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Interior LED lights - color temp preference?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Tullie D, Jan 22, 2020.

  1. Jan 22, 2020 at 5:39 AM
    #1
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I've been playing around a little with different LED map lights, and decided that I like 6000K color temperature the best. It came down to a choice between 4100K and 6000K. I decided that I'm going to put 6000K lights in the dome, map, and vanity lights.

    This actually surprised me because I have a definite preference for much lower color temperature lights inside the house. :notsure:

    What about you folks? What do you prefer? :popcorn:
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2020
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  2. Jan 24, 2020 at 8:44 AM
    #2
    Tacospike

    Tacospike Semi-Unknown Custodial Member

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    5500k range seems to be my sweet spot
     
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  3. Mar 16, 2020 at 4:54 AM
    #3
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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  4. Mar 21, 2020 at 7:08 AM
    #4
    Crossgolf

    Crossgolf Active Member

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    Warm white in the passanger area cold white in the luggage / bed areas of all cars.. also depends on what I have laying around. Also I don't want the passanger area to be too bright in case I have to turn them on when I am driving.
     
  5. Mar 24, 2020 at 7:07 AM
    #5
    TacoFergie

    TacoFergie Well-Known Member

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    I prefer around a 4000K light, maybe even a little warmer toward the 3500K range.

    I did a “warm white” which is advertised as 3500K 10w COB led in my factory housing with a driver to help with over driving/over heating. Very even lighting and very bright. But because it’s a warmer white it isn’t harsh on the eyes.

    FYI, these pictures aren’t perfect since they are phone pictures. They were taken while there was still some light out, at night it’s a nice warm glow and there is even light on the rear seat floor which was shadowed heavily before.

    https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/303441569380

    7E740196-FAC4-45A4-BFD6-27E1A8B74229.jpg

    C40F9794-E82C-462C-823C-360630EE9CFF.jpg

    AE9904B7-99F1-47F4-8FC4-C706C91FE01E.jpg

    I did the cool white in my reverse lights of my beater car (01 Subaru Outback), the reverse lights are against the wall. That took a good deal of cutting....haha But it is quite bright, even spread, decent throw. COB LEDs by design are very good at light distribution, but lack throw of light.

    49323948-CC17-45E3-9280-9D0CD2480BB2.jpg
     
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  6. Mar 24, 2020 at 8:48 AM
    #6
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Nice! I may get some of those to experiment with. Thanks for sharing!
     
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  7. Mar 24, 2020 at 8:52 AM
    #7
    TacoFergie

    TacoFergie Well-Known Member

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    FYI they took about 4 weeks to get from china to here, in our current situation who knows! So look for a seller that ships from the US or look on Amazon. I have seen them on amazon before as well, more expensive but they ship from the US. Don't forget a driver as well when playing with these. They will work without a driver for about 10 min before overheating and starting to burn individual diodes, I bought a bunch to play with and intentionally destroyed one.
     
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  8. Mar 24, 2020 at 9:12 AM
    #8
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks. Do you have a recommendation for what driver to use?
     
  9. Mar 24, 2020 at 9:18 AM
    #9
    TacoFergie

    TacoFergie Well-Known Member

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    This is the one I used. But any with the same specs will work. It is very small! Also I tried getting a spec sheet in those COB LEDs but the seller didn’t really understand what I was saying an basically just said they are 12vdc.

    https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/173360957442

    When I installed it I removed the dome light housing and soldered a pair of wires on the contacts/prongs where the original bulb goes, then to the driver and finally to the contacts of the led. Just make sure if you do something like this that the back of the LED board isn’t touching the contacts as I would ground blow the fuse. It always bugged me that the bulb wasn’t centered in the housing! Haha
     
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  10. Mar 24, 2020 at 9:46 AM
    #10
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks!
     
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  11. Apr 3, 2020 at 12:13 AM
    #11
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    @TacoFergie

    I ordered some of the lights and drivers yesterday. Drivers are supposed to be here sometime next week. Lights are supposed to be here in about 3-4 weeks. Thanks for sharing the information!
     
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  12. Apr 3, 2020 at 5:38 AM
    #12
    TacoFergie

    TacoFergie Well-Known Member

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    No problem!! Here's a few tips.

    -It makes it a lot easier if the dome light assembly is removed, plus less likely to pop a fuse since it is disconnected from the connector.

    -Make 100% SURE you do not have the back side of the LED board touching the factory contacts/tabs. It will create a short if it does and blow the fuse.

    -On the top side of the dome light housing is where I soldered a pair of 20awg or 22awg wires (just speaker wire i had laying around) to the contacts. That way it operates as it normally would. Scuff the area you want to solder with some sand paper, clean with contact cleaner or alcohol, put a small amount of flux on the contact surface and wire, apply solder to the contact and wires separately, lastly you'll heat the contact with your soldering iron and insert the wire on the contact, remove the soldering iron and hold the wire to the contact till it cools and is solid (I know, a bit of a run-on sentence). I like a liquid or paste flux in a tube, easier for me apply in small areas like that.

    -I de-soldered the wires on the driver board and just inserted new wires because the wires on the board aren't long enough. Much easier and cleaner than trying to solder wires to wires or butt connectors.

    -You will need to encase the driver in some way to ensure it does not bounce around, contact metal and create a short. I used a piece of large heat shrink (1" I believe) and then Tesa tape around that and the wires. Tesa tape is amazing stuff! You'll love it once you use it, really cleans up wiring and prevents vibration from wiring, connectors or components.

    https://www.amazon.com/Tesa-Adhesiv...d=1&keywords=TESSA+TAPE&qid=1585915345&sr=8-3

    That's all I can think of for now. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. No question is stupid, chances are others have the same questions but are afraid of asking. And I don't have all the answers, but there are a lot of people here that can answer almost any question!
     
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  13. Oct 13, 2020 at 4:15 PM
    #13
    Tullie D

    Tullie D [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I liked my off the shelf lights (see post #3 above) better.
     
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