Thanks Robert. Very good point.

In light of Dennis' correct comments on my, "ahem", electrical work,
IMO, my planning seems to be fairly non existent or at the very least
I get a little too focused and don't see better solutions.

In hindsight, I should have wired in an idiot light for the added rear
light. But then I have a diesel cluster so could repurpose the glow
plug light (thank you Mark Drillock for the idea) as a MIL light and
re purpose the giant red MIL I installed image:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CZtlhqNQ29s/TJOyEu0NNRI/AAAAAAAADtI/WObpQtwyeW8/s1024/AugSeptTrip2010TempGauge.jpg

as light for a back up reminder light. Or put the Mk3 goofy Mexican
chime pulled from the donor, to good use.   Ha ha.

Tony: thanks for the link. Seems Princess Auto has same or similar
shown here: http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8412066/12v-Utility-Lights/4-in.-Utility-Work-Light

Seems they have quite a few options.

LED would make the most sense but maybe pricey?

I recall upgrading my '62 Belair to sealed beam Halogen. After a long
day of driving and playing a gig in Kelowna, on the long trip home was
getting flashed by a trucker. Seems my brights were on and in his side
mirror. His "reminder" light was up on the side mirror and aimed kind
of low. It got my attention but didn't blind me. Still. I wouldn't use
this light for that purpose.

Neil.

On Tue, Feb 19, 2013 at 6:41 AM, Robert Stevens <mtbiker62@gmail.com> wrote:

> For people who don't camp, I can see where they might start fabricating imagined stories
> about the possibilities and concerns of "leaving the light on".... but, as I've been camping
> in my 3 different Vanagon's since '88, I've never backed into a camp spot, at night, when
> the light was needed, then left it on while I exited the vehicle, gotten inside the van via the
> side slider, popped the top, then 3 days later driven off with the separately-switched back
> up light on. Pretty dumb and sillly when looked at in a practical sense, innit. ;-)
> Turning a HID on via that switch, takes about 30 seconds for it to "heat up" the gas to
> reach full brightness, so that ONLY happens in camp spots, and is very easy to discern
> that it is on, as it turns dark night into BRIGHT daylight.

--
Neil n

65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp

'88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.

'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines