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  #1  
Old 04-20-2008, 10:34 PM
mdud mdud is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Gilbertville, Iowa
Posts: 8
Default Flexible LED Interior Lighting

Van is offering flexible LED lighting that attaches to the underside of the glare shield. Is this functional? My instruments are not lighted and I was thinking about installing them but I have no actual experience with them. How well do they work?
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  #2  
Old 04-21-2008, 07:21 AM
DGlaeser DGlaeser is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Rochester Hills, MI
Posts: 879
Default Should be OK . . .

I used similar LED strips (may be the same, but I got them from an LED site, and much cheaper) for backlighting my panel placards. A strip of those lights mounted under the panel lip would be quite effective IMHO. I think they are the same, or similar to the ones Stein sells as well.
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Dennis Glaeser CFII
Rochester Hills, MI
RV-7A - Eggenfellner H6, GRT Sport ES, EIS4000, 300XL, SL30, TT Gemini, PMA6000, AK950L, GT320,
uAvionixEcho ADSB in/out with GRT Safe Fly GPS
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  #3  
Old 05-05-2008, 10:33 PM
jason007 jason007 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hope Mills, NC
Posts: 7
Default

http://superbrightleds.com/led_prods.htm

Plenty of stuff there to give you ideas.
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  #4  
Old 05-05-2008, 11:29 PM
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petehowell petehowell is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 2,269
Default Other options....

http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=17358+OP

I have ordered from MPJA in the past and have had very good service.
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Amateur Plane - RV-9A N789PH - 2350+ Hrs
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Doggies Delivered - 25+
St. Paul, MN
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  #5  
Old 05-06-2008, 08:53 AM
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N908RV N908RV is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Warrenton, VA
Posts: 273
Default Vans LED's work well

Quote:
Originally Posted by mdud View Post
Van is offering flexible LED lighting that attaches to the underside of the glare shield. Is this functional? My instruments are not lighted and I was thinking about installing them but I have no actual experience with them. How well do they work?
I had two eyeball lights aimed at my panel and they worked so-so. I ended up adding the LED strip and it was terrific. Dirt simple install. Be sure and mount it as far AFT on the glareshield overhang as possible so that you get good light angle down on your panel. Too close to the panel and you won't get as much light spread.
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Rob Brooks
EAA Tech Counselor
Warrenton, VA

RV-8, QB completed, flown 750hrs and sold
http://www.taildraggersinc.com/pages...RV_flying.html

RV-7, SB completed and flying Phase 2
http://www.mykitlog.com/N908rv/
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  #6  
Old 05-06-2008, 09:52 AM
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Jim P Jim P is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 934
Default Works well...

I installed the blue strip and I really like it. I do have pilot and pax eyeball lights, as well as a baggage flood that can be put on the panel. The only shortfall is the illumination of some of the lettering across the bottom of the panel, otherwise, works good. I have mine connected directley to the LC-40 lighting controller, so it's dimable, and there's no inverter like you have with the glo-strips. My camera didn't do too well in low light, but you get the idea...

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RV-7 (Flying!)
http://adap.com/rv7
Redmond, WA
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  #7  
Old 05-17-2008, 10:31 AM
trib trib is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 474
Default Dimmer switch

Using the good deal lights like Jason mentions, what type of dimmer switch is necessary? Has anyone wired a seperate dimmer switch into a strip of these lights and what did they use?

thanks for the info
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Tim Ribble
Virginia Beach
RV-6A (only took 13 years to build )
N621TR In unrestricted operation
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  #8  
Old 05-17-2008, 08:01 PM
Norman CYYJ Norman CYYJ is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Victoria B.C.
Posts: 1,266
Default

Use the dimmer circuit found in the book from Van's 21 years of the RVator it works very well and can be built for under $10.00
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  #9  
Old 05-18-2008, 04:52 AM
Harold Lanfear Harold Lanfear is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Grove, PA
Posts: 127
Default Another source

I bought my LED strips from http://http://www.theledlight.com/fl...ledstrips.html

The have several colors, all under $20 and can be cut in increments of 4 LEDs; which is handy for subpanel lighting. They have a foam adhesive tape back and use a small plug (which I desoldered and soldered in wires directly). I was also sucessfully able to bend the LED leads to 'aim' the light at my panel.
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Kitfox sold 2010; RV-8 85% and moving at the speed of a used Edsel
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  #10  
Old 05-21-2008, 09:55 AM
trib trib is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 474
Default

Norman (or anybody else)

I have the 17 years of the RVAtor, but not the 21 year version. Shows how long I've been working on my airplane. Could you possibly share the details of the dimmer with me?

thanks loads
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Virginia Beach
RV-6A (only took 13 years to build )
N621TR In unrestricted operation
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