LED lighting system

[edfardos]

Maybe $40 worth of stuff.

LED "tape":

https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...-3-chip-smd-led-5050-with-lc2-connector/1465/

12Volt DC flex lamp:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390665733180?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT


Plus a burned finger, solder, shink tubing, patience, epoxy, deans connectors, vhb tape, 12Volt ac-adapter (purchased with led tape) and an old switch I found.

I thought I'd share!

--edfardos

 

[GW Staar]

Nice and brite!

I did something similar with tape from Radio Shack.....bought some tiny rare earth magnets to epoxy to the tape......anchors the tape strong & sure but removes easily from the iron Pro 2000 casting! Just one more perk for having a cast iron press vs. aluminum.

What's the white stuff in the bullet tray for?

 

[horseman1]

Nice work Edfardos. I am needing to add some light to my setup as well.

 

[BCRider]

For those of us with Ikea stores nearby they make a small head LED work lamp called the "Jansjo" which is low in price and bright in light. The flex neck and head is very similar in size to the unit in edfardos' pictures above but it's mounted to a roughly 6 inch round heavy base. When using my press I drag it over and bend the neck to light up the shell plate area just like shown above. But because it's not dedicated to the press I can also use it for close in work around the press.

The first one worked out SO WELL that I went and bought 4 more. For some I tossed the base and mounted the head and flex neck to permanent brackets on my lathe and milling machine. The rest are used in other work areas as a neat little task light that doesn't get in the way.

I modified mine to put the switch where it's more handy by winding part of the low voltage cord around the base of the neck and then stuck the inline switch to the base with a small strip of double sided carpet tape. But glues like epoxy or CA would work well too.

I was thinking about the LED tape inside the frame on my Dillon. But in practice just sliding the Jansjo light over and pointing the head is working out just fine. With the head being smaller than a golf ball it's just not at all in the way.

 

[SSN Vet]

The mag base LED sewing machine lights on Amazon are another good choice, and they have the power convertor and switch built in.

price has dropped to $10 since I got mine.... I think I may need to buy another one.

I'm not sure if it's .5 W total, or per bulb though.

the OP's light appears brighter than this one.

 

[edfardos]

I looked into magnets for the lamp base, but tried "VHB tape" which is a double sided foam tape. After cleaning the base of the lamp and bullet tray with alcohol, it stuck firmly! I was kinda surprised how well it's stuck. The black switch on the back of the base is also stuck on with VHB tape, as are a couple of wires. I assumed I'd have to figure out how to use screws or magnets later, but this thing is on there for ever. GWStar's magnetic LED tape is a great idea too -- just be sure to actuate your press slowly and make sure there's clearance! The LED tape came with a sticky backing, which is holding so far, but i'll use magnets if it fails.

white stuff on bullet tray is just some foam to keep soft bullets from denting as drop them on the tray. probably not necessary.

For the electricians here, I measured the current too. the 12 LED's on the tape burn 145mA, and the flex-lamp pulls 161mA. At 12 volts, that's 4 watts, which is well under the adapter's 6watt rating.

Building this wasn't hard, but sourcing the parts can be tricky -- keep the sources of these things coming! Most of the heche-en-china parts don't exist for long.

--edfardos

 

[Kingcreek]

I got one of the amazon ones for 7.95 w/free shipping and it works great.

 

[geosigma]

Bought mine from:

http://inlinefabrication.com/products/skylight-led-lighting-system-for-the-hornady-lnl-ap

I couldnt be happier with the setup. for my Hornady (others available)