Interior Lighting Ideas? Soft Top IIa

[RoverForm]

Who's got some savvy ideas?

I typically run it topless with the windscreen down in the summer, but during rainier cold seasons with the top on I'd like to have a dome light. Under dash light? LED strip along the top of the windscreen?

Has anyone installed something clever?

[o2batsea]

I have a license plate lamp mounted on a windshield wiper motor cover in the dash. It has LED bulbs but looks right:

http://www.defendersource.com/forum/f47/conversion-project-33249-24.html#post491116

I stripped it and then replated it with zinc in my home electroplating rig.

[TedW]

I took the stock dome lamp from my IIA, removed the vinyl from the base, and attached it to the hoop (just behind the seats) using a hose clamp: just screw the base to the tail of the hose clamp and you are good to go. For you rivet counters out there I even got some correct purple wire with white stripes...............

[I Leak Oil]

I did similar to TedW except picked up a generic interior light from the parts store and used two zip ties through the mounting plate so you can't see them. Less than $10 and brighter than the original.

[LaneRover]

What about an LED strip along the hoop itself?

[Contractor]

I installed a couple of LED lights just over the top of the windscreen and they are tied into the dome light switch. They are super bright and you can barely even notice the fixtures themselves.

I thought about trying to install them on the first hoop, but am glad I put them where I did now that they are actually installed.

[Contractor]

Here is a link to the lights I used.

http://olympusoffroad.3dcartstores.com/18W-Bolt-Rock-Lights_p_27.html

[jcoleman]

Sometimes the simple solutions are the best--I've got one of these magnetic LED lights stuck on the top's door frame:

[I Leak Oil]

Those magnetic LED's are very handy. I have a couple I use all the time.
The interior light I bought is something like this:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/OPT0/IL21CS/N0387.oap?ck=Search_N0387_-1_4740&pt=N0387&ppt=C0335

Use the original wiring and switch and Bob's your uncle.

[RoverForm]

Update!

Thanks for all the tips!

I did something similar to what Contractor had done.

I installed three strip-LEDs last night, took about three hours total to plan the routing, run the wire, then wired 'em to a SPST toggle that's powered off the ignition. Lights can be operated either by the toggle or the ignition switch.

I used three of the four strips in the $7 pack from Amazon, two above the windscreen and one under the middle hoop over the tub. These strips fit right under the lip above the windscreen glass so they are totally recessed and hidden from view when switched off (finally got lucky for once). The wire is segmented in sections with quick clips so the hoop set can be removed without disturbing the lights up front.

What a difference!!!!

[Oscar]

I use a headlight...... as in a light on my head.

That said I did run a wire to the top of the windshield when I rewired and was going to put a light on my hard top, with a connector for when I take the top off this summer, but then I would have no light. I really like the rock lights on the top of the window.....

Thanks for the tip.

[Firemanshort]

I have a Series III style dash.

I used a very similar self adhesive LED light strip under my upper dash and lower dash. The result is light in the cubby areas and the floor boards. I bought my lights from superbright LEDS web site and chose an "antique white" color to try to keep the light more in keeping with the older vehicle.

I wired the lights to the dash light switch that I replaced from a two position switch to a three position (headlight / heater fan) switch to keep the dash looking factory.

The whole job cost about $15 (I had a spare switch in my junk pile). I am super pleased with the result.

[ray96disco]

I have a license plate lamp mounted on a windshield wiper motor cover in the dash. It has LED bulbs but looks right:

http://www.defendersource.com/forum/f47/conversion-project-33249-24.html#post491116

I stripped it and then replated it with zinc in my home electroplating rig.

Nice touch.

[lemonhead]

Easy. Cheap. Clean.

LED tape, couple connectors, run wires down middle of window under channel, wire to dash light switch. Done.

Less than $20 in parts with plenty extra for other projects.