DIY: Trunk lighting for spare tire owners.
04-17-2006, 11:30 AM
#30
Nice DIY! I have a spare mounted and it does a great job of covering up the trunk lighting, so I plan on doing something like this myself and your DIY will save me a lot of time!
Shinka in MD
Shinka in MD
10-14-2007, 08:53 AM
#31
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Nice DIY.
What would be the best way to hook up something a bit more powerful in the trunk and still have it only come on when the trunk is open? I don't know too much of electrics, but I tried this mod with sort of a "neon" underside light and there clearly wasn't enough power. Could I just pull out the power from the positive of the battery and then get ground from the trunk open switch?
Help will be very much appreciated.
What would be the best way to hook up something a bit more powerful in the trunk and still have it only come on when the trunk is open? I don't know too much of electrics, but I tried this mod with sort of a "neon" underside light and there clearly wasn't enough power. Could I just pull out the power from the positive of the battery and then get ground from the trunk open switch?
Help will be very much appreciated.
10-14-2007, 11:26 AM
#32
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Actually solved this already. I just ripped everything out at the back from inside, starting from the rear seats and just took the power from the wires of the original trunk light. Worked like a charm.
10-15-2007, 01:32 PM
#33
Lubricious
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I admit the fixtures I used aren't super bright. And, one of them has burned out. LEDs have come a long way in the last couple of years; I'm sure there are better units available now. The nice thing about using LED for this application is that even if you accidentally leave the trunk popped, it will take a VERY long time to drain the battery.
12-26-2007, 04:27 PM
#34
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True, when it comes to power consumption and detailing, leds are always superior. When on the other hand you want "glow" and general lighting you are better off with neons and incad lights. My tube actually takes out something like 5 W, which still isn't something to be compared to LEDs, but it isn't too bad even if you forget your trunk open, or more realistically, display it somewhere. Hell, if I'd leave my trunk open at the parking lot of the local super market, I could count on having to kiss my nitrous good bye. Which reminds me... I probably should post some pictures with the red neon and Zex combination. Also I did boast to Charles about my button installation for the Nos to put his to shame, so I guess I should walk the walk as well... Heh. :D
12-26-2007, 05:14 PM
#36
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damn Nubo, nice work! (even if the thread is 3 years old now. 
)
)
06-22-2009, 01:21 AM
#37
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I grabbed a standard bedside LED light that is very flat - maybe one inch deep and rewired it with some resistors and a small bridge rectifier so that the polarity didn't matter.
Then I made up a small piece of copper coated printed circuit board and wired the light to that on a few feet of cable. Attached the 'fridge magnet' material to the back (supplied with the LED light) and plugged it in to the original lamp socket (after removing the lamp).
I can now stick it anywhere I like along the faily flat metal on the top inside egde of the boot (trunk for you yanks).
Works a treat and NO wiring mods or pulling any trim off.
Then I made up a small piece of copper coated printed circuit board and wired the light to that on a few feet of cable. Attached the 'fridge magnet' material to the back (supplied with the LED light) and plugged it in to the original lamp socket (after removing the lamp).
I can now stick it anywhere I like along the faily flat metal on the top inside egde of the boot (trunk for you yanks).
Works a treat and NO wiring mods or pulling any trim off.
08-14-2009, 09:52 PM
#38
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Why not just relocate the existing Light by extending the wires?, seems a lot of work for a simple light extension.
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