How to Add Lighting Accessories to Your Pro Scale Lighting Kit
Elevate Your Lighting Kit to the Next Level with These Upgrades
If you haven't already installed the Traxxas Pro Scale Lighting System into your TRX-4, check out this installation guide to see how easy it is to get realistic off-road lighting. As realistic as the standard system is, there are additional lighting accessories to extract even more scale realism from your off-road rig. It's easy to add lighting accessories to your Pro Scale setup with simple plug-in setup. You can also custom configure and operate your truck's lighting accessories remotely when you combine the Pro Scale Lighting Control System with the Traxxas Link wireless module and your smart device. In this article, we’ll discuss how to add accessories to your Pro Scale Lighting Kit and how to control it all with the Traxxas Link app.
Adding Accessories
The instructions included with the Pro Scale Lighting System and the installation kit for your model fully explain all the connections for the included LEDs, as well as all the optional lighting accessories you might choose to add later. You can also view the instructions for the Pro Scale Lighting System and installation kits at Traxxas.com.
Scene Lights for Expedition Rack (8086)
The Expedition Rack fits the TRX-4 Sport and is available two ways: bare, with no scale accessories (8120), or fully assembled with traction boards, fuel cans, fire extinguisher, an axe, and a shovel (8120X). Either way, the scene lights install in four positions molded into the rack and plug into the distribution block inside the body. Just follow the color code: the plug lead is yellow, and it goes into the yellow position on the block (it’s also labeled by letter: N). The scene lights will be on anytime you power up the Pro Scale Lighting System.
The Expedition Rack fits the TRX-4 Sport and is available two ways: bare, with no scale accessories (8120), or fully assembled with traction boards, fuel cans, fire extinguisher, an axe, and a shovel (8120X). Either way, the scene lights install in four positions molded into the rack and plug into the distribution block inside the body. Just follow the color code: the plug lead is yellow, and it goes into the yellow position on the block (it’s also labeled by letter: N). The scene lights will be on anytime you power up the Pro Scale Lighting System.
Plug the yellow-tagged lead into the Distribution Block’s yellow port.
Here are the scene lights in action on our TRX-4 Sport Apocalypse Edition build. Click the link for all the build details!
Light Bar for Expedition Rack (8087)
The light bar tucks between the Expedition Rack’s fairing and top bar and plugs into the distribution block inside the body. The light bar has a 2-wire plug, and a single-wire plug. For full Pro Scale capability with selectable Low and High brightness, you must connect both plugs to the Roof Light High/Low Adapter included in the 8083 TRX-4 Sport installation kit. The adapter is labeled “M” and plugs into the M position in the distribution block. If you don’t have the adapter, you can still power the light bar by inserting the 2-wire plug directly into the M position. This method will light the bar in Low mode only.
The light bar tucks between the Expedition Rack’s fairing and top bar and plugs into the distribution block inside the body. The light bar has a 2-wire plug, and a single-wire plug. For full Pro Scale capability with selectable Low and High brightness, you must connect both plugs to the Roof Light High/Low Adapter included in the 8083 TRX-4 Sport installation kit. The adapter is labeled “M” and plugs into the M position in the distribution block. If you don’t have the adapter, you can still power the light bar by inserting the 2-wire plug directly into the M position. This method will light the bar in Low mode only.
If you’re adapting the 8087 to another model instead of the TRX-4 Sport, you’ll need the High/Low adapter from the 8083 installation kit.
The light bar integrates perfectly with the Expedition Rack. When you control your Pro Scale Lighting System with Traxxas Link, you can switch between High and Low modes remotely.
TRX-4 Sport Front Bumper Light Bar (8088)
The bumper light bar fits the 8124 and 8866 bumpers and plugs directly into the Power Module. Like the roof-mounted light bar, the bumper bar has 2-wire and single-wire plugs for Low and High mode capability. Insert the 2-wire plug into channel 3 of the Power Module. Connect the single-wire plug to the Bumper Light High/Low Adapter included with the 8083 TRX-4 Sport installation kit, then plug the adapter into channel 4. The adapter is labeled “4” to make this goof-proof. If you don’t have the High/Low adapter, you can still power the light bar by inserting the 2-wire plug directly into channel 3. This method will light the bar in Low mode only.
The bumper light bar fits the 8124 and 8866 bumpers and plugs directly into the Power Module. Like the roof-mounted light bar, the bumper bar has 2-wire and single-wire plugs for Low and High mode capability. Insert the 2-wire plug into channel 3 of the Power Module. Connect the single-wire plug to the Bumper Light High/Low Adapter included with the 8083 TRX-4 Sport installation kit, then plug the adapter into channel 4. The adapter is labeled “4” to make this goof-proof. If you don’t have the High/Low adapter, you can still power the light bar by inserting the 2-wire plug directly into channel 3. This method will light the bar in Low mode only.
Install the bumper light bar using the High/Low adapter from the 8083 installation kit for full high- and low-beam capability.
The light bar fits perfectly you can also install the light bar and Pro Scale Winch on the TRX-4 Sport bumper at the same time.
Bonus application: With a little modification, the bumper light bar can also be custom-fit to the 8066 and 8138 push-bars for the ’79 Ford Bronco and Blazer models. Click here to learn how.
