FLUORESCENT Dome Lights - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

thisdj78 · 01-26-2004, 05:33 PM

As requested, here are some more details on my dome lighting project:

I bought what is called "Cold Cathode" lamps....do a search on google.com for them and use should find prices any where from $14 to $30.

To give you an idea of what kind of light this gives off.....it's similar to the inside of a city bus at night, or a kitchen, LOL. It's super bright.

I'm sorry I can't remember for the life of me where I got mine because they sat around for awhile before I installed them.

Anyway, these consist of 2 lamps and they feed off of one 12v invertor.

I popped the dome light bulb out, and once I did that, I found that it was held in place by a power and ground clip. So I spliced 2 female connectors on the invertor's wires and just plugged them in as shown in the picture:

The next step is finding something to cover the wires without it looking ghetto......I'm taking suggestions

.

Night pictures:

***Eye8Pussies*** · 01-26-2004, 05:46 PM

that's pretty cool, and props to you, but.....*scratches head* why on earth would you want it to be that bright in your car???

are you secretly an exhibitionist and you want ppl to watch you at night?

***MRQtwinturbo*** · 01-26-2004, 05:46 PM

that can't be legal.....if u were driving around at nite with those on...ur asking to get pulled over......

thisdj78 · 01-26-2004, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MRQturbo
that can't be legal.....if u were driving around at nite with those on...ur asking to get pulled over......

Um, who said I drive around with them on??

I don't drive around with them on, I use them for their intended purpose...reading maps, etc.

The Camry does not have a map light in the front....only a dome light which isn't good if you are trying to read or find something on the ground in the front seat.

Nick · 01-26-2004, 05:55 PM

if you had a sunroof you'd have a front map light

anyways, that's pretty rediculously bright, i don't even like turning on my front map light at night,

bye bye night vision

thisdj78 · 01-26-2004, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oldman
if you had a sunroof you'd have a front map light

anyways, that's pretty rediculously bright, i don't even like turning on my front map light at night,

bye bye night vision

Yeah, well no sunroof for me.

As I mentioned, I don't use this light while I drive.....only when I'm parked, so night vision isn't an issue.

***Phi*** · 01-26-2004, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thisdj78
The next step is finding something to cover the wires without it looking ghetto......I'm taking suggestions

Thanks for posting the info man!

I think it's kinda bright for inside the car, but you had your reasons. I'd like to do this in my trunk.

Why don't you just run the wires under the headliner.

thisdj78 · 01-26-2004, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phi
Thanks for posting the info man! I think it's kinda bright for inside the car, but you had your reasons. I'd like to do this in my trunk.

Why don't you just run the wires under the headliner.

Yeah the headliner is an option.......but I still need something to cover the Inverter.

I know it's super bright, but I don't let it compromise my safety. I got the idea from a car show I went to last year, there was a concept car by Mitsubishi (I think??) that had fluorescent lights but they were running along the sides of the headboard from front to back (right above the doors).

Nick · 01-26-2004, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thisdj78
Yeah, well no sunroof for me.

As I mentioned, I don't use this light while I drive.....only when I'm parked, so night vision isn't an issue.

well when you start driving again you're still blinded, takes a couple of minutes for your eyes to adjust

thisdj78 · 01-26-2004, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oldman
well when you start driving again you're still blinded, takes a couple of minutes for your eyes to adjust

I don't look directly at the light man.......it's no different then seeing a car with HID headlights coming towards you, like anyone with sense, you just don't look directly at the light.