Grab handle lighting

[jvdb55]

Has anyone replaced grab handle lighting. I have new bulb, socket, and wiring. How do I get into or under the dash to get at the wires?

[cat938g]

me too!

[roscoesdad]

I removed the grab handle from my Ambassador. Behind it was plenty of room to mount a socket and a LED bulb. I drilled threw the wall, where the socket was placed, and tied into the wiring which works my poarch light. took couple of hours and worked well.

Here is some ideas that helped me. Found the light = for grab handle

[wa8yxm]

I have replaced the light in my grab handle... But I gather you wish to install where there was none.

NOTE: on my handle the light was an LED, it did not last long and neither did the 1st replacement.. Being trained in electronics I decided to find out why.. The series resistor was 150 ohms. 650 is closer to the proper value.. The 2nd replacement has lasted a long time relative, and shows signs it will last much longer. (not dead yet)

[Mike Canter]

The size of the resistor depends on the current draw of the LED. Most Radio Shack LEDs need an 850 ohm resistor.

I believe he has a light and is trying to replace it and the problem he is having is to pulling enough wire out of the little hole in the dash because the connectors are big and hang up on the other side of the hole and you cannot get to it from behind. You have to carefully pull one wire at a time so you can get one connector at a time to come through the hole. It is safer just to cut the wires and join them all together and stuff the connectors into the handle end.

[RVRon]

Quote:

Originally Posted by roscoesdad I removed the grab handle from my Ambassador. Behind it was plenty of room to mount a socket and a LED bulb. I drilled threw the wall, where the socket was placed, and tied into the wiring which works my poarch light. took couple of hours and worked well. Here is some ideas that helped me. Found the light = for grab handle

This project is on for the spring. Thanks for all the information.

[wa8yxm]

Sounds to me like he's planing on adding a light where there was none.

To the O/P. I have not researched but if a LED lamp can be found that is the size of the small reflector type lamp Let me check 1K Bulbs (Ah it is an MR8) I have not found them with LED's yet but that is fairly close to the assembly in the base of my handle.

Oh, and to the person who said 850 is the proper resistance for most Radio Shack LED's... I used a high brightness JUMBO led, takes a smaller resistor, should have mentioned that. The bottom line is... I DID THE MATH (fairly simple)

I wanted to drop all 12 volts in the resistor at the LED's rated max current, plus perhaps a bit more (That allows for higher voltage at the led than 12) For the LED I choose I had to drill the opening in the reflector a bit larger, and join two resistors from my junk box in series.