Rally style map light w/ Pics

[450 DUDE]

This map light has been sitting in my box for a while.
Its been beggin to be put somewhere. works real nice and has adjustable eyeball

Here ya go


ken

 

[IdahoDoug]

Looks like a quality unit. I have a Hella light, but I mounted it on the passenger side of the center console. Down low like that, it doesn't create reflections in the windshield and my wife can read for hours over there without disturbing me with glare. Wait, that's a bad thing.

DougM

 

[alvarorb]

Ken,

Looks good.
Being able to work on something while not driving the driver mad...

Regards

Alvaro

PS: Have thought about a light under the hood?

 

[450 DUDE]

PS: Have thought about a light under the hood?[/QUOTE]





I have defnitly thought about it, Havent Quite put the finger on it .
But for now I just use an LED drop light ( works ok) con inverter.


ken

 

[alvarorb]

I hear you.
I have a fluorescent shop light. It only draws 11W @ 110V. But you have to add to that the draw of the inverter. I much rather have a 12V fluorescent or even better something permanent under the hood.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[IBCRUSN]

Nice install. I've been looking at a few of the navigator lights (osram, Hella and one other, forgot the name) to keep from blinding whoever is driving. Great mounting location too.

Alvaro,
If you have a standard drop light that uses a 13w bulb and want to replace with a unit that uses less juice try this one. I purchased the same unit from the Mac tools guys under $30 so you might have better luck if you Google it.

http://www.brandsplace.com/0246-ste-98252.html

Never mind this place has better pricing:
http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/ste98252.html

I don't see why it wouldn't really well on the trail if you have an inverter. Oh, with this replacement my drop light was much brighter to boot.

 

[SOCALFJ]

Looks nice!

I just ordered Georges LED replacement for my factory map light. If it's anything like his dome lights... i doubt i'll need anything else

 

[sc40]

older jeep Cherokees have a drop light under the hood iirc, there are plenty in junkyards, i bet it could be a nice $5 mod

 

[IdahoDoug]

Just a suggestion on map light mounting. I actually think 450s mount is too high as it will light up the dash and such. Better to mount it low, so the light source is below the base of the windshield to avoid glare. Ours is mounted and used at lap level, where reflected light is below the dashboard, but can reach up as high as the dash top for stationary use.

DougM

 

[jonah]

i was thinking about putting a arb "adventure light" under the hood its a bad ass light with a long cord ,you could velcro it and drag it around if you need to.

rock on.

jonah.

 

[Truckasaurus]

Just a suggestion on map light mounting. I actually think 450s mount is too high as it will light up the dash and such. Better to mount it low, so the light source is below the base of the windshield to avoid glare. Ours is mounted and used at lap level, where reflected light is below the dashboard, but can reach up as high as the dash top for stationary use.

DougM

I think that either mount works...install per your own preferences.

The reality is that the reflection off the item being read/perused will bounce off the windshield, regardless of light source location.

And there may be lenses that could focus the light in a more compact beam, again, similar to aircraft style, that could be utilized here.

These points notwithstanding, an excellent mod, and nice write up, Ken!

 

[IdahoDoug]

Truck. Agree, but if you haven't mounted the light yet and could choose between just reflections of the reading material itself, or about 3 square feet of reflections on the windows to deal with, which would you choose? The reflections off the reading material are unavoidable, the reflections off the dash, seat tops, passenger's clothing, A pillars, etc are. Take a look at a rally car's setup, or an airplane cockpit setup. The lower the light, the fewer the reflections. You can plainly see in 450s pictures that there are a lot of reflections in the windshield - they'll look far more distracting when it's completely dark outside. Also, I didn't mention it before but there are plenty of powered wires and grounds in the center console, which eases the wiring task vs running them up the A pillar.

DougM

 

[RescueU]

Maybe I missed it, but I don't recall seeing anyone talk about installing a rally-type light with a red bulb as opposed to standard white.

While it may not be conducive for long periods of reading, it definitely would help with protecting the driver's night-vision. I figure George's LED's are the best for that set up (just not while in motion, I guess).

I haven't installed mine yet, but I'm wondering whether the red light would create as much glare on the windshield as a standard bulb, if installed too high (per the running discussion). Does anyone out there have a red "tactical" map light installed in the vehicle yet?