicle’s electronics. This means that when you are installing your new LED lights, there is no high beam wire to connect to. That’s where the CANM8 interface comes in.
The CANM8 is a safe, vehicle-friendly solution that digitally detects when your vehicle’s high beams are activated, triggering a 12V output to turn on your light bar. While your vehicle’s high beams activate the CANM8, you can still turn them off when your high beams are activated, giving you complete control over your new LED lights.
6. Hooking Up the Relay & Switch
Now comes the fun part, hooking up and wiring your CANM8 to your vehicle and your new light bar. Every CANM8 comes complete with vehicle specific instructions and a wiring harness to connect to both your LED lights and your vehicle. To connect your CANM8 mount the relay in the engine bay near the fuse box or battery and connect directly to your vehicle’s battery.
To connect the wiring to the switch in the cab, use your vehicle’s existing grommets. Most grommets are located on the left or right-hand side of the foot well. A good tip is to locate your vehicle’s wiring loom, and you’ll typically find a spare grommet that can be used for your CANM8. For more detailed instructions, check out our wiring diagram.
7. Making Connections & Testing
Once you’ve wired up your CANM8 and your LED lights, it’s time to test. The CANM8 features an indicator light to verify correct wiring. Once connected to your vehicle’s battery, a green light confirms your wiring is correct, and you are ready to go. If the light shines red, it means you’ve made a mistake somewhere along the line, so go back and double-check all of your connections. Once you’ve got the green light, test your LED lights by switching on your vehicle’s high beams, and your light bar will switch on too.
8.Wrap-Up & Extra Tips
The CANM8 is an essential tool for installing LED lights to modern 4WDs. The CANM8 is designed to work with almost every vehicle, and its software-updatable interface means it’s user-friendly and future-proof for your 4WD. If you have any installation questions or queries, reach out to your local Ultra Vision stockists and our highly qualified installers can help you out with any issues.
FAQs
What is the CANM8, and why would I need it?
The CANM8 is a safe, easy-to-use device that allows you to install your new Ultra Vision LED light bar into new modern vehicles that don’t feature old-style 12V on and off triggers or switches for the vehicle’s high beams.
How do I know if my vehicle has a CAN Bus system?
90% of new vehicles on the market will have a CAN Bus system; in fact, depending on the make and model, it may include multiple CAN Bus systems. A simple rule is that if your vehicle comes with LED headlights, it will most typically have a CAN Bus system. If you’re still not sure, check out this list of CAN Bus applicable vehicles.
Examples of CAN-bus vehicles in Australia:
Toyota
- LandCruiser 200 Series, 300 Series, 70 Series VDJ facelift models
- Prado 150, 250
- Hilux N80, late N70
- Fortuner, RAV4 (XA40 onward), Camry (ASV50 onward), Corolla (E170 onward)
- HiAce (2019 onward)
Ford
- Ranger PX1, PX2, PX3, Next-Gen (2022+)
- Everest UA, Next-Gen (2022+)
- Ranger-based conversions and special editions
Mazda
- BT-50 (2011 onward, incl. Isuzu-based 2020+)
- CX-5, CX-8, CX-9
Isuzu
- D-MAX (2012 onward), MU-X (all gens)
Mitsubishi
- Triton MN, MQ, MR
- Pajero Sport QE onward, Outlander (ZK onward)
Nissan
- Navara D40, NP300 D23
- Patrol Y62
Volkswagen
- Amarok (2011 onward, incl. 2023+ new gen)
- Touareg, Tiguan
Jeep
- Wrangler JK, JL
- Grand Cherokee WK2, WL
RAM & Chevrolet
- RAM 1500 DS, DT
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500
LDV & GWM
- LDV T60, T60 Max
- GWM Ute Cannon, Haval H9
Suzuki
- Jimny JB74 (2018+)
Land Rover
- Defender L663
- Discovery 4, Discovery 5
Do I still need a relay if I’m using a CANM8?
The CANM8 unit provides a 12-volt trigger signal to activate your light bar. However, it does not supply enough power to run the lights directly, so you will need a relay to power them properly. We recommend using the Ultra Vision Lighting light bar harness, as it includes a built-in relay and is designed to integrate seamlessly with the CANM8 unit. Once the CANM8 is connected to the harness, the rest of the installation proceeds just like any standard vehicle setup.
Where should I mount the relay when wiring a light bar?
We suggest mounting the CANM relay in the engine bay. The wires will run off to your lights 2-3 feet away, and the rest of your wiring runs into the cab to the switch to turn the lights on and off.
Can I wire two light bars to the same switch and relay?
That depends on the size of the light bars and the amount of power they require to operate. If they are too powerful, they may require individual relays.
