cheap, interior lighting mod
Jul. 21st, 2019 02:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eorWhen we were at the hardware store the other day ![[info]](https://www.dreamwidth.org:443/img/userinfo.gif)
derien wanted a puck light for the closet upstairs. They attach with velcro, but unlike many of the puck lights out there, you can change the batteries without pulling the base off the wall. Many of the other ones the screws to open the battery compartment are underneath the place to mount it. They are fairly small (2 3/4" dia) and have two settings neither of which is overwhelming, which is good in a small space. For reference Westek LPL592 MFG Link Available online
They come in a two pack and when we got home I started puzzling over if I could use the other one in the van.
I didn't want to stick velcro to any surface in the van. Not only is there then something that will eventually wear out glued to the van, but most of the glue backings can't stand the prolonged heat of the van, so the lights would probably develop a tendency to fall off.
In the previous van I rigged up little strips of metal (leftover OEM horn brackets), mounted them using existing screws/holes, and put velcro on the metal pieces so the mounts would be non-permanent. I then got cheap head lamps, cut the straps off, and stuck velcro to the back. That worked, but didn't look very nice and limited where we could put the lights to a few specific places.
I ended up using magnets. I ordered some magnets from K&J Magnetics. I got a couple different sizes because I didn't know what would work how. It turns out two of my sizes are useful for two different applications. In each case, a magnet is superglued to the back of the puck light.
The most powerful magnets (15/16" x 1/8" N42, nickel coated, model DF2) felt too strong for direct metal mounting. I could still get it off, but it required more force than desirable. But I discovered if I put one of the weaker magnets (1" x 1/16" N42, nickel coated, model DX01) inside the top rear closet, the stronger magnet would hold against the surface below, providing light for the rear cargo area from the hatch to the back seat. You can mount anywhere on that surface as long as the keeper magnet doesn't get too close to your speakers. Probably any of the smaller magnets would work as offset. The stronger magnet also works well along the lip of the headliner, above and behind the front seats of the van. There one centered light provides good ambient to the whole front area of the van.
The smaller magnets (13/16" x 1/16" N42, nickel coated, model DD1 and 15/16" x 1/16" N42, nickel coated, model DF1) work well on bare metal. I can use them on the front edge of the top bunk, on the pop top cross bar, and the pop top latch housing, and various other places. I was puzzling over lighting in the tall cloths closet compartment, a place you're always digging for something, when I discovered you can use the bolt head up toward the top inside, or either of the closet door hinges futher down. In order to minimize the impact on the painted surfaces, I superglued a piece of leftover cotton cloth to the magnet to provide a little padding so the two pieces of metal wouldn't click together.
Business side of light, on, dim, off in the middle, 50 lumens
With magnet attached
Comparison of two different magnet thicknesses/strengths, before the cloth was added to the smaller.
derien wanted a puck light for the closet upstairs. They attach with velcro, but unlike many of the puck lights out there, you can change the batteries without pulling the base off the wall. Many of the other ones the screws to open the battery compartment are underneath the place to mount it. They are fairly small (2 3/4" dia) and have two settings neither of which is overwhelming, which is good in a small space. For reference Westek LPL592 MFG Link Available onlineThey come in a two pack and when we got home I started puzzling over if I could use the other one in the van.
I didn't want to stick velcro to any surface in the van. Not only is there then something that will eventually wear out glued to the van, but most of the glue backings can't stand the prolonged heat of the van, so the lights would probably develop a tendency to fall off.
In the previous van I rigged up little strips of metal (leftover OEM horn brackets), mounted them using existing screws/holes, and put velcro on the metal pieces so the mounts would be non-permanent. I then got cheap head lamps, cut the straps off, and stuck velcro to the back. That worked, but didn't look very nice and limited where we could put the lights to a few specific places.
I ended up using magnets. I ordered some magnets from K&J Magnetics. I got a couple different sizes because I didn't know what would work how. It turns out two of my sizes are useful for two different applications. In each case, a magnet is superglued to the back of the puck light.
The most powerful magnets (15/16" x 1/8" N42, nickel coated, model DF2) felt too strong for direct metal mounting. I could still get it off, but it required more force than desirable. But I discovered if I put one of the weaker magnets (1" x 1/16" N42, nickel coated, model DX01) inside the top rear closet, the stronger magnet would hold against the surface below, providing light for the rear cargo area from the hatch to the back seat. You can mount anywhere on that surface as long as the keeper magnet doesn't get too close to your speakers. Probably any of the smaller magnets would work as offset. The stronger magnet also works well along the lip of the headliner, above and behind the front seats of the van. There one centered light provides good ambient to the whole front area of the van.
The smaller magnets (13/16" x 1/16" N42, nickel coated, model DD1 and 15/16" x 1/16" N42, nickel coated, model DF1) work well on bare metal. I can use them on the front edge of the top bunk, on the pop top cross bar, and the pop top latch housing, and various other places. I was puzzling over lighting in the tall cloths closet compartment, a place you're always digging for something, when I discovered you can use the bolt head up toward the top inside, or either of the closet door hinges futher down. In order to minimize the impact on the painted surfaces, I superglued a piece of leftover cotton cloth to the magnet to provide a little padding so the two pieces of metal wouldn't click together.
Business side of light, on, dim, off in the middle, 50 lumens
With magnet attached
Comparison of two different magnet thicknesses/strengths, before the cloth was added to the smaller.
