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kerian159 Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2008 Posts: 344 Location: Pensacola, FL
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 7:21 am Post subject: LED interior light |
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How many people have taken the fluorescent light out and changed it over to LED's? _________________ 1976 Type II Westy P22
"Growing older, but not up!" |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51120 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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avoll Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2014 Posts: 119 Location: Ottumwa
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 8:23 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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I've done it, it makes a substantial difference. Takes a few seconds to light up fully but, is definitely much brighter. |
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kerian159 Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2008 Posts: 344 Location: Pensacola, FL
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 8:34 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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For some stupid reason I always forget about the Search function... thanks _________________ 1976 Type II Westy P22
"Growing older, but not up!" |
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DougB Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2007 Posts: 1076 Location: Falls Church, Virginia, USA
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2016 8:45 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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I totally did, using a parts light I had and utilizing warm white LEDs in a strip: works very well though I wish I had used a 3 position switch and the needed circuit to have a Low/High ability.
- Doug _________________ '75 Campmobile (tin-top to SpaceRoof)
'73 Fastback
'52 BMW R67/2
'41 Zundapp KS600
'55 Puch SGS250
A very, very understanding wife |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12721 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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I have joined the 21st century!
No, I didn't add a damn Pertonix module…… Pry my Echlin points out of my cold, dead hands.
This week, I installed a "reading light" under my early bay hatch spring cover with an LED strip.
The switch is a big 20A johnson on the right side of the headbanger. That way, I can flail my drunk arms at it in the middle of the night to have light, or not. It is fused with a 2A fuse in the engine compartment, and uses all existing Westfalia holes in the metal for the wiring. (Max draw on the light is 0.8A. The thing might be too bright.)
Next up is the cargo area light. After living in the bus for six months, I can attest that the stock dome light is "just enough" for using the bus as a cargo vehicle, and "not quite enough" for cooking, cleaning, rebuilding distributors, or restringing a guitar on Mt. Shasta at midnight.
Enter the "LiteGear" product catalog. Luckily I have a hookup in the industry, so retail prices don't apply. My fascination with these lights started with my engine compartment lights three years ago:
(1A draw)
Then I stuck some under the dashboard, which proved to be Game Winners a few times in the midwest when I needed to find some stuff at night.
(.2A draw)
My attachment to the LiteGear brand is 99% due to their "color correct-ness" in rendering true tungsten color without adding additional green.
See the spectral graph of the LiteGear LED strips here?
Here is a spectral graph of some cheaper LED units, sent to me from Vintage Car LEDs:
The lack of green keeps me from getting seasick, and it keeps the interior of the car on a perfect 3200k color palate as the H4 headlights and stock dome light bulb. If you need a cheaper option, eBay sellers will peddle standard strips (with the green tint) for about $5 (shipped) for five meters of the stuff. From there, it's just about finding an appropriate housing and soldering up some fixtures.
I wired the special dimmer* to the lower half of the cargo light fixture, and wired the interior dome light switch to the upper half of the LED fixture. Here is the dimmer, which comes with a built-in magnet for affixing it to the car.
I left about six inches of cable tucked into the door panel so I can pull the dimmer off to let people play with it…
Here is the main light, with ONE HALF of the LED strips, set to 50% total output. (This is 25% of the TOTAL light output for the fixture.)
(3A draw, assuming both switches at 100%)
So I could crank the dimmer to 100% and THEN add twice as much light by pulling the dome light switch. But in reality, the dome light switch is only used when I'm in the driver seat digging around for some stuff, so bright output is fine. The dimmer, being accessible from bed, my dining chair/toolbox, OR from outside the bus, will see much more action.
*The dimmer I used, because I had one on hand, is a "flame" programmable dimmer to give a flickering candlelight effect if desired. Press the button to turn the lights on or off, or hold the button down for a few seconds to automatically dim the lights to 10% and induce a slight flickering to REALLY set the mood. Enjoy responsibly.
See you on the road, now from a mile away at midnight,
Robbie _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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Stuartzickefoose Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 10350 Location: SoCal for now...
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 6:11 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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I remember when I thought I needed a ton of light options to see my tiny penis better too Robbie! _________________ Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
[email protected] |
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KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 7:42 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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Now I remember where I got the idea for LED engine lighting...
...but mine didn't involve graphs and dimmers. I had some waterproof LED tape light strip leftover from a remodel, and a fixed it inside the engine compartment. Currently, it's running straight off the battery with alligator clips, but just bought the switch, fuse and wiring to do it right.
Thanks once more, Robbie, for the inspiration. It makes working inside there much more manageable. _________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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Stuartzickefoose Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 10350 Location: SoCal for now...
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 8:56 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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Hang on that bus looks familiar...my engine hatch has the same rust spot on it...
_________________ Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
[email protected] |
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KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 9:06 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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Stuartzickefoose wrote: |
Hang on that bus looks familiar...my engine hatch has the same rust spot on it... |
Rust??? "Patina", if you don't mind.
Chloe has a bit of it here and there. I'm wanting to learn how to weld to replace the few places that need it. Too bad the local community college doesn't offer welding classes. So I'm learning via internet...and figuring out what set-up to get. Lincoln MIG sounds like the best for DIYers. Any thoughts?
Edit: Oops... Didn't mean to hijack. Ignore the question... _________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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chabanais Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2002 Posts: 4866
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 10:22 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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I installed green LED lights in my gauges and under the dash and white ones in the overhead light. _________________ "I spud therefore I yam." |
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telford dorr Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2009 Posts: 3551 Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 11:05 am Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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Way cool! Remind me to take a look at that setup next time you're over at Gary's. Where did you source the center brake light? My brake/turn light controller has an output for one, but I never installed the light unit... _________________ '71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST) |
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airschooled Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012 Posts: 12721 Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2017 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: LED interior light |
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telford dorr wrote: |
Way cool! Remind me to take a look at that setup next time you're over at Gary's. Where did you source the center brake light? My brake/turn light controller has an output for one, but I never installed the light unit... |
Thanks! Hopefully I'll figure out my last wiring placement dilemma before then.
I bought the GoWesty Vanagon kit; it was the easiest unit to find that angles correctly on our vertical rear windows. Excellent and immediate results on the road! It's not the best quality, but I'll gladly buy one every five years if I have to. GoBigEmma has a Hella brand light, I'll see where they got theirs.
Robbie _________________ Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com |
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