Interior lights

[Bryan Cotton]

I was going to ask Jeff how he got the backup lines off his camera. Then I watched the video more closely. On Instructables I found directions for that and undoing the mirror image:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modifyi ... ear-view-/

Same website where we got the hamster wheel plans from.

[vwglenn]

Most rear view cameras have low light capability. Mine does just fine without any additional light needed (during the day). I used a wifi camera because the thing weighed nearly nothing and it sends a wifi signal to my phone where I can check the fuel level instead of mounting a dedicated screen. Still has the lines on it and reversed but I arranged it so that the end of the lines touch my VFR reserves. When the fuel level gets to 5 gallons, I'd better be finding a place to land.

[Bryan Cotton]

I'm getting back to my lighting. Here are some lights run through my dimmer.


My initial impression is post lights near the panel is too much glare. It sounds like some of you have had success mounting them to the turtledeck formers. Any new observations in the last 3 years?

[jjbardell]

Bryan,
I used the below post lights (ACS) on the turtle deck on a dimmer. No glare and they worked great. Scroll about 2/3 way down.

http://www.rvpilotlife.wordpress.com/2016/08/02/83lj-cabin-panel-design/

I'm getting back to my lighting. Here are some lights run through my dimmer.


My initial impression is post lights near the panel is too much glare. It sounds like some of you have had success mounting them to the turtledeck formers. Any new observations in the last 3 years?

[NWade]

And an update on my build in this regard: After doing some testing I found that putting the LED strip lighting under a glareshield lip worked really well. Maybe it’s the angle of the lighting, or perhaps the fact that I’m using mostly digital instruments (not regular round dials), but I don’t seem to have bad shadows and I find it to be great in ground-testing so far.
(Note that I don’t think this would work as well with a vertical panel, as that would make the shadows worse)

Here’s a short video of me testing the dimmer:
https://1drv.ms/v/s!ApMKXiyfUEPRg853Sh_FMInUN7h4eg

Enjoy,

—Noel
Sonex #1339

[Bryan Cotton]

I was going to ask Jeff how he got the backup lines off his camera. Then I watched the video more closely. On Instructables I found directions for that and undoing the mirror image:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Modifyi ... ear-view-/

Same website where we got the hamster wheel plans from.

I think I've found an easier way to get rid of the lines and mirror image features. They sell a camera that can be configured that way for $10.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004V9G8QQ?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

It arrives Monday, I'll let the gang know if it works out.

[GraemeSmith]

Cheap Amazon sourced red dimmable LED's behind my head on the turtle deck. Compass has a light. All wired into a MaxDim LED dimmer on the panel.

[Bryan Cotton]

I think I've found an easier way to get rid of the lines and mirror image features. They sell a camera that can be configured that way for $10.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004V9G8QQ?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

It arrives Monday, I'll let the gang know if it works out.

Monday came a day early. The camera comes configured with no lines, and regular instead of mirror image. Plug and play with the little display I had.

[Bryan Cotton]

I had some post lights on my turtledeck bulkhead on the recommendation of another builder (Josh B). Though it lit up the interior pretty good, I could not make out the info on my black and white LCD MFD. So, I cannibalized an old broken Energizer headlamp. It has one red LED in the middle, two white LEDs on the outside, a switch for off/red/white, and it runs on 3 AAA batteries. Below is the guts of the light and another one I still use.

gutted light.png (325.04 KiB) Viewed 7949 times

I did some measurements and calculations, and ended up adding a 330 ohm series resistor to work with my 14.5V system. Then I mounted it. It is mounted with a single rivet, so I can aim it once. Plus to change elevation I can bend the bracket.

headlamp mounted.png (503.01 KiB) Viewed 7949 times

I had wired in a couple of spare 2 pin disconnects that go back to my dimmer. It works, need it to get dark to evaluate it.

red lights.png (565.13 KiB) Viewed 7949 times

The middle light is the headlamp. The others are the post lights.

[MichaelFarley56]

Let us know what you think Bryan. I have yet to fly my Waiex at night but I think the time has come to perform some night testing later this fall and see how it goes. I love night flying and would like to expand into that phase soon, but I do need some form of interior cockpit lights to make it safe.

Thanks for sharing!