Member Since: 04 May 2010
Location: Hants
Posts: 485
Load Space / boot Lighting Upgrade
After being frustrated with the poor load-space lighting, I took some steps several weeks ago to sort this out. Thought others might be interested. So here are some details.
First I updated all the interior courtesy lighting with HIDs w5w white LED lights. As others have found, this makes a great improvement to the drivers and passengers areas. Unfortunately, it's still pretty poor in the load-space as a) there is only one light there, and b) it has no reflector behind it so most of the light is actually lighting the area between trim and roof
So I decided to go down the LED strip light route. I looked at a lot of the options others have used here but in the end went with something else. I found on the normal auction site a 600mm sealed LED strip with 121 SMD LEDs. This unit is only 10mm deep and 25mm wide and claims to draw 0.58A at 12V or 7 Watts - just a bit more than the standard w5w. As I'd already saved 3x3.5W on the other interior LEDs, I'm still under the standard set up
Here is the strip mounted in the car. It's stuck (double sided foam tape - just tacked at present and must do it properly) just behind the load-space courtesy light. The wires come from the centre of the unit and go into that light under the existing pop out clear plastic cover. I notched the plastic trim behind that cover to get the wires in. With the cover on, it's invisible.
The light strip is flexible enough to follow the slight curve of the roof trim.
To install the light strip, I removed the rear roof trim. Then cut the existing wires (purple and black) leading to the courtesy light and crimped in the wires for the unit. Here I used some additional wire as the new strip tails are quite short. I also ran the live feed down the rear pillar (behind the rubber strip) and into the little bay behind the removable cover (towbar stowage area) I put in a switch here. Black switch shown centre with cable tie around it. All of this is easily removed and would be unnoticeable if I need to. Switch shown below.
Click image to enlarge
So here are the results:
And the regular light (bearing in mind that this is already upgraded with the HID LED and is a good 2-3 times better than the original fit bulb):
To make it a fair comparison, both those photos have exactly the same exposure. I also did a test with the lightmeter and with the lights out of shot. There is a good 5 'stops' difference (i.e. 5 times the light) with the strip on. Manufacturer claims this strip is equivalent to a 60w globe; I'd say that is about right but light is daylight not warm incandescent.
In practice, I haven't bothered really using the switch and leave it on now to work as the regular interior light. To make it even easier, I could have dispensed with the switch, taken the original light out and just stuck this over the hole (it would cover it neatly).
Unit is made by LED Autolamps (part no: 10121). I don't know if you can get them elsewhere but mine cost me about £45.
Overall, very happy with the result.
14th Nov 2010 7:33 pm
Sonic3d
Member Since: 22 Nov 2005
Location: Ross on Wye Herefordshire
Posts: 872
Looks good could you post a link to them please as ive tried to find them but failedI can resist everything except TEMPTATION
Can Am Commander 1000XT
Seen the light and bought a 4Motion T5
14th Nov 2010 7:46 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13912
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
Just seen this post.
Fantastic modification Richard and a very clean installation 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
15th Nov 2010 5:32 pm
Ted Newman
Member Since: 09 Oct 2010
Location: SE London
Posts: 840
I am intrigued as what you use your cars for that you need the load space floodlit
We spend several months of the year caravan camping and visit some pretty dark places but find the normal "boot light" sufficient - OK I am talking about our present car BUT it can not have lesser lights in the Discovery! LR Discovery 4 XS pulling an Airstream 532 Caravan also own (since new) a 1996 MGF
15th Nov 2010 5:32 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26702
I find the boot lighting very dim compared to the passenger area. I thin k this will be my next upgrade.
I will probably not wire it to the interior lights, but will power it via a switch from the auxilliary battery.
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could you post a link to them please as ive tried to find them but failed
Assumed the wire photo was from the side area of the boot 
