Boot Light - Another Alternative

[Filby]

I know this topic has been covered before and some of the ideas are brilliant. But I am not keen to drill holes or connect into the car wiring so was looking for a totally non-invasive way to get some light into the boot area.

Not using the car wiring means going for Battery power which really means LED for low power consumption. LEDs are not that bright but at least they match the front internal light!

Location of the light source is a bit of a problem. LED light sources tend to be very directional giving just a spot of light and if the light source is in your field of vision it tends to blind you!

A good place would be just above the hatch door. It points a way from you and would direct the light to the centre of the boot area. The problem would be mounting it and I amconcerned that it might interfere with operating of the airbag which is located there. The airbag could propel it with quite a force on to the back of the head of the rear seat passenger!

Then I had an idea. There are quite deep cup or bottle holders located each side of the rear seats. LED lights are often round and about the same size. The cheap "push" lights would probably fit. I found some in Maplins for £5 each which are quite smart in black rubberised surrounds with a "push on - push off" swich at the side and they slide neatly into the cup holders. They are easy to dismantle and removing the switch gives an exit for the wires needed to extend the switch cables. If you are prepared to drill holes the wires could be fed directly underneath but I decided to run the over the top and then behind the side panels. Fortunatley the IQ panels are not fixed at the bottom and it is easy to tuck the wires behind them. I them took the wires from both sides up the rear corner and out through the hole where the latch bar for the (lefthand - but could be righthand) rear seat is. I commoned the cables so that the operate with a single switch, using the switch from one of the lights and fixing it to the panel just above the latch bar with a sticky pad.

I did try connecting to a microswitch operated by the tailgate. This did work but it looked to intrusive to me (could be knocked of when loading) and the stick pad mounting didn't seem robust enough.

Anyway, with a simple switch just inside to tailgate opening I now have some rather elegant "uplighters". The light is diffused by the headlining and gives a good even spread of light. It is not bright but you can see what you are doing and it blends very well with Mr T's front interior light!

[Guest]

I was going to say that's quite neat David, and it is what it is, a lighting solution for the rear. But, I am sure (Tarquin) 'David' would have the wires secreted somewhere. I think it's another solution that works. It's quite surprising to see how many variations there are on finding a way to get light into the luggage/rear seat area. I think the switch is a good bit of 'bodgery' to get them to both work together. Have you got/will you take some pics showing the light they provide at night?

[tarquin]

Very nice, One other thing I tried and makes a neat job. was i fitted a very small tilt switch inside the hatch door. Easy to do as the panel comes off easily with the grab and pull method. I used small cable tie's to secure it near the motor and took the wires out through the rubber coupler where all the other wires are. Works well the door barely gets horizontal when the light would come on and has a hysteresis and goes out just before you close the hatch.It was my first idea to put light in the rear. I later removed it in favour of the non intrusive extension from the dome light. By using a puddle LED from Halfords I was able to heat 4 dress making pins and push the heads into the bottom of the Puddle LED and push them through the head lining and flatten them over covered by some industrial tape. All lighting is controlled by door opening, Dome switch, or approach to the locked car.. BTW the tilt switch is available from Maplin. Only intrusive part, 4 pin holes and a very small cable hole in the lining, and if removed looks normal again. The thing is its so integrated it looks like MR T supplied it as standard. The angle is very wide and covers the boot and the seating area. I have just the one but others have opted for the two.

David

[Filby]

I am cut to the quick to think that my handiwork is a bodge - but i have to agree with you. In its defence I have to say that it is a VERY small switch and where it is located means that you don't really see it. Even so, now that I am happy with the set-up I have had to break my own rule and take the power drill to my pristine IQ. It feels rather like doing DIY root canal work to a dear friend - without an anaesthetic, but it has to be done! I am consoled by the thoough that if all goes badly I can fit a new plastic panel for less than £30.

Here is the result - neat and not a wire to be seen!

I tried to get a photograph of the illumination but there was not enough light! To be honest it is not very bright - much like moonlight: enough to see where you are but not enough to read by. Perhaps I will research some more powerful light sources (about 3 watts total at the moment.

Anyway, I am happy with the result.

[tarquin]

Very discreet switch. Couldnt even see what i was looking at untill i expanded it. I think up- lighters are a very interesting idea

David

[marcandsebe]

I know this topic has been covered before and some of the ideas are brilliant. But I am not keen to drill holes or connect into the car wiring so was looking for a totally non-invasive way to get some light into the boot area.

