Date: Sun, 8 Jul 2007 20:34:12 -0500
Reply-To: Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Additional tail lighting
In-Reply-To: <20070707040856.PGZO17610.fed1rmmtai108.cox.net@fed1rmimpi04.cox.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
> From: Edward Maglott <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US>
> Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 22:21:58 -0400
>
> I noticed this light on sale the other day at harbor freight tools
> for $12.99:
> http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=93263
>
> My idea would be to put two of these in the back window at the upper
> corners, glued to the inside of the glass. They would be out of view
> from inside, since they would be up in the area of the AC cabinet.
That would probably work. The main thing is to not have any light leaks
around the fixture that would reflect off the glass and glare at you;
gluing the grommet to the glass would probably do that. (Look at the
little black plastic "shade" around the third brake light on any sedan
or coupe with the third brake light on the rear parcel shelf.) Glare
can be a problem even if the lamps are up behind the A/C cabinet; you
might park outside at night and have an accomplice in the back of the
Westy hold a small flashlight to the glass from the inside. If the
flashlight is flat against the glass, you can see just fine, but if not,
even a small light leak will create a lot of glare.
> I already have the electrical converter for trailer lights that makes
> the 2 bulb light system work with the 3 bulb system of the Vanagon.
Another option would be to just wire the "brake" filament of the new LED
lamps to the brake lights on the Vanagon. You wouldn't get any turn
signal action on the new lamps but it would be better than lamps down
low that are blocked by cargo.
Leave a generous loop in the wires where they crosses from the hatch to
the body, as this stretch of wiring will get flexed a lot. Use only
automotive-type stranded wire; building-type stranded wire ("THHN" or
similar) is not finely stranded enough for this.
> I went and looked at it in the store, and they are bigger than I
> thought they would be. 4 inches.
Big trucks only use a handful of standard fixture styles. They don't
really care about styling; they do care that the lamps are bright,
visible, inexpensive, and easy to replace. The common 4" round
incandescent truck fixture has the lamp sealed inside the reflector,
with a connector on the back of the reflector - when the lamp burns
out, you replace the whole assembly.
One good place to see and fondle each of the various kinds of big-truck
lights is at a truck stop. The LED ones might be all sealed up but the
incandescent ones that are the same size and shape will be lying in big
bins that you can rummage through. You can't see them lit up in the
store, but you can if you go out in the parking lot. This isn't the
cheapest place to _buy_ the lights, but it's a good place to see the
various kinds.
As has been mentioned, upgrading the lamps in the stock Vanagon tail
lights is another option. In your particular case (cargo in front of
lights) it might not help as much, but it's a relatively cheap and
simple upgrade. There is a little information here
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0704a&L=vanagon&F=&S=&P=23730
and if there is interest I can work on a more extensive chart, comparing
what's stock for a Vanagon vs. the lamps you can actually buy in the US.
One quick note: if a PO has replaced any of the stock lamps with the
common 1156 or 1157 lamps, changing those out for 2356 or 2357 lamps
(respectively) will gain you 25% on the bright filament and be closer in
general to the stock parts.
Matt Roberds