Cabin Light (nb8a)

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

CJ5

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby CJ5 » Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:56 pm

I want more brightness - I was wondering if I could change my cabin light to a brighter bulb than the current 8W without issues? Bunnings would sell these right?

User avatar
philz
Wheel guru
Posts: 1297
Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:32 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Sydney

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby philz » Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:26 pm

Not sure about bunnings but an autostore would have some.

Btw a brighter one won't help that much because the cover is tinted,.

If you don't mind the the ghettoness you can either remove the cover, or you can retain the cover but drill some holes into it.

User avatar
TieNN89
Speed Racer
Posts: 2012
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:27 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby TieNN89 » Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:42 pm

yeah what he said

a brighter one won't make much difference between the cover is tinted

Mr Morlock
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby Mr Morlock » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:00 pm

it's not that simple. Festoons like other bulbs are made to specific standards and the dimension of the product also restricts the wattage. Bursons has the full range of Philips and many Narva festoons. The standard interior light is really not designed for map reading but more for general convenience. If you really want to read the street directory or read other small print you can buy proper reading lights. Examples of these are those which have a flexible arm and adjustable head. These can be plugged into a 12v socket or can be hard wired from a live wire pick up point and slung under the dash so they are not on show. You have an advantage also that the product is fully portable and you can take it out of the car when you sell it or in the case of a plug in type transfer to any other car. If you could get a higher wattage festoon to sit in your interior light it will in all likelihood damage the acrylic lense as the lamps have very little clearance betwixt lense and light source and build up of heat will result.

User avatar
Matty
Racing Driver
Posts: 1652
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby Matty » Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:46 pm

An LED replacement may be brighter (thoeretically/could be), and won't melt the housing.

User avatar
Okibi
Speed Racer
Posts: 10898
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Contact:

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby Okibi » Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:29 am

You're an ideas man. :mrgreen:

I keep a torch in the glove box.
If you had access to a car like this, would you take it back right away? Neither would I.

CJ5

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby CJ5 » Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:06 am

ah yeah - the tinted cover.. won't bother then. Dont need it brighter to read maps, just randomly thought the other night that the light is not that bright.. eh, screw it

User avatar
Garry
Speed Racer
Posts: 3481
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB SP
Location: God's Country
Contact:

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby Garry » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:29 am

If the bulb is old you could try a new one. As they get older they're not as bright.
Shiney black one with added red bits. Member of the fart club. Now with extra doof and Sunlong. - deceased and gone to heaven

User avatar
Regie
Speed Racer
Posts: 4259
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm
Vehicle: NC - V8
Location: Sydney

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby Regie » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:21 pm

i got one of those interior lighting kits from Mania. made a vit of a difference in the brightness of light in the cabin
MY07 NC, Mazdaspeed Body, Ohlins, Full GWR Exhaust, 17x9 RPF1's, 4.1FGR and lots lots more

User avatar
TieNN89
Speed Racer
Posts: 2012
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:27 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane
Contact:

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby TieNN89 » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:10 pm

Matty wrote:An LED replacement may be brighter (thoeretically/could be), and won't melt the housing.


I've already gone LED still not much brighter

I now have them interior light kit things same as Regie

it attaches to both side of the console

brightens up the cabin

User avatar
Matty
Racing Driver
Posts: 1652
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: Melbourne
Contact:

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby Matty » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:13 pm


wun911
Speed Racer
Posts: 2114
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:13 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Melbourne

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby wun911 » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:29 pm

I really don't want to carry a torch and batteries in the glove box.

So can you get the cover but not tinted??? wouldnt that solve the problem???
every ounce counts

CJ5

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby CJ5 » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:56 pm

Garry wrote:If the bulb is old you could try a new one. As they get older they're not as bright.


Bought a 10W replacement (2W more than before) and I guess the old one was pretty old coz the cabin is a fair bit brighter now

User avatar
bruce
Speed Racer
Posts: 7706
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NA8 - Turbo
Location: Victoria
Contact:

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby bruce » Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:59 pm

If I remember correctly, someone fitted a downlight?

wun911
Speed Racer
Posts: 2114
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2007 12:13 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Melbourne

Cabin Light (nb8a)

Postby wun911 » Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:35 pm

yeah that was meanmx they were more like flood lights like the ones batman used.
every ounce counts


Return to “MX5 Audio, Electronics & Lighting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 126 guests