Flexible LED lights for interior van lighting

[Steve M.]

I came across this nice table lamp on amazon for 25 bucks.
Operates off 3 AAA, a usb plug or plug into 120vac.

It worked very well for sitting in the bed seat and reading a book last week!
Good light output and dimmable plus you can run it from a usb charge port if you have them installed.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GM477G8?psc=1&...ge_o01_s00

[WestleyTheWesty]

This is the rigid LED light bar I installed from superbrightleds.com. I chose the warm white color with a frosted lens so the light is very even and well diffused. Really happy with this bar plus a touch dimmer I mounted right behind the driver's headrest, so it's easy to turn on at night from the front seat.

Photos are in daylight, at night at full brightness and at night at lowest brightness.

Oh, and I've had a few requests regarding what light bar and dimmer I bought.

This is the light bar I got, in warm white with a frosted lens:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/aluminum-...1683/3964/

And this is the dimmer I got, which I wired directly into the existing kitchen light wiring:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/single-co...1867/4380/


-Darin

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1990 Westy, started stock, not anymore!

[jokeraus]

Here's my setup. Flexible strips from amazon installed into diffusers over the bench, stove, and hatch

100% brightness at night.

close up
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88 Vanagon | Build Thread

[WestleyTheWesty]

[WestleyTheWesty]

Footwell LED strip lights installed with 3M tape. These are wired to the door switch ground so they come on when either door is opened. I haven't checked yet but I'm hoping these will be at the right angle to illuminate the ground so they act as puddle lights, too!

I know this has been done before but I figured I'd share my setup.

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1990 Westy, started stock, not anymore!

[ThankYouJerry]

[WestiT3_1986]

I just read through this whole thread, great work guys.

Has anyone of you ever experienced problems because of the different feeding voltages for the LEDs - car running quite a bit over 12V, with the car in standstill maybe some under 12V...?

Or are you using DC-DC converters to feed the LEDs?

Thanks, Greets

[WestleyTheWesty]

[kourt]

WestleyTheWesty and joekraus, can you give us some links for the products you bought? That might help some of us with our LED light kits. Thanks!

kourt

[WestleyTheWesty]

[MidwestDrifter]

[kourt]

Howdy all,

I used the well-known 18.5" LED light offered by SuperBrightLEDs for my interior lighting project. See post:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8029913#8029913

kourt

[ragnarhairybreeks]

I upgraded from the iPod mini type dimmer controls to flush mounted, and illuminated, controls.

Installed in rear most vent above sliding door. Maybe not a good location for everyone but works so far for me.

A little more info here

https://shufti.wordpress.com/

Alistair
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'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com

[moon_patrol]

Great thread here! I bought a strip of LED lights to install under the front side of the back bench to light up the floor. Does anyone know the best 12v power supply to tap into in the back part of the Van? Thanks!

[IdahoDoug]

So, I ran across these clever little LED lights at World Market today. They swivel any direction you want and have a strong magnet. Designed for high temps to be used on a BBQ, they are pretty rugged. I was thinking of sticking one back under the engine hatch where it would be always close at hand, and the other as a reading light somewhere in the van:


http://www.worldmarket.com/product/mini+magnetic+grill+lights%2C+2-pack.do?&from=Search
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[shadetreetim]

In my never ending quest to create better storage spots in a tintop, I got a little Westy jealous and coveted a spice rack. That led to mounting these vinyl gutters in the upper corners, which blocked the light from the stock locations. I finally installed the solution, LED strip lighting on the underside, wired from and switched by the stock light housings. It does put the switch in an inconvenient location, but it's okay for now. An incredible amount of light though, without being in your face.

Really like the underdash and puddle lighting ideas. Need to get out on the driveway and make something happen about that.
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Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[lrumanes]

I want to install a light over my kitchen under the spice rack. Does anyone know why several of the light bars from superbrightleds.com such as

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/aluminum-...ount/1683/

say they aren't suitable for vehicles? Are they just too hot, and would using strip lights and a housing make a difference? And has anyone had problem using non-weatherproof over boiling water?

Thanks,


Louis

[70coupyel]

It's because those lights are made to run on 12 volts only. Your charging system on your van puts out more than 12 volts. The light you listed is designed to use a plug in wall wart. This is a transformer that plugs into a 110volt wall socket.
Some folks have used these in vans and there have no problems. Others have had them burn out. Your choice if you want to take that risk.
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[kamzcab86]

[ThankYouJerry]