Not using the car wiring means going for battery power which really means LED for low power consumption. LEDs are not that bright but at least they match the front internal light!

Location of the light source is a bit of a problem. LED light sources tend to be very directional giving just a spot of light and if the light source is in your field of vision it tends to blind you!

A good place would be just above the hatch door. It points a way from you and would direct the light to the centre of the boot area. The problem would be mounting it and I amconcerned that it might interfere with operating of the airbag which is located there. The airbag could propel it with quite a force on to the back of the head of the rear seat passenger!

Then I had an idea. There are quite deep cup or bottle holders located each side of the rear seats. LED lights are often round and about the same size. The cheap "push" lights would probably fit. I found some in Maplins for £5 each which are quite smart in black rubberised surrounds with a "push on - push off" swich at the side and they slide neatly into the cup holders. They are easy to dismantle and removing the switch gives an exit for the wires needed to extend the switch cables. If you are prepared to drill holes the wires could be fed directly underneath but I decided to run the over the top and then behind the side panels. Fortunatley the IQ panels are not fixed at the bottom and it is easy to tuck the wires behind them. I them took the wires from both sides up the rear corner and out through the hole where the latch bar for the (lefthand - but could be righthand) rear seat is. I commoned the cables so that the operate with a single switch, using the switch from one of the lights and fixing it to the panel just above the latch bar with a sticky pad.

I did try connecting to a microswitch operated by the tailgate. This did work but it looked to intrusive to me (could be knocked of when loading) and the stick pad mounting didn't seem robust enough.

Anyway, with a simple switch just inside to tailgate opening I now have some rather elegant "uplighters". The light is diffused by the headlining and gives a good even spread of light. It is not bright but you can see what you are doing and it blends very well with Mr T's front interior light!

Just get Tarquin to change the front LED to a much brighter one and run to extra LED's to the rear off that light. It's transformed my car. That's one of the things I hated the most.

[tarquin]

Marc, Still flying the flag for me then, will get back to you tomorrow about the emails of your camera

David

[marcandsebe]

Marc, Still flying the flag for me then, will get back to you tomorrow about the emails of your camera

David

It's the truth David. Now I've had the lights for a couple of months, I could never go back to the old dim ones. People are amazed when I walk up to the car at night and the bright lights switch on automatically.

[Guest]

I am cut to the quick to think that my handiwork is a bodge - but i have to agree with you. In its defence I have to say that it is a VERY small switch and where it is located means that you don't really see it. Even so, now that I am happy with the set-up I have had to break my own rule and take the power drill to my pristine IQ. It feels rather like doing DIY root canal work to a dear friend - without an anaesthetic, but it has to be done! I am consoled by the thoough that if all goes badly I can fit a new plastic panel for less than £30.

Here is the result - neat and not a wire to be seen!

I tried to get a photograph of the illumination but there was not enough light! To be honest it is not very bright - much like moonlight: enough to see where you are but not enough to read by. Perhaps I will research some more powerful light sources (about 3 watts total at the moment.

Anyway, I am happy with the result.

Sorry Dude, didn't mean to imply I was dissing your work. Far from it. The Mother (why not the Father?) of invention says anything goes if it works. Actually, that would be the Father of invention, as the Mother would be far too particular.

[surfcitylocal]

I am cut to the quick to think that my handiwork is a bodge - but i have to agree with you. In its defence I have to say that it is a VERY small switch and where it is located means that you don't really see it. Even so, now that I am happy with the set-up I have had to break my own rule and take the power drill to my pristine IQ. It feels rather like doing DIY root canal work to a dear friend - without an anaesthetic, but it has to be done! I am consoled by the thoough that if all goes badly I can fit a new plastic panel for less than £30.

Here is the result - neat and not a wire to be seen!

I tried to get a photograph of the illumination but there was not enough light! To be honest it is not very bright - much like moonlight: enough to see where you are but not enough to read by. Perhaps I will research some more powerful light sources (about 3 watts total at the moment.

Anyway, I am happy with the result.

Sorry Dude, didn't mean to imply I was dissing your work. Far from it. The Mother (why not the Father?) of invention says anything goes if it works. Actually, that would be the Father of invention, as the Mother would be far too particular.

LOL

[DFish]

Hey Taz is that Bill Murray in the background?

Fish

[surfcitylocal]

Hey Taz is that Bill Murray in the background?

Fish

Nope. Just some dude that kinda looks like him.

I think Bill Murray is a Republican. LOL