Taking delivery of your new Polaris, CanAm, Honda, or Kawasaki UTV is the first step to off road fun. Your second step is to immediately tear the vehicle down, and start the upfitting process. Once you have removed the seats, door panels, and stock cage, the next step is to rip out the stock rocker switches, and install a power distribution system which will allow greater flexibility, support for higher amperage accessories, and complete driver customization.
Installing a Switch-Pros SP9100 or RCR-Force®12 will make your installation much simpler than a the belly full of wires, relays and fuses that the vehicle is originally equipped with, and will provide you with an abundance of customization, unique to your build and the accessories you choose to run.
UTV Lighting Accessories
Some of the most common UTV lighting accessories on the menu include light bars, chase lights, lighted whips, dome lights, and rock lights. These allow for added visibility and safety, as well as adding style and flare to your rig. If you’re using the Old School wiring methodology you’ll need to wire a relay and fuse, and rocker or toggle switch, for every light accessory you wish to add to your rig, and you will be limited to standard On/Off behavior for each output.
Wouldn’t it be better to use a simple direct connect method, and have the ability to dim, flash, and strobe the outputs, without adding any additional expense or hardware? Or how about using a smart phone to start your rig, or turn lights on remotely? The answer, for most riders, is a resounding YES!
If you, too, answer yes to any of those questions, then your first upfitting purchase should be a Switch-Pros SP9100 (8 switch panel) or RCR-Force®12 (12 switch panel). These solid state systems directly connect your output accessories to wires that plug into the power distribution module and greatly simplify the wiring process. Beyond that, they afford you the ability to have complex and individualized programming, which is accomplished through a simple smart phone app. You can program simple functions, or get wildly complex.
Do you want to be able to strobe your rooftop light bar and whips, so that your buddy can locate you up on the dunes? Switch-Pros systems can do that by programming those output circuits for a Strobe function. Do you race your Side by Side, and need to have your chase light illuminated, as soon as you turn your vehicle on, and have it stay on until you turn the vehicle off, in order to pass Tech? Simply program for “Power Up Switch Status,” to make that happen. How about being able to start your vehicle without the standard key/ignition process? You can do that, too, with either of our programmable switch panel power systems! With a mix of Battery Input and Momentary switch programming you can satisfy the required Ignition signal, and then use a momentary function for the start button. For added security, the RCR-Force®12 even has a keypad lockout so that your vehicle cannot be started without a 4 digit keypad pin code.
Speaking of safety, what about the concept of turn signals? There’s no need to purchase a separate turn signal kit, if you want to cruise on streets and highways. Get yourself a rear-facing light bar, like the Rigid Industries Chase Bar, and wire it to a Switch-Pros system. Then, designate the outer sections as separate outputs, and program them to flash with a One-Touch flash function, in our app. Use the left and right arrow legends (included in every one of our kits), and, BAM, you have rear turn signals. You can also wire in the center section to function as a brake light, for greater visibility and safety.
If you are concerned about running your accessories to the point of significant battery voltage deficit, and being stranded in the middle of the dunes, rest assured that our systems monitor the voltage that they are receiving from the battery, and will, by default, shut down your accessories if/when the battery voltage drops to 11 volts for greater than one minute. This is an incredible feature when you are operating a utility vehicle that has a standard (but, truthfully sub-standard) stator. While this feature, which we call Low Voltage Disconnect, can be disabled, we suggest our side by side guys and gals leave it Enabled. We want you to be able to impress your crew with your killer sound system, without the risk of being “that guy,” who has a drained battery when it’s time to ride.
Speaking of impressing your crew, how about the concept of standing around with your buddies, at the dunes, and being able to control your lights and stereo via a Bluetooth connection to your switch panel? All Switch-Pros switch panel power systems come complete with a built-in Bluetooth module, at no additional charge. It’s a handy tool for controlling accessories from outside your ride, without needing the engine running or even the key in place.
No matter your application, the compact touch panels by Switch-Pros are sized such that you can find a location for them on almost any vehicle dash. There are even several companies who are building custom mounts for your dash, steering wheel, or tunnel area of your UTV, so that you can mount the Switch-Pros touch panel in the area most convenient for you.
