New LED dome modules

[scharpestguy]

George,

2 for me as well, if they fit in a 1991 4Runner I may need an additional two.

Thanks George,

Scharpe

 

[Melloj123]

How will we know when you are ready to start shipping? I will take two.

 

[shromani]

2 for me

 

[george_tlc]

The new LED modules should be ready in 2 weeks. I have all the parts on hand except the printed circuit boards. I have some prototypes that are working, but I wanted to make some improvements to the layout so I scrapped the original layout and started a new one.

I'll post up on this thread when they are available. I'll put a picture of a prototype later today.

cheers,
george.

 

[VFRMAN]

Please put me down for 2 as well.

And I'll take 2 weeks of your free babysitting services for my 4 kids, and perhaps a coupon book of free car washes somewhere here in town. That should about do it. If you're out of the rest, just the 2 LEDs then I guess. Thanks.

Brian

 

[ckrustware0045]

George, put me down for 2 please. Thanks.

 

[iaintscared1969]

2 please! I can always use a few spares

 

[george_tlc]

Here's two pictures comparing the new dome (white PCB) versus the previous version that I stopped making. The new dome in the picture is a prototype, new boards are in fab and will be in my hands in about 1 week.

Pretty obviously I have shrunk the design down a lot. This is to make it fit into the FJC and some of the other models with smaller dome fixtures, but will of course still fit in the 60 and 80 series.

cheers,
george.

 

[woytovich]

Boy, don't I feel stupid for having rushed out to by 2 of the LAST ONES THAT WILL BE MADE. I guess that is no longer the case...

Sort of like those stores in Manhattan that are GOING OUT OF BUSINESS... yeah, right.

And on top of it all it looks like these new ones will fit without modifying the fixture in the rear cargo area of the 60s...

Mark

 

[george_tlc]

Boy, don't I feel stupid for having rushed out to by 2 of the LAST ONES THAT WILL BE MADE. I guess that is no longer the case...

Sort of like those stores in Manhattan that are GOING OUT OF BUSINESS... yeah, right.

And on top of it all it looks like these new ones will fit without modifying the fixture in the rear cargo area of the 60s...

Mark

Yes, it may seem like it was a fake going out of business sale. But, I never thought I'd make more dome modules and it was meant to be the last run. Too much work to build that style of module.

Then I saw the Rebel leds and figured that would allow me to shrink things for the FJC and then I had a design for a new driver that I did over a year ago, but never proceeded with it. After a couple of FJC dome requests I started to think whether with the Rebel and the new driver design I could shrink things to all fit.

So, the new design was born to fit the FJC only (you can see a thread in the FJC subforum that I started to get someone to provide me measurements of the dome fixture), but then I realized that the same pin/tab design for the FJC would likely work just fine for the 60/80 series since the issue with the FJC is the width that is available, the bulb length is essentially the same. So, one design would fit the FJC and the 60/80 series. Building the new modules would be a lot easier for me since I would be able to get the Rebel LED soldered straight to the PCB and I'd no longer need to thermal epoxy the LED star down, cut/strip and solder the teflon wires etc.

So, don't feel 'stupid', I am running the same older style dome module, there is nothing wrong with that design and it works just as well as the new smaller design - it was just too much work to justify making more of them.

Anyhow, that's how this all evolved to where it is now. Are you unhappy with the light output of the modules you have?

cheers,
george.

 

[woytovich]

No George, I am not unhappy with the dome light... it's bright! It was however a bit of a tight fit to get it in my 60 dome fixture - and it sits a little tilted. probably no functional issue, just a feeling it's in there too tight.

I've read that the rear cargo fixture will be more difficult to install. (I have not attempted it yet.) It seems like the better solution for the rear of the 60 will be the new smaller module.

Anyone want to buy one of the previous modules? - never installed!

mark

 

[speedyone]

Put me down for two. Thanks

 

[nicholas]

Thanks for the LED's George. I got them for Christmas from my wife's grandma.

I bought a couple extra souel LED's to make a map light. I was wondering how critical it is to use the "Artic Epoxy". I can't seem to find it for less than $8-10 and I hate to buy it only to use 2 small blobs of it.

I was wondering if I could use JB weld since I already have some. Or do the LED's get too hot and require the artic stuff to help with cooling?

Thanks again.

 

[JeffJ60]

Please add me for 2.

exxxxxxxcellent.....

 

[george_tlc]

Thanks for the LED's George. I got them for Christmas from my wife's grandma.

I bought a couple extra souel LED's to make a map light. I was wondering how critical it is to use the "Artic Epoxy". I can't seem to find it for less than $8-10 and I hate to buy it only to use 2 small blobs of it.

I was wondering if I could use JB weld since I already have some. Or do the LED's get too hot and require the artic stuff to help with cooling?

Thanks again.

As long as the layer of epoxy is very thin (just to hold the stars mechanically to the plate) then it should work fine from a thermal aspect. With the LEDs driven at 350mA they won't get that hot anyway and a very thin layer of JB will do a fine job.


*** Status update ***

New PCB's should be arriving tomorrow (if UPS delivers on time), so then I can get the new dome modules into production. Hopefully that means that sometime this week I'll have the first of the new dome modules ready for sale.

cheers,
george.

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

You can put me down for two of the newer style also. I have your old style and I would love to put these in my dad's Fj Cruiser as well.

Thanks for doing this George

 

[george_tlc]

Well, received boards today and assembled a batch of 50 dome modules.

Here's a couple of pictures (top/bottom) of one of the first assembled units. It is currently installed in my 80 to give the new design a bit of test - not that there should be any issues.

and

Give me a few days to get things ready and I'll put them up for sale. They will fit the 60/80 series.

I need to get someone with an FJC to let test a module in their fixture to see if I need to modify the tab lengths/shape to fit. I "think" the module should just drop in - but I'd rather try one before shipping units all over the country

cheers,
george.

 

[ncduckman]

Put me down for two as well.

Thanks!

 

[jonb96150]

If they handle 24v I'll take one for my bj70.

 

[george_tlc]

24V is not a problem.

cheers,
george.