[How To] Powered Trunk Lighting w/Powerlet

[Mellow]

I know... you're saying to yourself "Why doesn't Mellow just go get another wing,
enough with all the lights.... "

But, trust me, you'll like this one...

I can't say how much I really like the Stingerz LEDs from Custom Dynamics.

I used them on the Mellow Lighting post and decided I could do something with
the Givi trunk and the powerlet I have installed. So, here goes:

I used a strip of 3 White LEDs for this application.

I have a powerlet installed in my trunk for charging my cell phone. Here's
what it looks like inside the trunk.

I found a place on the lid of the Givi trunk where it's got just the angle I
wanted to point the light at the contents of the trunk.

I found some spare wiring that had one end that fit the male/female
pigtail of the powerlet so I decided to use that to get the power to
the switch.

I now needed a place for a switch, I had a couple of these sitting around
and they are just small enough to fit behind the red document holder on
the trunk but you could just as easily epoxy'd it to the inside somewhere.

I hooked up all the wires and tested then soldered and taped it all up.

and...... the finished product:

 

[Mellow]

Update:

Since this mod I have added a mercury switch so the light only comes on when the trunk is open.

Also, they make lots of dome-light-led replacement now that are flat and contain anywhere from 3-9 leds, I started using those as they are much brighter.

 

[CoolNT]

I noticed some duct tape at the bottom of your case. Isn't using silicon and the right grommet a better way to go or am I missing something?

 

[Mellow]

I noticed some duct tape at the bottom of your case. Isn't using silicon and the right grommet a better way to go or am I missing something?

I put that there to cover the exposed screws/nuts so I wouldn't catch a fingernail on them searching for something in the trunk and also to keep from scratching something I put in the trunk.

 

[CoolNT]

Ah, okay that makes sense. Thanks.

 

[Bloodthune]

Since this mod I have added a mercury switch so the light only comes on when the trunk is open.

Clever. Where did you find a mercury switch?

 

[Mellow]

Clever. Where did you find a mercury switch?

I'll need to look around... it took me a while.. some on STO said to just go find an old home thermostat or something.

 

[Bloodthune]

...some on STO said to just go find an old home thermostat or something.

Clever. I just happen to have an old thermostat. I used to fix home heaters twenty years go.

 

[CoolNT]

Okay, so where do you find one of these pre-historic contraptions at?

 

[Mellow]

This is a similar merc switch as the one I used.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TWQ0KC/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002ZPBKM&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1EPVT9DRWVS5CEBEAPJQ

 

[MAC]

That's a cool idea, they also have magnetic switches.

This is what's great about forum's, all the good info.

 

[Chuck 500]

Not sure what has happened here. None of the pictures above have any thing to do with mounting a power outlet.

 

[Phil Tarman]

Maybe he's trying to check our attention-level.

 

[maxweljames]

I thought the first few pics were demonstrating how bright his trunk light actually was, so bright that if the NT had a reverse gear you could drive backwards at night with the trunk open. Then I just got confused with the rest of the pics.

 

[Mellow]

Sorry, the last upgrade at STO messed up with some urls... I'll fix these today.. LOL

 

[Mellow]

Okay.. should be fixed now.

 

[Chuck 500]

I like it. If I ever need light in there, that's what I'll do.