Light in glove box

[UKPhilTR7]

<font color="green"><b>I an thinking of putting a little light in the glove box on the top, so that it comes on when the door is opened. Has anyone done anything like this before and how easy would it be to do?</b></font id="green">

[Philip]

I havent tried it but it should be easy enough. I would take a feed off the lead to the door lamp from the passenger courtesy switch. For the lamp, I bought a 12v lamp with a microswitch for my caravan some time ago and I would use that. Actually - why not use a microswitch on the glove box lid so it comes on when the box is opened ?

Still standing !

[Philip]

Sorry - thats what you meant isnt it. Not a good day today !

[Odd]

I've done it to my '8:


I used an 'adapted' door switch and a license plate light fitted into the 'roof' of the glove box.
(First try was a failure due to the fact I used a normal interior light - which didn't have any shade
in the direction of the person opening the glove box lid. Second try was a success when I'd
found that Hella plate lamp - that only shines down (and in) but not straight out towards the
eyes of the passenger. Something to think about...)

PS
There is an auto detect feature in this that tells if the switch have failed:
The switch doubles as the glove box alarm detector - if it fails the alarm will act up and report...
[8D]

[marknotgeorge]

The glovebox light in my '95 Astra is flush with the side of the glovebox. Might be worth a trip to the scrappy to source something similar.

Mark, Derby, UK.
'80 DHC Sprint - '95 Vauxhall Astra - '00 Vauxhall Zafira
http://www.marknotgeorge.co.uk - http://www.eggsandantlers.co.uk

[UKPhilTR7]

<font color="green"><b>I quite like the sound of this and the fact that I am not the only person to have this idea. The fact that it works as well is great.

If you could post the picture that would be great, would give me an idea of how to go about it. Hope you have a nice amout of beer on the company tab lol.</b></font id="green">

[saabfast]

Most 'modern' cars have a clear plastic lamp holder which just pushes into a rectangular hole cut in the top or side to give a flush fit, so getting something from a breaker should be no problem. just remember that it is like the fridge light - you don't know it has gone off! My fathers Vectra had a problem with a flat battery which the AA guy traced to the glovebox light not switching off. Perhaps that is why on my Saab it is only live with the lights and/or ignition on.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
'81 TR7 DHC

[marknotgeorge]

Another thought. Instead of a normal bulb, you could use an ultrabright LED. It'd be simpler to fit (just drill a hole in the glovebox) and even if the switch failed, you'd get minimal current drain.

Mark, Derby, UK.
'80 DHC Sprint - '95 Vauxhall Astra - '00 Vauxhall Zafira
http://www.marknotgeorge.co.uk - http://www.eggsandantlers.co.uk

[UKPhilTR7]

<b><font color="green">That is a thought would be a lot more simple then making a big hole in it and the LED would be bright enough.</b></font id="green">

[Rich in Vancouver]

You may want to try a marine supply store. We have a good Marine Hardware store locally and they have a huge selection of this sort of thing, both LED and incandescent.

Cheers,
Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U

[fiveliters]

They sell these push-button LED lights here in the US,they use a AAA battery,and are very bright. You'd never forget to turn it off,and even if you did,you wouldn't have to worry about a car battery drain. I put one on the roof of my hardtop when I installed it,but I don't think my glovebox is dark enough to warrant one yet![:)]