Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

[beanious]

Problem: Incandescent bulbs burn out and LEDs create obnoxious unnatural light...

So I started out with a regular courtesy lamp kit. Since I off road quite often the incandescent filament would blow out all the time.

I replaced the bulbs with a LED equivalent from a car parts store. The result was that the light was an unnatural bright white light and cast a focused beam on the ground. Not the best solution for a courtesy light.

Then I replaced the bulbs with a flea-bay upgraded set that had 9 LEDs per bulb, that were warm white color. Same thing, focused beam, intense to look at and they would flicker off and on all the time.

So I went down the rabbit hole of LED lights, tinted paint and light diffusion. Here are the results, evenly distributed soft natural light with a bulb that is epoxy sealed, good for as long as I could hope for and easily found-replaced.

[jimijam00]

Incandescent bulbs are a thing of the past. Their light output per amount of power they draw just sucks. Led's ARE the bomb for sure.

[beanious]

Let me know if you're interested on what parts I used, or how to make them and I'll upload. Not really sure if anyone will be interested, or if anyone else experienced the same frustrations-problems. Thanks!

[chewychevy67]

Definitely post. I agree there are places that led bulbs are intense and kill the vintage affect some are trying to conserve.

[special-K]

This is a cool upgrade. What are those courtesy lights from?

I can't ride along with the incandescent bulbs being a thing of the past. It's true in your house where you pay for that extra energy use. But in vehicles they have never been an issue. They are the least of concern for draw off the system and obviously they have been doing a good job for over 100 years. And as shown in this thread, the light created by LEDs is not always better, for various reasons. These had to be modified. The only problem with incandescent bulbs in this case was the rough duty 4-wheeling put on the filament. I've never had that problem, personally.

[doug_p]

Definitely interested in the information . . . did that bracket come in your truck? I don't currently have courtesy lights but would like to add them -
DP

[72c20customcamper]

I actually like the LED lighting in my truck . Just cheap Walmart license plate lights . But then again I’m old and need extra light

[beanious]

I honestly looked for a replacement set that I could buy that would do the job, unfortunately I'm quite picky and only accept replacement parts that last at min a decade. So I just pieced myself together a setup that met the requirements.

Please see below for the parts list, all in all I think I got it done in 3 days of part time, semi-pro, amateur garage work.

- (10) Pack White 3/4 LEDs off the Amazons
- Kroger party pack beer pong ball set 1" dia (excellent light diffusers)
- Set of (2) courtesy lamp brackets off the flea bay
- K-rylon stained glass rattle can paint (white LED painted to amber, of course to preference)
- Translucent silicone caulking from the homeless despot (diffuses light better than anything else)
- Ultra Black RTV from 'ol Kragen
- Hobby razor blade knife (cutting the ping pong ball)

[beanious]

Courtesy bulb brackets pic, I cut them down until flat and then painted.

[beanious]

Party pack ping pong balls, I used two glued together with translucent silicone. I think one would have done the trick though. I stuck them to the bulb with the same silicone, they're on there really good.

[beanious]

10.00 3/4" Led bulbs off the amazons, also can be found at the local tractor store.

[special-K]

That's quite a project. Came out great! I don't know about reinventing the light bulb, but you sure invented some nice courtesy lights

[Richard2112]

Great solution to the lighting. I am not a fan of LED lighting though it has it's uses.

My line of thinking is LED lights are are sharp, distinct and resemble sparkles whereas most things of antiquity will have a glow. Incandescent will sort of fade in and fade out whereas LEDs are abrupt on and off.

[dagnabbitt]

What a cool mod. It takes an interesting mind to look at a ping pong ball and think "I bet I can make that into a light bulb".

[blazer2007]

I went down the rabbit hole and couldn,t find them