CactusJackSlade
Observer
EDIT: If you scroll down, I have modified my second light and it is even better than this first one ;-)
I've been converting everything I can light wise to LED to cut down on battery usage... since I use my lights a fair amount they were on my hit list...
My van, Ford E-350 Quigley with mild conversion - less pop top.
Two of my overhead light are the 15" Thin-Lite fluorescent lights Thin-Lite 700 series
Very easy conversion and as a bonus I installed a 3 position/two way switch so I could have both white and red LED's.
The process:
-Drill out all rivets except the ones on the end cap opposite end of the switch.
-Remove all brackets, ballast and wiring.
-Solder up your LED strips (this was the most tedious and time consuming part)
-I did one white strip and one red for (for night vision preservation)
-Stick them onto the reflector base (mine had double stick tape and I also "spot welded" them on with a hot glue gun)
-Remove the two position switch and install three position switch.
-Wire it up, install end cap with the switch in it (I used screws so I can pull apart again without drilling).
-Install back on your vehicle
Materials/tools:
-Exacto razor knife
-Hot glue gun
-solder/soldering gun
-16 gauge wire - red and black
- heat shrink tubing (3/8" dia)
- LED light strips
- 3 position switch
- 2 screws to replace the rivets on end cap
- Various crimp on connectors and crimping tool
The above about $10 in parts, if that.
The only thing I will change when I do the front light is to add a second row of white lights. The florescents were too bright IMO but only one strip of white lights is "OK" for the bedding area but for the kitchen area I will have two rows of white LED's.
This is one of the easiest, cleanest LED conversions I've done
Lights Out!
CJS
I've been converting everything I can light wise to LED to cut down on battery usage... since I use my lights a fair amount they were on my hit list...
My van, Ford E-350 Quigley with mild conversion - less pop top.
Two of my overhead light are the 15" Thin-Lite fluorescent lights Thin-Lite 700 series
Very easy conversion and as a bonus I installed a 3 position/two way switch so I could have both white and red LED's.
The process:
-Drill out all rivets except the ones on the end cap opposite end of the switch.
-Remove all brackets, ballast and wiring.
-Solder up your LED strips (this was the most tedious and time consuming part)
-I did one white strip and one red for (for night vision preservation)
-Stick them onto the reflector base (mine had double stick tape and I also "spot welded" them on with a hot glue gun)
-Remove the two position switch and install three position switch.
-Wire it up, install end cap with the switch in it (I used screws so I can pull apart again without drilling).
-Install back on your vehicle
Materials/tools:
-Exacto razor knife
-Hot glue gun
-solder/soldering gun
-16 gauge wire - red and black
- heat shrink tubing (3/8" dia)
- LED light strips
- 3 position switch
- 2 screws to replace the rivets on end cap
- Various crimp on connectors and crimping tool
The above about $10 in parts, if that.
The only thing I will change when I do the front light is to add a second row of white lights. The florescents were too bright IMO but only one strip of white lights is "OK" for the bedding area but for the kitchen area I will have two rows of white LED's.
This is one of the easiest, cleanest LED conversions I've done
Lights Out!
CJS
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