Cargo area lighting

[sschmez]

The lack of lighting in the cargo area of the D1 has been a minor annoyance for me, for quite a while(and the fact that mostly "Stuff" gets stacked in front of the little lighting there is).

I guess there a many solutions, but the following is what I did today.

.... I've found myself lost inside "Ikea" a couple of times recently (yeah,yeah, don't laugh ... she's nesting) and since you can't escape without removing your credit card from your wallet, heres something I bought myself ... in addition to new wardrobes, bookshelves etc. and all that flatpack heaven can provide.:angel:

Anyway....
They have these LED light strips for inside their cupboards etc....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/05/114.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/10100)

A close look at the transformer revealed they'd run on 12v, with a low enough current draw to hook into the existing interior light wiring.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/05/115.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/10102)

They come with mounting screws, clips and double sided tape and have 2.5m fig.8 wire with plugs already attached. I've fitted one strip below each alpine window, one above the cargo door in the middle and the last one on the rear door (inside the window frame and pointing into the cargo area, for when the door is open)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/05/116.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/10103)

It was quite easy to cut the plug off other end of the wire and then run the wire through and behind the trim, and eventually back to behind the existing light. Even the one in the rear door just fed through the grommet for the demister and then through the door and back to the car with the existing loom.

Trial and error will ensure the correct polarity for each strip and then I just soldered a set of 4 wires to each side of the existing light (wired in parallel to the existing), insulated it well, and refitted all the trim.

Here's the result:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/05/117.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/10104)

unfortunately, my night shots never really show it as good as it is, but there's plenty of light in the back now

Stevo

[mcrover]

Nice work Stevo, I use the Fluro that came with the RTT and Ive clipped it to the cargo barrier and pluged into the supply that runs the inverter normally.

It lights up the back really well and the best thing is it only cost me $2500 and came with a free tent :D

[dmdigital]

Nice job!

I did this with my D1, at the time it was Hella LED running lights as these were the best available. Put one each side near the Alpine windows and wired back to the little interior light.

[rrturboD]

Stevo,
what was the product code etc for the Ikea lamp?
Thanks

[Basil135]

Any idea as to the cost of these neat little units?