- Power source: EXT3 (3 door-pillar DTP ports, 25A shared) is the correct circuit — plug-in, no relay needed for LED pods drawing under 20A combined
- Wire gauge: 16 AWG for runs under 3m to each pod; step up to 14 AWG if total pod string exceeds 10A or runs are over 3m
- Connector: DVA DTP extension cables terminate in a weatherproof DTP female to match the factory port — no permanent modification to factory wiring
- Independent control: Add an inline switch downstream of the DTP port, or tap the EXT3 relay signal wire, if you want per-zone on/off without using the overhead switch
Why the Grenadier Is Already Wired for This
The INEOS Grenadier ships with five dedicated auxiliary circuits routed to specific locations around the vehicle — pre-fused, pre-wired, and capped with weatherproof Deutsch DTP connectors. Rock lights and campsite LED pods aren't an afterthought on this platform; they're one of the intended use cases for the EXT3 circuit.
EXT3 controls three DTP ports positioned at the left-front door pillar, left-rear door pillar, and right-rear door pillar. On vehicles with the High Load Auxiliary Switch Panel option, all three ports activate and deactivate together from a single overhead switch. That shared-circuit behavior is the key detail most first-time installers miss — and the reason the choice between plug-in and hardwire matters for how you want to control your lights.
The EXT Circuit Map: Which Port for Rock Lights
Understanding the full EXT map makes your wiring decisions simpler. Rock lights and low-mounted LED pods belong on EXT3 — it's the circuit routed closest to where you'll be running wires along rocker panels and wheel wells.
| Circuit | Location | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXT1 | Under-hood (engine bay) | 10A fused | Small accessories, CB antenna |
| EXT2 | Roof — right front (driver side) | 25A fused | Roof light bar (dedicated) |
| EXT3 | Left-front, left-rear, right-rear door pillars | 25A shared (3 ports) | Rock lights, campsite pods, scene lighting |
| EXT4 | Rear of vehicle | 500A (winch) | Winch / NATO socket |
| EXT5 | Under-hood (engine bay) | 25A fused | Compressor, bumper lights |
| INT1 | Driver footwell | 10A fused | Interior footwell lighting |
| INT2 | Passenger footwell | 10A fused | Interior footwell lighting |
EXT3's three ports share a single 25A circuit and a single overhead switch. If you plug lights into all three ports, they all activate and deactivate together. For independent per-pod control, you need inline switches downstream of each DTP port — or a relay tap on the EXT3 signal wire.
Load Math: How Much Headroom You Actually Have
Rock lights are small LED pods — typically 3W to 10W per pod at 12V. A standard 4-pod kit draws roughly 1–3A per pod, for a total of 4–12A at full draw. Even a 6-pod setup stays well under EXT3's 25A limit. Here's how a typical build loads the circuit:
| Setup | Pods | Watts (total) | Amps at 14V | Headroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimal rocker pair | 2 | 10–20W | 0.7–1.4A | 23.6–24.3A |
| Standard 4-pod kit | 4 | 20–40W | 1.4–2.9A | 22.1–23.6A |
| Full 6-pod build | 6 | 30–60W | 2.1–4.3A | 20.7–22.9A |
| 6-pod + campsite scene light | 6 + 1 | 80–120W | 5.7–8.6A | 16.4–19.3A |
In practice, rock lights running off EXT3 use less than a third of available capacity even in a full-featured build. The 25A circuit becomes a real constraint only if you try to run a high-draw accessory (like a scene flood drawing 200W) in addition to the rock lights — that's when you need to plan carefully across all three ports.
What Forum Owners Are Actually Running
"I want to change the 3 exterior lights to be turned on by my SwitchPro rather than by the overhead switch. I have already changed the aux power to come from my house battery but I didn't like having to leave the power switch on in order to have the camp lights on. Plus I want to be able to turn those lights on remotely for a middle of the night potty walk. I figure the easiest way to do this is tap into the wire from the switch at the EXT3 relay RLO2."
