Interior lighting

[NOPEC]

I am planning on using some old school Track Lighting. It will be wired for 12 volts. I will have modified lights, fans, USB plugs, hooks, etc. so that they can be moved around as needed.

The track is thick enough so that I can run a string of remote programable LED strips on the edge. I like the WYZE LED strings.

I am also just about to start wiring the DC lights on my project using surface run wire enclosures with simple LED lamps.

A while ago, being an outdoor gear snob of sorts, I held my nose and bought a mid-quality LED USB rechargable headlamp, "Streamlight" brand. After a year and half, the thing has been nothing short of supurb. Super bright, robust and holds a charge for a considerable time. Sadly, my aging collection of old Petzl and Black Diamond double AA eaters has been banished to the bottom of a gear box, perhaps never to see the "light" again.

Being a new convert, I am going to use some version of a rechargble "camp light" or "auto overhead/trunk light", leaning to the latter for switch and charging port accessablity. The main complaints with these lights seem to be with the magnetic attachment system which is easily fixed with industrial velcro. My plan is to use two of these as reading lights in the cab over bed area. That way, I can limit my surface run wiring to the main part of the cab. If these things do half as well as my rechargable headlamp, I will be delighted. Of course, all available at the "A" store.....

 

[simple]

I am also just about to start wiring the DC lights on my project using surface run wire enclosures with simple LED lamps.

A while ago, being an outdoor gear snob of sorts, I held my nose and bought a mid-quality LED USB rechargable headlamp, "Streamlight" brand. After a year and half, the thing has been nothing short of supurb. Super bright, robust and holds a charge for a considerable time. Sadly, my aging collection of old Petzl and Black Diamond double AA eaters has been banished to the bottom of a gear box, perhaps never to see the "light" again.

Being a new convert, I am going to use some version of a rechargble "camp light" or "auto overhead/trunk light", leaning to the latter for switch and charging port accessablity. The main complaints with these lights seem to be with the magnetic attachment system which is easily fixed with industrial velcro. My plan is to use two of these as reading lights in the cab over bed area. That way, I can limit my surface run wiring to the main part of the cab. If these things do half as well as my rechargable headlamp, I will be delighted. Of course, all available at the "A" store.....

Not very low pro but we have really liked the Goal Zero crush lights. The silicone makes for a nice shade.

Crush Light

This collapsible solar powered lantern is a lightweight companion to any adventure with 60 lumens of usable light on high, and a 35 hour runtime on low. The Goal Zero Crush Light also features a soft, candle flicker mode for ambiance.

www.goalzero.com

 

[NOPEC]

Not very low pro but we have really liked the Goal Zero crush lights. The silicone makes for a nice shade.

Crush Light

This collapsible solar powered lantern is a lightweight companion to any adventure with 60 lumens of usable light on high, and a 35 hour runtime on low. The Goal Zero Crush Light also features a soft, candle flicker mode for ambiance.

www.goalzero.com

I really like Goal Zero products, we have one of their an indestructible folding solar panels. I looked hard at the light you mentioned as well as Fenix camp lights (the one that looks like a blue or orange snail...), confident that the quality was definely there with both brands. The layout of switches and charging ports of the ones I mentioned in my post work a little better for us. That being said, if those turn out to be carp, I definitely will up the game to either GZ or Fenix.

 

[llamalander]

I've installed Diode LED 12/24v. strips and fixtures in homes and stores for years.
The company moved to Reno a few years back, but still makes excellent products; reliable, consistent and well supported.

Illuminate Your Space - LED Lighting Solutions | Diode LED

Diode LED is the wholesale and manufacturing division of Elemental LED and is a premier wholesale supplier of LED lighting, providing a wide variety of linear, task, and accent lighting solutions for both residential and commercial applications. See our products and learn more at www.diodeLED.com.

www.diodeled.com

They also make a few different dimmer/control modules that are worth a look.

 

[Bigc3031]

I've installed Diode LED 12/24v. strips and fixtures in homes and stores for years.
The company moved to Reno a few years back, but still makes excellent products; reliable, consistent and well supported.

Illuminate Your Space - LED Lighting Solutions | Diode LED

Diode LED is the wholesale and manufacturing division of Elemental LED and is a premier wholesale supplier of LED lighting, providing a wide variety of linear, task, and accent lighting solutions for both residential and commercial applications. See our products and learn more at www.diodeLED.com.

www.diodeled.com

They also make a few different dimmer/control modules that are worth a look.

Those look really nice. I couldn’t find the details, do they make a power supply that would run off a battery in a truck bed via a cig adapter?

 

[llamalander]

My guess is that it can work on the range of voltages that a car would supply (11-14v), meaning wire directly to the cig. outlet, with a fuse probably. I may have a chance to check soon. There are fewer choices of dimmers for 12v than 120v, but they make a few and can suggest other compatible ones too. I'll post when I learn more-

 

[llamalander]

Tried out some Blaze 12v LED strips from Diode LED by plugging them straight onto my starter battery, they work fine with a resting or running voltage, no other power supply needed (fuse recommended, though).
These are rated at 286 lumens/foot (almost 100 lumens /watt), so a 4' strip is pretty bright.
I got some inexpensive PWM dimmers that can smoothly power them from off to 100%, so I'm happy to install them for overhead lighting in my camper.
Dimmers are 8-amp max, which 96-100 watts or about 33' of tape light, though Diode recommends limiting individual runs to about 16'