Rock Light Kit (8026X)
The rock lights install in the chassis’ fender wells and plug directly into the Power Module in the number-7 port. The TRX-4 rock light kit is also used on the TRX-6, but the six-wheeler has two more light positions to fill. Item number 8897 is a pair of additional rock lights that will complete the installation. You can plug the two extra lights into one of the Power Module’s three “always on” auxiliary ports, or you can use the 3-in-1 adapter to plug both rock light sets into the module’s number-7 port.
The rock lights install in the chassis’ fender wells and plug directly into the Power Module in the number-7 port. The TRX-4 rock light kit is also used on the TRX-6, but the six-wheeler has two more light positions to fill. Item number 8897 is a pair of additional rock lights that will complete the installation. You can plug the two extra lights into one of the Power Module’s three “always on” auxiliary ports, or you can use the 3-in-1 adapter to plug both rock light sets into the module’s number-7 port.
The special 8897 two-light set fills the TRX-6’s extra rock light positions. TRX-4 models only require the basic 8026X set.
Plug the rock lights into channel 7. If you’re equipping a TRX-6, use the 3-in-1 adapter to plug both light sets into channel 7.
In addition to looking fantastic, rock lights really do make it easier to find the best lines when you’re night crawling.
Controlling the Pro Scale Lighting System with Traxxas Link
All TRX-4 models with the exception of the TRX-4 Sport, Sport kit, and Sport with Traxx include the TQi radio system are ready to accept the Traxxas Link Wireles Module. If you haven’t already equipped your TRX-4 with the wireless module and downloaded the Traxxas Link app to your device, click here to see how to get setup (and add inclinometers to your dashboard while you’re at it).
To access the LED controls, go to the dashboard and tap the LIGHTS icon.
Tap the toggle switches to turn individual lights on and off, or use the presets on the bottom of the screen to choose Always On, Low, or High light groupings.
The toggle-control screen also lets customize your LED configuration, and Brightness to set global brightness for the entire system by dragging the slider.
Using the Edit Controls
Traxxas Link allows you to choose which lights are always on when the model is powered up, and which come on in the Low and High modes. You can also rename the lights in each of the Pro Scale system’s channels, assign lights to toggle switches on the main control panel, and pair lights to operate in sync with the brake and reverse lights. It’s all very easy and intuitive, and you can always tap Factory Defaults if you need a do-over. Let’s break down all the functions:
Traxxas Link allows you to choose which lights are always on when the model is powered up, and which come on in the Low and High modes. You can also rename the lights in each of the Pro Scale system’s channels, assign lights to toggle switches on the main control panel, and pair lights to operate in sync with the brake and reverse lights. It’s all very easy and intuitive, and you can always tap Factory Defaults if you need a do-over. Let’s break down all the functions:
Test
Touch and hold the test button. Any LEDs connected to that channel will light and stay on until you release the button.
Touch and hold the test button. Any LEDs connected to that channel will light and stay on until you release the button.
Label
When you touch a name in the Label column, you can choose a different name for it from a menu, or assign a custom name.
When you touch a name in the Label column, you can choose a different name for it from a menu, or assign a custom name.
Always On; Low 2; High 3
The checkboxes in these columns let you configure which LEDs will always stay on when the system is powered (Always On column), and which come on in the Low (Low 2 column) and High (High 3 column) settings. Just touch a box to check or uncheck.
The checkboxes in these columns let you configure which LEDs will always stay on when the system is powered (Always On column), and which come on in the Low (Low 2 column) and High (High 3 column) settings. Just touch a box to check or uncheck.
Action
Each LED channel can be set for one of four actions: None, Switch, Brake, and Reverse.
Each LED channel can be set for one of four actions: None, Switch, Brake, and Reverse.
- None
The channel will not have a toggle switch on the main control panel. The light will still switch on and off in whichever group it’s assigned, you just won’t be able to operate it by itself via a switch.
Switch
When Switch is chosen, the channel will have a toggle switch on the main control screen.
Brake
Choosing Brake links the LEDs in the channel to the braking system. The selected LEDs will come on when the brakes are applied, and switch off when the throttle is applied.
Reverse
When Reverse is chosen, the LEDs in the channel will come on when reverse is engaged applied and switch off when forward throttle is activated.
Show On Panel
You may not want all the LEDs assigned to switches to appear on the lighting control panel at the same time. Tap the Show On Panel selector to enable or disable switches from appearing on the panel. The light will still switch on and off in whichever group it’s assigned, you just won’t be able to operate it by itself via a switch.
You may not want all the LEDs assigned to switches to appear on the lighting control panel at the same time. Tap the Show On Panel selector to enable or disable switches from appearing on the panel. The light will still switch on and off in whichever group it’s assigned, you just won’t be able to operate it by itself via a switch.
Show off your Pro Scale LED Setup!
When you’re posting your favorite after-dark trail pics on social media, be sure to tag Traxxas! We love to see the ways you’re getting creative with LED lighting, and you might see your rig featured on our feeds. Add #TraxxasProScaleLighting to your posts, we’ll be looking for you. And as always, you hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
That completes our Pro Scale Advanced Lighting Control System article! We’re sure you’ll agree, it’s a powerful, versatile, and exciting way to make your TRX-series truck even more realistic and fun to drive, day or night.
