Spotlight conversion and wiring
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- slotrod65
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- Location: Albany NY
Spotlight conversion and wiring
Hey gang,
So, I mounted vintage Notek and Lucas spotlights on my Stella last year, but did not wire them since each of the original vintage bulbs is a whopping 48 watts, and that would kill my battery in no time. Instead, I the plan is to convert the lights to low wattage LED bulbs. I am not using these as headlights, or even really as spotlights. The intent is to simply have more visibility at night when a cager is looking at me.
So, I mounted vintage Notek and Lucas spotlights on my Stella last year, but did not wire them since each of the original vintage bulbs is a whopping 48 watts, and that would kill my battery in no time. Instead, I the plan is to convert the lights to low wattage LED bulbs. I am not using these as headlights, or even really as spotlights. The intent is to simply have more visibility at night when a cager is looking at me.
Last edited by slotrod65 on Fri Mar 20, 2015 3:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- slotrod65
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I finally got around to picking up a pair of H3 LED bulbs. I chose H3s because they have a mounting skirt, and the vintage bulbs have a skirt as well. Here is a photo of the original bulb mounting setup for the outer pair of Lucas spots: The skirt on the bulb is held in place by a spring clip.
Last edited by slotrod65 on Fri Mar 20, 2015 3:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- slotrod65
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It was brainstorming time. I knew I would never find a washer the correct size to fit the light and the bulb, so I decided to make one. Then I realized I did not need a washer, but simply a spacer with a slot cut in it. I drink espresso and have a dozen empty Illy brand coffee cans lying around. The steel they are made of is smooth, and shiny, and I could not bear to just recycle them. I am glad I did not as a few cuts with the tin snips provided me with a strip of thin, springy steel and allowed me to cut out just what I needed. After several tries I settled on two spacers: One in front of the bulb skirt, and the other behind. The original spring clip holds it all together:
A gentle bend in the mounting spacers keeps everything tight, and the bulb does not move.
A gentle bend in the mounting spacers keeps everything tight, and the bulb does not move.
- slotrod65
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Although everything looked good, there was no way to know until everything was assembled, and I cold test the results with a 9 volt battery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZgZ4stWMys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZgZ4stWMys
- Stilts
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Video marked private!slotrod65 wrote:Although everything looked good, there was no way to know until everything was assembled, and I cold test the results with a 9 volt battery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZgZ4stWMys
- slotrod65
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- Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:28 pm
- Location: Albany NY
- slotrod65
- Member
- Posts: 473
- Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:28 pm
- Location: Albany NY
Yesterday I removed the horncast, and ran wires into the glovebox. A piece of coat hanger wire came in handy yet again in assisting fishing the wired through the holes.
1: In the horn slot:
2: through the legshield and into the glovebox via the same holes used for the turn signal harness.
While I was in there, I spliced into the hot lead on the horn, and ran that wire into the glovebox as well. The red is the hot lead.
1: In the horn slot:
2: through the legshield and into the glovebox via the same holes used for the turn signal harness.
While I was in there, I spliced into the hot lead on the horn, and ran that wire into the glovebox as well. The red is the hot lead.
- slotrod65
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OK, so this morning I finally screwed up the courage to install the toggle switches. Why all the angst? Because I would have to drill holes in the glove box to mount them. Some masking tape allowed me to sketch right on the glovebox, and plan where I wanted to mount them.
Then it was time to drill. I used a center punch so the drill bit would not wander, and drilled 1/8" pilot holes.
So far, so good...
Then it was time to drill. I used a center punch so the drill bit would not wander, and drilled 1/8" pilot holes.
So far, so good...
- slotrod65
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And the moment of truth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC2uvU9V51Y
The stadium light in the center has a 102 LED bulb, while the Lucas lamps are only 28 LEDs. I plan on trying a pair of 68 LED and 102 LED in the Lucas lamps, but there maybe clearance issues as the LEDs are not the same size as the stock bulb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC2uvU9V51Y
The stadium light in the center has a 102 LED bulb, while the Lucas lamps are only 28 LEDs. I plan on trying a pair of 68 LED and 102 LED in the Lucas lamps, but there maybe clearance issues as the LEDs are not the same size as the stock bulb.
- jimmbomb
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- Location: St Louis
Looks good!
i see 3 switches.. but on the video, i hear and see only 2 being switched and the results.
What's hooked to the 3rd one?
good job on switch install.
i see 3 switches.. but on the video, i hear and see only 2 being switched and the results.
What's hooked to the 3rd one?
good job on switch install.
J H
[URL=https:///][/URL] upload pics
[URL=https:///][/URL] upload pics
- slotrod65
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