Hi my name is Jack not sure if I have ever properly introduced myself. I've been a lurker since 2005 and have had a few buses in that time which this board has been invaluable.
I am currently replacing the tired 8v71 in my H8H649 with a new to me 8v71 and while it was out I was thinking of replacing the incandescent engine compartment lights with LED lighting. I was thinking of using the waterproof LED strip lighting but seems a bit expensive for this purpose. Anybody have any other ideas?
I am also in need of a engine compartment electrical panel cover and the pan that bolts to the cradle under the radiator. I'm not certain but would think the parts may be the same for the PD 490x.
Thanks for your advice in advance.
Here is a pic of the cleaned up engine compartment:
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/110124232/2012-10-03_11-43-13_154_resize.jpg)
Don't have your parts, but I was curious about the bus, since I had never heard of an H8H-649, so I found this: http://www.oocities.org/~buslist/GM_Buf_Del/H8H-649.html (http://www.oocities.org/~buslist/GM_Buf_Del/H8H-649.html)
Is your bus on that list?
Brian
Thanks Brian, yep my bus is 053 originally a Peninsula Charter Lines bus working the San Francisco airport.
Jack
While LED's would look really good-the LED's still don't put out enough light. And you just don't use the engine compartment lights that much. I would suggest you just keep with the regular incadescent lights-maybe add more to make it brighter. Good Luck, TomC
Thanks Tom
I installed six four inch strips inside the coach and they put out an amazing amount of light like this:
http://www.elementalled.com/high-density-24v-brighter-flexible-led-strip-light.html (http://www.elementalled.com/high-density-24v-brighter-flexible-led-strip-light.html)
I was thinking of using this for the engine compartment:
http://www.elementalled.com/high-density-waterproof-led-strip-light-by-the-foot.html (http://www.elementalled.com/high-density-waterproof-led-strip-light-by-the-foot.html)
I'd actually prefer this but can't find in 24 volt:
http://www.elementalled.com/3-bulb-led-light-module.html (http://www.elementalled.com/3-bulb-led-light-module.html)
The problem with the incandescent bulbs is the current fixtures, which I was surprised to fine I had five of since having the engine out, all have bulbs rusted in and broken off(I had one working one which always needed fiddled with to work when it was needed). I found that the LED lights are pretty indestructible and the new consolidated ones put out plenty of light.
Thanks,
Jack
The third link looks interesting, but it would take 10 of them to make as much light as a foot of the second link It also uses almost
twice the power. Not sure what it means,since they are sold by the module, but it says two modules per foot.
I found a company that may help with running LEDs on 24 volts.
Digi-Key had what I needed to limit the current to my LED units whether single light units or multiple.
This worked for me.