Lighting the engine bay

Post by **jackkelleher** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:24 pm

Just a random thing I found useful-
My garage is very badly lit, and with winter hours I have some visibility problems... But instead of investing in a lamp I bypassed that! Interesting to see if anyone else has done this:
I just soldered two wires to a rear light bulb, one of the single filament ones, and connected one lead to the earth on the control box and the other to the right-hand contact of the always-on fuse in the fusebox- it produces a bright, quick and well-placed light, especially for work on the dizzy, oil pump etc, but even for the other side of the engine!
Just thought I'd mention it, see how many other people do this...

Post by **Kevin** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:50 am

Sounds a reasonable solution Jack but I prefer an inspection lamp as they seem to take being knocked about (who said I was clumsy

) a bit better.

Post by **Orkney** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:10 am

Someone on teh LEO run (Alex or Ray IIRC) had a brilliant 12v inspection lamp just hook onto the battery with crock clips, brilliantly useful thing. The plug in mains ones go through lightbulbs like goodness knows what.

Post by **RogerRust** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:22 am

You can buy rough use bulbs for inspection lamps I bought a box of 20 because I thought that they were a good idea and have 1 left. That was 30 years ago! A bit like the Irishman who was given 3 wishes "I'll have a pint on Guinness that never runs out" - "what about the other 2 wishes?" -- "I'll have two more of those please"

Post by **alex_holden** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:35 am

Orkney wrote:Someone on teh LEO run (Alex or Ray IIRC) had a brilliant 12v inspection lamp just hook onto the battery with crock clips, brilliantly useful thing. The plug in mains ones go through lightbulbs like goodness knows what.

That belongs to my landlord - he wasn't using it so I've borrowed it for the time being. I've been keeping an eye out at car boot sales but I've not seen another one quite like it. It's got a thick rubber housing and a very bright 12V bulb, plus it attaches via a strong crocodile clip on a ball joint. The cable is long enough to go right around the car with it. Much nicer than the cheap plastic ones that you can never seem to get pointing in the right direction.

Post by **mal** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:39 pm

Sounds good Alex, don't suppose you have a photo of it we could all see

??

Mal

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:46 pm

If you ever find a Lada in scrap yard check out the neat underbonnet light as easilly adaptable to other cars.
Also my old 240 Volvo had a light with mercury switch that is equally useful.

Paul Humphries

Post by **Axolotl** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:10 pm

You can get 12v bulbs with standard mains-sized bayonet fittings. I use them on my narrowboat. Lets you use domestic light fittings on a 12v circuit. You can get them from most chandlers.

That way, you could use any mains type inspection lamp with croc clips substituted for the 13 A plug.

Don't know how robust the 12v bulbs are though.

Post by **alex_holden** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:44 pm

mal wrote:Sounds good Alex, don't suppose you have a photo of it we could all see ??

The bulb is a large spherical 36W type. It says "BSP" and "PAT NO 921089" on the handle.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:57 pm

alex_holden wrote:
mal wrote:Sounds good Alex, don't suppose you have a photo of it we could all see ??

The bulb is a large spherical 36W type. It says "BSP" and "PAT NO 921089" on the handle.

I've got one of those.
Bulbs are super tough and I haven't broken one in over 10 years use.
Besides 12v battery power I've got a small transformer meant for low voltage lighting for mains operation.
I have cheap & cheerful 2 pole connectors from Wilkinsons so can select what power source - battery or mains transformer.

Paul Humphries.

Post by **alex_holden** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:34 pm

paulhumphries wrote:I've got one of those.

Don't suppose you know where I could buy another?

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:58 pm

alex_holden wrote:
paulhumphries wrote:I've got one of those.
Don't suppose you know where I could buy another?

I got it from a motor trade warehouse at Manchester where I've an account (I'm techincally the UK agent for a French Ltd company but it's never traded. Still has VAT number so enabled me to gain access as there are also business premises - an proper old fashioned garage in a small town that is just used for storage of friends collection of cars ).
They now tend to sell for the "boy racer" market so I don't go there anymore.
Not cheap but so tough that they are worth paying the extra.
VEHICLE WIRING PRODUCTS LTD sell them - "Lighting" / "Worklamps" Ref: S6006
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu

Paul Humphries

Post by **alex_holden** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:08 pm

Ooh, ta. That looks like an updated version of the design - my landlord's one doesn't have a switch on the body or plastic pads on the gripper.

Post by **mal** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:10 pm

That's great

thanks Alex for putting the photo up, great that Paul knows where to obtain them... will have to get one after tha festivities..

Mal

Post by **jonathon** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:16 pm

They are on special offer from Sealy, just bought 3 of them with transformers for the workshop, think they were about £13 each trade. Can check on the 2nd of Jan when we go back to work if anyone might be interested (assuming the offer is still on)

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:32 pm

jonathon wrote:They are on special offer from Sealy, just bought 3 of them with transformers for the workshop, think they were about £13 each trade. Can check on the 2nd of Jan when we go back to work if anyone might be interested (assuming the offer is still on)

That's a brilliant

price !
I think I paid around £15 years ago for just a 12v one from a trade warehouse.
Not sure of make but know it was cheap / on offer at the time otherwise I wouldn't have bought one for myself.

Paul Humphries

Post by **alex_holden** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 8:49 am

jonathon wrote:They are on special offer from Sealy, just bought 3 of them with transformers for the workshop, think they were about £13 each trade. Can check on the 2nd of Jan when we go back to work if anyone might be interested (assuming the offer is still on)

Definitely interested.

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:07 am

The sealy one only has the battery clamps, not the cig lighter fitting, If I remember these were about £10. The ones I related to above were workshop lamps. Will check on availability in the New year and post back then.

Post by **alex_holden** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:30 pm

I don't have a cigarette lighter socket... Apart from an adapter cable with crocodile clips on it.

Post by **dunketh** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:31 pm

I use a spotlight that lives in my shed at work.
Its one of a pair that I haven't gotton around to actually fitting yet.

Morris Minor Owners Club