swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Topic: swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light (Read 910 times) previous topic - next topic

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

April 21, 2008, 05:42:20 PM

For something a little brighter and unique::hick:

took forever to rig up the wiring to get the factory switch to work with it. I pretty much had to make a socket to plug into where the bulb goes, to make it work like it is suppose to.

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #1 – April 21, 2008, 06:31:03 PM

sswwwweeeet. Looks great. I might just try that myself... but with red to match my car.

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #2 – April 21, 2008, 07:31:52 PM

on mine I just hack apart the factory bulb socket. The base that the bulb goes into is a mercury switch. I hacked out the mercury switch and used it as the switch for the light. Looks good

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #3 – April 21, 2008, 08:57:48 PM

I would have done that, but I dont want to hack anything on this car... as you can see I didn't drill into the trunk lid to mount the light. It is secured with heavy grade wire ties, that way it isn't permenant. though I may make it that way if I really like it...

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #4 – April 21, 2008, 09:01:45 PM

That's really cool looking

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #5 – April 21, 2008, 09:32:55 PM

thanks... the pics dont do it justice... it lights up my backyard at night... they are really bright.

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #6 – April 21, 2008, 09:41:41 PM

I was going to ask if it was really bright.
but I figured a bulb that long has to be.

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #7 – April 21, 2008, 09:43:52 PM

How much current can that circuit handle?

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #8 – April 21, 2008, 09:50:20 PM

I assume that is a kit made for cars but if not, put a 12v regulator on the power wire so you don't fry the inverter when opening the trunk while the car is running. I have a couple white 12" CCFL's tied to the torsion bars in the trunk that gets its power from a pinswitch which is also there for the alarm (magnetic switch died when powering a relay - I don't recommend them). It all works great and gives me plenty of light in the trunk, whether I'm laying it in or only putting items in there.

I didn't want tubes hanging out of the trunk for the very reason above - floods the area with light, possibly blinding motorists . I may do LED bars on the lid at some point. Dual 12" CCFL's can be had for $4-5 shipped often enough - its hard to go wrong (as long as you don't fry an inverter as I had 2 times). 12v regulator is like $2 from radioshack.

Now if only I could find a use for all the red 6" CCFL's I have sitting around also - they were too cheap to pass up.

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #9 – April 21, 2008, 09:57:52 PM

Quote from: bhazard;215133

How much current can that circuit handle?

Supposedly these things draw less than 100mA (specs typically show 5mA?) but I believe they are actually in the 300-500mA area depending on size and inverter. Either way, the circuit can handle quite a bit of power - I'd assume somewhere around 2-3amps before wire size may be an issue.

swapped out the dull, dim, trunk lid light

Reply #10 – April 22, 2008, 03:25:14 AM

Looks nice kinda of reminds me of my old set-up except a lot a lot brighter.