LED Dome Light [Text View] - VehiCROSS.info Forums

MSHardeman

10/19/2009, 10:44 AM

Well, after almost ten years (I'm guessing) my dome light finally decided to give up the ghost. With tinted windows, and living out in the middle of nowhere, it's VERY dark inside the VX at night so I needed a replacement. I was wandering through a, not so local, AutoZone and came across this:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/LED_Dome_Light_09_03.JPG
Sorry, this is the package after the install, but the light is a flat waffer with 12 LED's on it. The kit comes with adapters to fit any dome light; you chose the one that fits your car, plug the waffer into the adapter then install the adapter in your dome light. The waffer has some double sided tape on it to stick it to the dome light housing. Luckily the waffer snuggled right into the dome light assembly on top of the adapter (I can take picture of this in case anyone is interested).

It's only been in for a couple of days so far, but I'm happy with it. It's a pure white light and isn't too bright, and as a matter of fact may be dimmer than a typical filament bulb. After you close the door the light does one step down in brightness before going off, but doesn't fade out like a typical bulb does.

These picture don't really do it justice.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/LED_Dome_Light_09_02.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/LED_Dome_Light_09_01.JPG

I'm eventually looking to go all LED so this is the first step. It's a decent, inexpensive and super easy "mod".

lasturbo

10/19/2009, 11:06 AM

Nice! How much was the "kit" ??

MSHardeman

10/19/2009, 11:10 AM

I think it was $16-$17. The hardest part of the install was getting the dome light lens off.

tom4bren

10/19/2009, 11:18 AM

I think it was $16-$17. The hardest part of the install was getting the dome light lens off.

At that price, Handee will have it installed by Crhristmas. Of course, it'll be mounted on the roof and pointed at the sky.:)

I may have to look into this. My dome light hasn't worked since I got the VX. Thanks for the tip.

handeeman

10/19/2009, 11:37 AM

At that price, Handee will have it installed by Crhristmas. Of course, it'll be mounted on the roof and pointed at the sky.:)

Darn there went my next photo mod idea.
Oh well, a dome light to me is more like a miners hat.
Not to TJ, but one the advantages to my rear cargo light mod is i can set everything behind the VX open the rear door and see everything (put everything in by Braile). Get to where your going open the R Door and see where ya can set it down. I did my installation with velcro so I could velcro it to the old dome light or put velcro on my hat. I can't wait till Christmas.

Triathlete

10/19/2009, 02:38 PM

I spot a Kestrel hanging on the wall! Nice:cool!:

And nice light mod also!

MSHardeman

10/19/2009, 03:36 PM

DANG, eagle eye....yes that is my full carbon Kestrel Talon. Got it a couple of years ago as a training bike to get my legs in shape for mountain biking, and now I ride IT more than my mountain bike. I love that thing.

Hmmm...can you thread jack your own thread? I think I just did....

Thanks for the comment on the light Billy.

vt_maverick

01/20/2011, 06:25 PM

Resurrecting another old thread to post a bit of advice... I just finished installing a nearly identical (in both shape and cost) 12 LED dome light array in my VX. Hard to say whether it's technically brighter than the standard bulb, but the light is clear and crisp and you don't have to worry about the power draw and heat that you do from standard incandescent bulbs.

Now to the advice... although you can buy these kits on eBay and elsewhere with 4, 6, 9, 12, or 15 LEDs, the MAXIMUM size that will fit in our dome light housing is the 12 LED wafer. It's possible that there might be identically sized wafers out there with a higher number of smaller LEDs, but in general 12 is probably the limit.

etlsport

01/20/2011, 06:37 PM

With some cutting I managed to get a 36 led array from autolumination to fit in my dome light ;Db;

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/night_light_009.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9906)
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/dome_003.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9904)

vt_maverick

01/20/2011, 07:58 PM

With some cutting I managed to get a 36 led array from autolumination to fit in my dome light ;Db;

That's some cutting alright! :eek: Nice though! :thumbup:

vt_maverick

01/20/2011, 08:00 PM

So that's 3x brighter than the one I just installed? Must be like looking at the surface of the sun - I'd be afraid that my daughter would fry her retinas when I open the door. :p

VX KAT

01/20/2011, 10:23 PM

I got a 31mm Super White festoon bulb from autoluminations (31mm) with 6 Super High Flux LEDs for my dome. I swear, it's so freakin' bright :freek:....I can't imagine any more LEDs!
http://autolumination.com/festoon.htm, second product down.

etlsport

01/21/2011, 04:26 AM

Its super bright.. If it was white light I'm sure it would be too much, but since its blue I wanted it as bright as possible. I also have two more map lights that are mounted in an overhead console forward of the dome light.. I have 25 white led arrays in each if those for if I need to read or something

vt_maverick

01/21/2011, 05:54 AM

Slight thread jack... have you guys replaced your map/reading lights in the mirror yet? If so, what would you recommend? Looks a bit weird when you have the light from an LED dome mixing with incandescent light from below the rearview mirror.

BeeVenom

01/23/2011, 06:55 PM

Take a look at this place:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2F1157.htma

vt_maverick

01/24/2011, 09:10 AM

Can you point me to the map light bulbs on that site? These LED websites look like they were designed by time travelers from the mid-90s...

Daly

01/25/2011, 01:49 PM

Kat,
You mean this one
36mm = 1-3/8" Long 1-3/8" LONG (36MM) X 1" (24MM) WIDE
Also, any other bulbs that you have gotten from the? Like the ones in the front clear driving lights or the yellow toad lights in the headlights?
figure if I am going to order might as well get them all.Thanks

JAMAS

01/25/2011, 01:54 PM

These LED websites look like they were designed by time travelers from the mid-90s...

Ha!

nfpgasmask

01/25/2011, 02:42 PM

I've had an LED in my dome light for years now, love it!

Bart

VX KAT

01/25/2011, 04:47 PM