BoatDrinksQ5
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2012
- Messages
- 377
Well have been meaning to post a little review of some LED lights and results for anyone thinking of messing around with it. This was on a 2012 Tahoe Q5 SF.
I went with engine compartment lights because every time i dink around in the garage in there it is very dark and i never have a trouble-light near by. Plus will be nice when I am staying at a resort or anytime near sunset and need to find anything in there, check for water, or do repair.
Super easy rear install because of the location of the batteries...(right there!) and I just used a cheap simple metal toggle switch free air hung by zipties on side. Used some 18gauge 2wire cable that i had from work. Ran wiring from one side to the other just underneath the foam on the backseat bench. Wired both lights in parallel off of the switch. I might at some point add a momentary switch like on a fridge so it turns on automatically (plus have the switch as a override OFF).
FINALLY....the lights I used! Simple LED tube lights meant for computer's They are around 18 LED's mounted in a tube with cubes on the end and then a good 24" or so of wiring to computer molex connections (I cut them off). I made it a little bit more 'marine' by adding a good goop of dielectric grease where the wiring comes into the plastic cap. They are 6-8$ a pop from most places online (newegg, amazon, xoxide) made by Logisys
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812551004 I used WHITE in the back compartment one on each side. THey are pretty directional so it worked great for me to direct the light down from the side. They put out a perfect white IMO, not blue or yellow.
I used 3M industrial fasteners (velcro like but better) to connect them to the side/top fiberglass. This would also allow for me to remove them for use as a spot/trouble light. This photo below is with the garage lights off at night.
i
Found my picture with the garage lights on. The LED lights on and off photo - see below
Side compartments/rod lockers also got the same treatment only with red lights (match boat and save nightvision) they each got one of the LED strips. These were wired in parallel with the existing 'courtesy lights' right by the rear seats/cupholders. These then will turn on/off with the existing light switch in dash. These were tough because of lack of slack wire so i used a splice type connection (cuts into wiring) Also lubed with dielectric grease. THen i was able to zip tie the light up on one side and used velcro on the other. Worked great and plenty of light. Might some day add another further up near the dash area (worried about glared though).
The lights are pretty good output....but the photos make it a little bit more dramatic (most likely something with exposure settings etc without flash on)
I went with engine compartment lights because every time i dink around in the garage in there it is very dark and i never have a trouble-light near by. Plus will be nice when I am staying at a resort or anytime near sunset and need to find anything in there, check for water, or do repair.
Super easy rear install because of the location of the batteries...(right there!) and I just used a cheap simple metal toggle switch free air hung by zipties on side. Used some 18gauge 2wire cable that i had from work. Ran wiring from one side to the other just underneath the foam on the backseat bench. Wired both lights in parallel off of the switch. I might at some point add a momentary switch like on a fridge so it turns on automatically (plus have the switch as a override OFF).
FINALLY....the lights I used! Simple LED tube lights meant for computer's They are around 18 LED's mounted in a tube with cubes on the end and then a good 24" or so of wiring to computer molex connections (I cut them off). I made it a little bit more 'marine' by adding a good goop of dielectric grease where the wiring comes into the plastic cap. They are 6-8$ a pop from most places online (newegg, amazon, xoxide) made by Logisys
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812551004 I used WHITE in the back compartment one on each side. THey are pretty directional so it worked great for me to direct the light down from the side. They put out a perfect white IMO, not blue or yellow.
I used 3M industrial fasteners (velcro like but better) to connect them to the side/top fiberglass. This would also allow for me to remove them for use as a spot/trouble light. This photo below is with the garage lights off at night.
Found my picture with the garage lights on. The LED lights on and off photo - see below
Side compartments/rod lockers also got the same treatment only with red lights (match boat and save nightvision) they each got one of the LED strips. These were wired in parallel with the existing 'courtesy lights' right by the rear seats/cupholders. These then will turn on/off with the existing light switch in dash. These were tough because of lack of slack wire so i used a splice type connection (cuts into wiring) Also lubed with dielectric grease. THen i was able to zip tie the light up on one side and used velcro on the other. Worked great and plenty of light. Might some day add another further up near the dash area (worried about glared though).
The lights are pretty good output....but the photos make it a little bit more dramatic (most likely something with exposure settings etc without flash on)
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