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Posted: 10/5/2015 12:18:47 PM EDT
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Since I use an electronic loading scale I decided to replace my fluorescent bench light with some LED strip lights. I got the lights from Amazon for $12 and a power supply for $9. My only complaint about it is the adhesive backing doesnt stick and kept falling off, so I stuck them to double sided mounting tape. I cut them into 4 strips and soldered the power wires to each strip.
Here is the result with he room lights turned at night- 
With the room lights on - 
The soldered connecting wires - 
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They are bright as heck, so buying a dimmer to start out is a good idea. If you can solder, no plugs are needed, just some heat shrink and a meter to get the polarity correct. My power supply plugs into a power strip with a switch on it. Also plugged in is my case feeder and anything else on the reloading bench.
Protip: if the adhesive doesn't hold, hot glue will stick the LED strip to almost any surface. Wear rubber gloves to prevent burns. 
Try to find sealed LED strips. The entire strip will be covered with a clear rubbery surface. On the reloading forum, there is a pic of an LED tail light bulb inserted in a 20 gauge shotshell. This fits perfectly in the center hole of a Dillon 650 press and is very bright. Here is the description on Amazon for the pure white and sealed LED strips: Triangle Bulbs T93007 - Waterproof Flexible LED Strip Light, 300 LED's, 3528 SMD, Pure White, 16.4 feet / 5M Here is the pulse width modulated dimmer: Leegoal LEDwholesalers LED Strip Lights PWM Dimming Controller For LED Lights or Ribbon, 12 Volt 8/10 Amp, 3301 Here is the tail light: 2pcs 22-SMD 1156 S25 Ba15s 12V Corner Signal Blinker Tail Light LED bulbs P21W 7506 - White Cut and paste. I can't post links right now. |
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Quoted:
Tag. I want to do this for my bench. Did you wire the lights to a switch or a plug OP? There are lots of ways to use these LED light strips, so let me plant some thoughts. Complete LED Lght Strip Kit - $17 This kit gives you All you need - LEDs, wall-wart transformer, Remote Control (on/off/dim), The included transformer has enough power for the 5 meters of LEDs, but not much more. If you install these and decide you need more lights, you can add a second kit (one remote will control both and you'll have a spare remote). Or you can buy a more powerful transformer. Or you can adapt a more powerful one you already have from some old non-working piece of electronics. Check Amazon for all kinds of add-on and replacement parts to do what you want/need. For a fixture, as shown by OP your old fluorescent fixtures work just fine. Or you can use a piece of white rain gutter turned upside down and suspended from the ceiling by string, rope, or "decorative" chandelier chain. If you want smaller, more "elegant" home-made fixtures, these 14" Stainless Steel Mud Pans turned upside down and suspended work really well. Use your imagination - all you need is something that shields your eyes from direct light, and some reflective capability to max output. I suspended my 6' "light fixture" above the middle of my bench, and made sure it had MORE than enough light for my needs. I use the dimmer (25%, 50%, or 75%) for most uses but when looking for that small part it goes to 100%. No heat, white light, and plenty of it. |
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Quoted:
They are bright as heck, so buying a dimmer to start out is a good idea. If you can solder, no plugs are needed, just some heat shrink and a meter to get the polarity correct. My power supply plugs into a power strip with a switch on it. Also plugged in is my case feeder and anything else on the reloading bench. Protip: if the adhesive doesn't hold, hot glue will stick the LED strip to almost any surface. Wear rubber gloves to prevent burns.
Try to find sealed LED strips. The entire strip will be covered with a clear rubbery surface. On the reloading forum, there is a pic of an LED tail light bulb inserted in a 20 gauge shotshell. This fits perfectly in the center hole of a Dillon 650 press and is very bright. That depends... we have found the hole in the middle of the toolhead varies. Some will let a 20 ga shell fall through... mine is tight enough to hold the shell, but the LED is too big to fit through. I should have just bought the unit from Unique Tech. |
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