need4speed Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Does anyone have any cool ideas for lighting the interior of a defender? Pics would be a bonus. Ive been thinking about LED lighting. Im just mulling through ideas just now before i get to the stage of running cabling on my 110 build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I fitted LED strip light into mine made a great difference I did post it on here somewhere but can't find it will have to look again, when I connected them I realised that they would be very bright and actually have them as additional lights to the normal lights as not to kill my night vision when I didn't need the light. Great mod, really cheap and made a big difference. Jason. EDIT: Just after I posted I found the post.... Linky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharpy Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 hiya, I did the same as jason few months ago, with two half metre strips, it does light the back up but not enough, i think as with Jasons my headlining is black and that tends to kill some of the light? I think to be able to find something you will need at 2am in the pitch black its not enough? I think next Hong Kong order will be maybe 2 x 2 metre strips so it goes all the way round the rear roof line. The LED scene has come on no end, b4 anyone tells me its illegal, I know, but I am in the process of changing my exterior lighting to LED, we have already done it to a mates truck (which passed an MOT with all except front lights changed to LED)and he has daylight 24/7, the only thing different I am awaiting to drop on my doorstep is hopefully a replacement of a 68 LED bulb for the spot lights, if that fits then whohooooo, i will have the power of the sun in an 8 inch lamp. To add to this I drive a 60 plate Astra and I still think other road users have brighter lights, so much so that I am wary of overtaking, it may be my eyesight but I have always had this? I find it very annoying that the imports can sport these LED lamps as standard and dont really get to see what its like from behind when you have a BMW or Audi up your trumpet with no where to go. Sharpy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need4speed Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 Checked out your original thread jason. Looks good but i dont suppose you have any pics / details of your final install? Thanks Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruuman Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I've been using these for about 2 years now http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Flexible-Strip-White-96cm-PVC-96-LED-NEON-LIGHT-12V-/350438810428?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5197c7e33c#ht_1766wt_1140 very cheap, very effective, some come with self adhesive tape. I have a strip along the top of the windscreen and one along the top of the centre softtop rail (tasteless blue). Tons of light. Also a 24cm strip fits perfectly into the small recess in the passenger side dash. Just be warned the connection wires are very thin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickydutch Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I installed some clear led ropelight from mr resistor website I think. 12v specific and just had it around the perimieter of the back of the hard top. As others have said, plenty bright enough and draw next to no current from the battery when youve got the engine turned off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobson Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I used some self adhesive white LED strip from maplins, did two 50cm sections in the back and one about 30cm in the front, they use sod all power too so can be left on for long periods without killing your battery, i think with all mine on it uses about 3w! they're lovely and bright and were fantastic last time we went travelling. I'll take some pics later and post them if you like? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need4speed Posted March 3, 2011 Author Share Posted March 3, 2011 I used some self adhesive white LED strip from maplins, did two 50cm sections in the back and one about 30cm in the front, they use sod all power too so can be left on for long periods without killing your battery, i think with all mine on it uses about 3w! they're lovely and bright and were fantastic last time we went travelling. I'll take some pics later and post them if you like? Yea that would be great thanks. More pics and ideas the better. Keep em coming. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I used cheapo 12v LED worklights & quick-fists, left the leads long & bundled up in the roof gutter you can unclip them and wave them about if needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michele Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I fitted a couple of swivel pods with LEDs to the doors, as I never refitted the courtesy light to the truck cab. Also a map light on the dash but it only works when the ignition is "ON". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brighouse shed Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 perhaps someone can sort me out when the last owner welded in a new door pillar they welded the courtesy light switch into a blob then plated the hole.. my current interior light is US and i have a couple of stick on battery led lights instead now looking to get permanent lights again so can i take live cable and earth from existing unit to new lights? and if so which is the permanent earth thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hobson Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Here's what i installed, the rear has two 50cm lengths, and the front is about 30cm, the front is on a seperate switch from the rear and both are on a seperate circuit than the door opening latches so that we can have them on when we like. they're plenty bright enough and use very little power. we don't have a headlining so they're stuck to the central roof spine and the wire run through that. apologies for the messiness, we had our three german shepherds in earlier... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need4speed Posted March 3, 2011 Author Share Posted March 3, 2011 Thanks for the pic. They look plenty bright enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Cleland Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Going off in a slightly different direction from bright lights for when you're stopped, if you do lots of driving in the dark a pair of small (say 3mm or 5mm) standard (not hyperbright or ultrabright) orange LEDs up in the roof over the driver/front passenger give a surprisingly useful amount of light for when you're driving and don't effect your night vision. I'll be putting a pair in when/if I ever get around to fitting a roof console. Andy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
q-rover Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 In the Disco I simplpy replaced the front bulb with a red LED bulb, and the second row seats and boot area lights with superbright white LEDs. Much better light. I may also fit a white LED strip in the boot area later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brighouse shed Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 question for all the experts, i have a 1991 90 and my central light is only switched on by the doors or would be if the door switches weren't welded into the door jalm . Like the idea of a strip of leds instead and thought about using existing supply in headlining and putting switched unit up there. So question which is the perm feed and which is the switched wire, then can i take the perm feed to one input and the earth the other side? sorry probably dead simple but my training is in metallurgy not electrics thanks to all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickwilliams Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 The door switches are on the ground side of the light circuit, and the + side is permanently 'live' fed from a fused circuit which is not switched by the ignition. All you need to do to have a roof light with its own switch is to connect the -ve input to the light direct to a ground connection (i.e. one of the mounting screws for the light) and connect the +ve input to the unswitched feed (should be a plain purple wire) via the switch. The switched ground should be purple with a blue stripe, but looking at the (not very clear) wiring diagram I have for a 200tdi, I have a suspicion that Landrover have run the purple/blue wire only as far as a male/female bullet pair which is located behind the headlining above the driver's side sun visor and the ground wire which runs from this bullet pair to the interior light is actually black. Bear in mind that door-switched interior lights were only an option on this age of vehicle and the alternative system is for the interior lights to be switched by the same switch as controls the instrument lighting (one of the three in the panel above the driver's right knee, below and to the right of the steering wheel). In this configuration, the switched wire is on the +ve side and is coloured purple/white, with the ground connection to the light being made via its mounting screws. The door switch wiring is fitted since it's part of the standard loom, but it's taped up to other parts of the loom in the engine bay instead of being inserted into the bulkhead. If you have the door switches fitted, however, this won't apply to you. Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brighouse shed Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Nick cheers also sorts out why i have a switch which i thought was double fog light switch, will play tonight in the dark see if makes any difference to dash tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Def V8 90 Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 Dead thread resurrection!!! XKGlow do lighting strips for chav-undercar lighting, I have got a 3-foot strip along each side of the tub, and one-foot strips under front seats and in footwells, wired into courtesy light, defo does the trick, in blue so not dazzling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.