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Converting Headlights to Interior Low Voltage

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by jayhawkclint, Mar 6, 2013.

  1. jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    I have an old CJ grille that I want to hang on the wall indoors. I want the headlights and parking lamps to run very dim. Looking for ideas to convert them to a low voltage lighting. Initial thought is to put in a rheostat that is turned down to ~6 volts or so. Another thought is to hack a pair of bulbs and epoxy in a new set of 120v low wattage mini-bulbs. Anyone done this before that can keep me from burning the house down?
     
    jayhawkclint, Mar 6, 2013
    #1
  2. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    You`d need a fairly heavy duty reostat if you go that way, probably rated for 50 watts or more.

    Easiest is to run them in series.

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Mar 7, 2013
    #2
  3. F Bill

    F Bill Member

    Cheap power supply from the electronics store set to a low voltage. (Probably could find one on ebay...)
     
    F Bill, Mar 7, 2013
    #3
  4. 64pete

    64pete Member

    Or just feed them with a 6 volt battery charger...
     
    64pete, Mar 7, 2013
    #4
  5. Mr. Gangrene Jeans

    Mr. Gangrene Jeans I See Voices&Hear Visions

    Mr. Gangrene Jeans, Mar 7, 2013
    #5
  6. Mike C

    Mike C Member

    Last edited: Mar 8, 2013
    Mike C, Mar 8, 2013
    #6
  7. StumpJumper

    StumpJumper New Member

    StumpJumper, Mar 8, 2013
    #7
  8. wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Isn't some that low voltage under cabinet household lighting stuff 12v?
     
    wheelie, Mar 9, 2013
    #8
  9. jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    I didn't even think of running them in series. Do you think if I could run all 4 (2 headlights + 2 park lamps) in series off of a low voltage lighting transformer?
     
    jayhawkclint, Mar 10, 2013
    #9
  10. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Its a little harder to run the parking lights in series as they're grounded through the lamp housing- you'd have to find a way to isolate them from the grill. I'm not sure how that would affect the brightness level between the parking bulbs & headlights but i suspect ti would cut the headlamps down quite a bit 9maybe too much) and the parks not so much. You coud also try running each headlamp is series with the parking lamp on the same side,

    All I can say is try it & see what happens.

    What are you using for a power source?

    H.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Mar 10, 2013
    #10