Date:         Sat, 18 Dec 2010 11:45:15 -0800
Reply-To:     Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Al Knoll <anasasi@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: tail lights
Comments: To: Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com>
In-Reply-To:  <20101218155711.D5A14A0063@locke.alientech.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Happy Easter y'all.

Seems the rear lighting problem is twofold.   First being noticed by other
drivers.  Second not melting the plastic housing of the existing lamp
assembly.  And for those in foggy bottom, rear fog lighting (red).

To be noticed by other drivers,  it seems we must have brighter lights (more
lumens) for the brake and turn lights.  The taillights could use a little
improvement too, but not so much as to garner the big hairy eyeball from the
county mounty.

Leds may be the answer.  They have sufficient output, don't melt the
plastic, and are direct plug in replacements with one caveat, if your
automatic pilot relies on sensing brake circuit current to disengage, you
need a different solution as the leds dont usually draw enough to turn off
the autopilot.  A small parallel resistor can do the job.

Rear fogs are a worthy addition.  They come on with the first stage foglight
switch contact.  If you have already decided that the paltry backup lights
are FUBAR and intend to install some aftermarket backup lights (recommended)
you have the option of using the now vacant backup light sockets for red
leds wired to the fog and frog switch.  These are pretty much ideal for the
rear fogs as the lens charateristics provide a wide beam angle.

Non US versions of the rear light assemblies may have a fog lens in place of
the 'red reflector'  Here again, ideal and require only a white light
source.

Foggy driving is deadly stuff.  Look up Steve McKinney, skier, to see how
bad things can happen.

Pensionerd.

On Sat, Dec 18, 2010 at 7:57 AM, Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:

> There is considerable information on Vanagon lighting in the wiki:
>
> http://www.vanagonwiki.net/wiki/94,_Exterior_Lights
>