Adding fluorescent lights to your van?
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 313
Likes: 1
Adding fluorescent lights to your van?
My 1999 "handicap/seniors" van is in need of some additional lighting inside. The company that did the conversion... high top and such... added these 6" round dome type lamps around the sides but they don't offer much light.
I have this small PC board "kit" (MaxxTronic MX051... about $12) that I bought some time back for another project. It takes in 12v DC and supplies the high voltage needed to drive a fluorescent bulb up to 40 watts.
This will let me buy an inexpensive standard fixture locally at Home Depot and use it in the van. Plan to add one at the very back wall over the door and another up above the front over the drivers seat area.
Have others done the same... added fluorescent fixtures?
I have this small PC board "kit" (MaxxTronic MX051... about $12) that I bought some time back for another project. It takes in 12v DC and supplies the high voltage needed to drive a fluorescent bulb up to 40 watts.
This will let me buy an inexpensive standard fixture locally at Home Depot and use it in the van. Plan to add one at the very back wall over the door and another up above the front over the drivers seat area.
Have others done the same... added fluorescent fixtures?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 711
Likes: 2
From: Outside of Memphis, TN
I would look for something designed for automotive use. The electrical environment is a bit sketchy, with voltages ranging from 9-15 on a regular basis (Thats if everything is working correctly).
I was a Sr Engineer at dell for quite some time, and PC voltages are VERY carefully controlled, with almost no ripple current. Devices designed to work in a PC via their regulated power supplies with live a short, brutal life inside a vehicle without proper power filtering. When i need to do something along the lines you mention (My van actually has a full HAM, Satellite, and rapid deploy VOIP wireless mesh system on board) i use 12v dc-dc regulators to ensure i am protecting my equipment. Either that, or check that your device can handle 6-18v DC input just to be safe...
http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/dcd....html?ref=base
I was a Sr Engineer at dell for quite some time, and PC voltages are VERY carefully controlled, with almost no ripple current. Devices designed to work in a PC via their regulated power supplies with live a short, brutal life inside a vehicle without proper power filtering. When i need to do something along the lines you mention (My van actually has a full HAM, Satellite, and rapid deploy VOIP wireless mesh system on board) i use 12v dc-dc regulators to ensure i am protecting my equipment. Either that, or check that your device can handle 6-18v DC input just to be safe...
http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/dcd....html?ref=base
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Try these guys too: Home They have a lot to choose from, might have something suitable for you Scooter.
I have three of them in my E250 cargo van, 48" standard tubes that have built in inverters so they'll work on the 12 VDC systems. I've had them for almost 20 years now and they're still working just fine, were well worth the money I spent on them at the time---they're a lot less expensive these days but same quality.
I have three of them in my E250 cargo van, 48" standard tubes that have built in inverters so they'll work on the 12 VDC systems. I've had them for almost 20 years now and they're still working just fine, were well worth the money I spent on them at the time---they're a lot less expensive these days but same quality.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,004
Likes: 131
From: Maryville
I cut some boards, custom fitted 20 LED pods throughout them, each pod has 2 LEDs in it, one board on each side on my center running AC duct on the roof, not forgetting LEDs in the factory light housings, they are blue, and it is bright in my 15 passenger van.
Not the best shot, but you can see them up there toward the mid section of the van, I gotta get that big box sold. LoL
Not the best shot, but you can see them up there toward the mid section of the van, I gotta get that big box sold. LoL
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 313
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
[QUOTE=scooterspal;11612599][quote=JWA;11602397]Try these guys too: Home They have a lot to choose from
I checked them out and they do offer a simple fixture that would work perfectly in my case. Very reasonable at around $40 each.
Thanks for the tip : )
Kewl Scooter----glad that was helpful for you! 
I checked them out and they do offer a simple fixture that would work perfectly in my case. Very reasonable at around $40 each.
Thanks for the tip : )
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