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Scary Mc Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2009 Posts: 42 Location: Grand Junction, CO
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:33 am Post subject: Exterior 'Party' Lights? |
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Does anyone know of a source for exterior rope/tiki lights that I can plug into the 12-v power outlet and hang from my vans awning?
I've searched to no avail..... |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12008 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:47 am Post subject: |
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Try looking at those RV stores. Good luck |
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pioneer1 Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008 Posts: 2069 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject: lights |
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Hey: regular xmas lights (l.e.d probably best) will plug into an inverter to make your van standout,attract mating subjects,guide ufo's,etc. _________________ "Always waiting for tomorrow ruined everything"
'85 Porsche 911 Targa
'76 Westfalia project |
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ohlott Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2007 Posts: 294 Location: san clemente CA
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Williamtaylor33 Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 1545 Location: Arkansas
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Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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Look up the lighting that Rocky Mountain Westy sells. _________________ 89 Bostig powered syncro westy |
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attydog Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2006 Posts: 9 Location: San Francisco
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:42 am Post subject: |
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check out this web site. I haven't used them, but it looks like what you might need.
www.superbrightleds.com |
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5078 Location: denver
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PDXWesty Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006 Posts: 6247 Location: Portland OR
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kevinbassplayer Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2006 Posts: 1041 Location: Nor-Cal
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Google up "World Aglow", I buy all my Burning Man lighting from them, lot's of 12 Volt stuff |
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kenmag Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2007 Posts: 275 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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We just used off-the-shelf LED christmas lights plugged into an inverter. Very little power draw... No UFO's took notice though
_________________ 87GL Westy/suby ej22
87GL tintop/suby ej22
05 Golf TDI
95 jetta GLX |
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5078 Location: denver
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Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 8:31 am Post subject: |
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These came in last week; very fast shipping:
http://www.christmas-light-source.com/12-Volt-LED-Light-Set-Warm-White-Green-Wire_p_1566.html
They give off a yellowish glow and are pretty bright. They appear to be well-made and the plug actually fits well in the original accessory outlet under the passenger's seat (the one on all Wolfsburg Westies.) I've had problems plugging in a few other accessories, namely phone chargers and and inverter, due to that outlet being more shallow than the one on the dash.
I bought two sets. Each set comes with a 15-foot removable extension before the lighted part begins. They're set up so that you can use one extension and run multiple lines of lights plugged in together in series.
I haven't used them anywhere other than my driveway yet, but at this point, they appear to be a good purchase. After I've beaten them to death over the summer, I'll let y'all know if they're still standing. _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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Orbitald Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2004 Posts: 320 Location: Oakland, CA
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Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 9:31 am Post subject: |
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I installed LED Christmas lights in my van a bit ago. Here is what I did.
I used warm white C6 LED string lights like these:
http://spectrumsuperstore.com/browse.ihtml?pid=744502&step=5&prodstoreid=9363
These strings lights come with a removable 12V DC cigarette lighter adapter. By removing the adapter you can plug them together end-to-end to form a longer string and using the cig adapter on the last string to power them all.
I made magnetic holders which can be moved around if need be but are strong enough to syncro around Hollister:
The clips are for LED rope lights and they are epoxied to a magnet:
Clips:
http://www.orangetreetrade.com/shop/2-wire-3/8%22/38heavy-duty-mounting-clips-screws-p-371.html
Magnets are 1/2" x 1/8" x 1/4" Ring where the hole is 1/8" and I got mine off ebay from magnet4us (you might need to special order them but mine were 20pcs for $10 plus $7.50sh):
The screws are just there so the epoxy has something to grab onto.
The magnetic clips grab the C6 LED lights nicely and are strong enough to mount in many, but not all, areas of the ceiling and any other ferrous materials:
I also used a 12V dimmer:
Kick KR6 dimmer these guys:
http://www.kicklighting.com/PWM-dimmer-switch-for-LED.htm
Mounted in the ashtray space:
I have about three strings which use between 6-362ma (4.34W max) from most dim to fully on.
I like that this system does not screw into the van itself and that they are not only movable but I can add on another string or two outside by just plugging them in. Hope that gives others some ideas. _________________ '87 Syncro Westfakia, 1.9TD ADE (AAZish), 068 Injection Pump, K03 turbo, 2.5" exhaust, Mercedes nozzles, SAAB Blackstone charge-cooler w/ 800cfm fan, Micro-1000 EGT sensor pre-turbo, boost at about 13psi, 235/70/16 with stock gearing |
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snowesty Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2005 Posts: 189 Location: Nelson, BC
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Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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I just purchased (literally 20 min. ago) 60 cool white led's, set up as a stand alone solar unit. Can be used anywhere, and moved around easily. $25 from home hardware no less! Should be just the thing, I'm going to set it all up with magnetic mounts, so it can go all over the interior, or stuck to the outside of the van as well.....
and no, I did'n steal the magnet idea from the previous post. I have EVERYTHING on magnets! Nothing you can't do with hot glue and magnets...
pics to come.... _________________ Fritz - '86 Syncro Tintop, Camper interior
Toaster - '91 Multivan Westy, 4sp. |
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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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I had an 84 Westy Wolfsburg but I didn't have a 2nd 12V outlet. Interesting. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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Orbitald Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2004 Posts: 320 Location: Oakland, CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think these light clips are UV rated as they have all broken in less than a month. I'm looking for nylon replacements.
_________________ '87 Syncro Westfakia, 1.9TD ADE (AAZish), 068 Injection Pump, K03 turbo, 2.5" exhaust, Mercedes nozzles, SAAB Blackstone charge-cooler w/ 800cfm fan, Micro-1000 EGT sensor pre-turbo, boost at about 13psi, 235/70/16 with stock gearing |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 4002 Location: Maine
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populuxe59 Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2007 Posts: 87 Location: Green Bay
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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What would happen if you plug the household LED string lights directly into a 12 volt socket? Or regular incandescents? I have a few strings but my wife won't like it if I clip the AC plug off for experimentation. |
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kenmag Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2007 Posts: 275 Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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You probably need the 12V inverted to 120V for the household lights to work. _________________ 87GL Westy/suby ej22
87GL tintop/suby ej22
05 Golf TDI
95 jetta GLX |
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populuxe59 Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2007 Posts: 87 Location: Green Bay
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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I just tried a 12 volt jumper pack with some test leads. It won't light a normal 50 light set at all, and an 8-light tiki set just barely glows(both incandescent). I forgot about the shunts in the bulbs as well if that matters.
I won't even dream of going into the garage attic and looking for a string of LED's. I think they would have resistors wired in. I'd like to take a look but they are stored away. 12 vDC should be plenty to get a string of them going. |
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VanWilder Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009 Posts: 1349 Location: PDX-Weird Town, USA
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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Party what?
Ikea $19.99
_________________ VW
________________________
"83.5" Vanagon GL Air cooled "VanWilder"
VanWilder has given back to me more then I could ever put into it September 22, 2010
Malama Ka `Aina—"Respect the Land" |
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