— the_ick, TheIneosForum.com, "Change Ext 3 relay signal wire" (June 2026)"I purchased Diode Dynamics c2r that have 3 light outputs, high red, low red and high white. My current plan is to run the ground and high white to the existing ext3 plug and run a separate 14/2 wire for the high red and low red to my powerswitch under the rear seat."
— Forum member, TheIneosForum.com, "Roof Power Walkthrough?" (June 2026)"I bought some Morimoto lights and they came with a pigtail harness (just 2 wires and a plug — a similar setup to below). I am planning to crimp on the Deutsch DTP-Series 2 Way Male Plug Kit and plug them into the roof power mounts. My 'I am new to this' questions: 1. That is all the kit I need, right? I don't need breakers or relays or anything else? 2. Should I wrap the wires in that heat shrink tube stuff so that it's not exposed to the elements? 3. Does it make sense to eventually run multiple lights from one power point so that I can free a plug up for some other purpose?"
— Forum member, TheIneosForum.com, "First time installing roof lights wiring question(s)" (August 2025)Wiring Method 1: DTP Plug-In (Recommended for Most Builds)
The simplest approach — and the one that works for the majority of rock light installations — is a direct DTP plug-in from the factory port to your LED pod harness. You're using exactly the infrastructure INEOS designed into the vehicle. No relay, no fuse tap, no permanent modification to factory wiring.
The plug-in path looks like this: the EXT3 DTP port at the door pillar provides power and ground → a DVA DTP extension cable runs to a weatherproof junction or inline connector → individual pods connect from there with 16 AWG tinned wire. The whole system comes off the EXT3 overhead switch and stays fully reversible.
DVA DTP Extension Cables — Grenadier
Pre-terminated DTP-06-2S extension cables for plug-in power delivery from EXT3 door-pillar ports. 14 AWG tinned copper, weatherproof, no-crimp install.
Browse DTP Extension Cables →Step-by-Step: DTP Plug-In Method
1. Identify your EXT3 ports. You have three: left-front door pillar, left-rear door pillar, right-rear door pillar. The caps pull straight off. Inspect each port — confirm no water intrusion or pin corrosion before proceeding.
2. Calculate your load. Add up the wattage of all pods you plan to run on this circuit. Divide by 14V to get amp draw. Keep the total under 20A to leave adequate headroom. (A standard 4-pod LED rock light set typically draws 2–6A total.)
3. Run your DVA DTP extension cable from the port to your distribution point. Secure with zip ties at 15–20cm intervals. Use UV-resistant black spiral wrap or braided sleeve on any exposed run along the rocker panel — the area sees road debris and UV continuously.
4. Connect pods from the distribution point. Use 16 AWG tinned copper for individual pod legs if each pod is under 5A. Use 14 AWG if the combined run to multiple pods exceeds 10A or the wire run is longer than 3m. Terminate all pod connections with heat-shrink butt connectors or weatherproof quick-disconnects.
5. Secure and test. Operate the EXT3 switch from the overhead panel. Confirm all pods illuminate. Check for voltage drop across the full run — anything over 0.5V drop indicates undersized wire or a loose connection.
Wiring Method 2: Hardwire from Fuse Block (For Independent Control)
If you want per-zone control — rock lights independent from campsite pods, or remote-controlled activation without using the overhead switch — you need a hardwire circuit from a fuse block or auxiliary battery, with a relay triggered by the EXT3 signal wire or a standalone switch.
The forum consensus on this approach: run 14/2 from your auxiliary fuse block, fused at 15A. Use the EXT3 relay (RLO2) signal wire as a trigger if you want the overhead switch to still control the lights, but add a parallel remote switch for independent activation. This is the approach forum member the_ick described above — routing camp lights through a SwitchPro for remote nighttime activation without disturbing the overhead panel.
