RED LED cockpit lighting for night time

[trail-explorer]

I found a really neat and compact red LED light to install as a cockpit light, I used red since I want something that won't wreck my night vision when out in the middle of no where in the dark - something I could use while driving.

Here's the story of installing it in the speaker pods of a TJ. I used one light in each speaker pod, along the front, near the stock dome light.

It's a 3/4" round grommet mount "button light".


I pulled the speaker pod out of the Jeep to work on them, then removed the dome light. I have the red lights powered through a separate switch on the dash.


The light: http://www.ledtrailerlights.com/cm/cm_M09300.htm

They make them in white LED too.

Drilled a 3/4" hole and fished in the wire through the speaker wire grommet:

I pulled the grommet off and stuffed it in the hole:

Then I installed the light in the grommet:

Done:

 

[njjeepthing]

Very cool mod, I can see a couple of these going in the footwells as well to give some light there since there is not under the dash light anymore on the JK's.

 

[trail-explorer]

Very cool mod, I can see a couple of these going in the footwells as well to give some light there since there is not under the dash light anymore on the JK's.

hmmm.... very good idea!

Amber or white would work good there.

 

[99wj]

i replaced all my interior bulbs with red ones, it's the bomb!

 

[4xdog]

I like it! Clean installation, solid technical basis for the mod, and useful function. Good job.

Where did you put the switch?

Don

 

[Driver-Navigator]

Nice mod, looks clean and functional!

I added a Hella maplight to the soundbar in my TJ. It has the red cover on it, but that can be snapped off for white light. It can also be positioned in different ways, for example to shine towards my kid in the back seat and away from the driver. or over the passenger for map checks in the dark.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Cyan is actually the better wavelength for night vision.... from what I've learned anyways....

I tried going red with all my bulbs one time and it actually caused eye fatigue, especially trying to read maps and such...

 

[Vermonster]

CPF Thread with very good information:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18915

Executive summary: dim red light (~650nm) is best for preservation of night adapted vision.

VT

 

[98roamer]

I put red brake light tape over the inside part of the covers of my map lights in the 4runner. They seem to point right in my eyes, now its much better and for just a few $.

 

[Hilldweller]

http://www.lightingresearch.org/programs/transportation/pdf/SAE/2001-01-0320.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_scattering

 

[4x4mike]

Like the orignal poster I added red leds instead of making the current ones red. My wife doesn't care for the red and wants the white for reading and knitting while we drive (she takes that stuff everywhere). I think the white is useful as well and I had the room to add instead of replace. I used a red Cree led and run it at 350ma using a current regulating driver. It's nice and handy but so are my super bright cree domelights.

A little bright to have on while driving.

 

[IXNAYXJ]

I ran a 24 hour off-road endurance event a few years ago and added red LED maplights for my navigator, made a HUGE difference maintaining my night vision while driving on unimproved roads at high speed. Great mod, in competition or not.

-----Matt-----

 

[trail-explorer]

Cyan is actually the better wavelength for night vision.....

I've heard of Cyan colored toner and ink (for printers), but I've never heard of a cyan colored lamp,