DVA Power & Connectivity — Grenadier
Fused distribution blocks, DTP adaptors, and power management accessories for Grenadier auxiliary builds. Designed for the factory EXT/INT circuit architecture.
View Power & Connectivity →Hardwire Fusing Rules
When you're adding a dedicated wire run (not using the factory DTP plug-in path), the fuse goes at the power source — within 45cm of the battery or fuse block. Fuse the circuit at the wire's capacity, not the load's draw. A 14 AWG wire is rated for 15A continuous in automotive installations; your 4-pod rock light set drawing 5A still gets a 15A fuse because that's what protects the wire.
16 AWG: adequate for any single pod or pod pair drawing under 5A, on runs under 3m. 14 AWG: use for total loads 5–15A or any run over 3m. 12 AWG: only needed if running a scene flood or multi-function light drawing 15–25A — rare for standard rock lights.
Mounting Locations and Routing
The most common rock light mounting positions on the Grenadier are:
Rocker panels — the most popular choice. Lights face downward and outward, illuminating the immediate ground at trail obstacles and defining the vehicle edge in camp. Mount with M5 or M6 hardware into the rocker lip or step plate mounting holes. Keep pods at least 5cm back from the leading edge of the rocker to avoid debris strikes.
Rear bumper — rear-facing flood pods for campsite area lighting behind the vehicle. Route wiring inside the rear quarter panel and out through a gland grommet. This position works well for the right-rear EXT3 port since the wiring run is short.
A-pillar base — forward-facing low pods for trail edge definition. Route from the left-front EXT3 port through the door seal gap and along the A-pillar base. Seal all exterior penetrations with self-amalgamating tape and butyl sealant where the wire enters the cabin.
DVA Grenadier Accessories for Lighting Builds
Rock lights are typically one layer of a larger Grenadier lighting build. Most owners installing LED pods also look at roof-mounted scene lights (EXT2 or EXT3) and bumper-area pods. The DVA Grenadier accessories collection includes the DTP cables, power distribution, and mounting hardware that supports the full lighting build — roof, body, and campsite zone.
DVA Grenadier Accessories Collection
DTP power cables, roof rail systems, lighting mounts, and accessory carriers for the INEOS Grenadier. All built to the factory DTP architecture.
Shop Grenadier Accessories →Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Undersized wire on long runs. The rocker panel is roughly 1.8m long on the Grenadier. If you're daisy-chaining four pods along the full length, your wire run from the DTP port to the last pod can exceed 3m. At 16 AWG and 5A combined load, that produces measurable voltage drop. Step up to 14 AWG for the main run; 16 AWG for the last short leg to each pod.
Forgetting EXT3's shared-switch behavior. Forum questions about rock lights not responding to individual overhead switches are almost always EXT3 confusion. All three EXT3 ports activate together. If you plugged into the left-rear and right-rear ports, both sets of lights come on with the same switch. Plan your layout accordingly, or add inline switches for per-zone control.
Not sealing exterior penetrations. Every point where a wire exits the cabin is a water intrusion path. Use a factory-style gland grommet in any sheet metal hole. Apply self-amalgamating tape over any DTP connector you park outside the cab. The Deutsch DTP connector itself is IP67-rated — but only when the mating plug is fully seated and locked.
Daisy-chaining without a distribution point. Connecting pod 2 to pod 1, pod 3 to pod 2, and pod 4 to pod 3 means the wire closest to the source carries the full combined current. Use a weatherproof distribution block or junction box at the DTP port, then run individual legs to each pod. Cleaner, more serviceable, and keeps wire sizing simple.
Sources
- TheIneosForum.com — "Change Ext 3 relay signal wire" (June 2026)
- TheIneosForum.com — "Roof Power Walkthrough?" (June 2026)
- TheIneosForum.com — "First time installing roof lights wiring question(s)" (August 2025)
- DVA Mechanics — Grenadier DTP Connector & Accessory Wiring Guide
- DVA Mechanics — Grenadier Lighting Guide (EXT circuits)