bunkeroo26
01-01-2014, 05:39 PM
Looking at another current thread http://www.autopia.org/forum/topic/132600-my-led-frankenstien/ (`http://www.autopia.org/forum/topic/132600-my-led-frankenstien/`)
I saw the very professional setup pictured below (not my picture)
`
http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab317/highdesertdetailing/LED/P1030573_zpsa1f0693a.jpg
`
Wow, this is quite a professional setup.` Very impressive.` I am sure that this provides quality
results, and allows you to get a good look at the paint defects.` The better the lighting is, the more
detailed and precise quote that you can make. A light setup like this seems perfect for a detailer
who details at a brick and mortar location, BUT is there a better solution for a Mobile Detailer.
`
My answer is YES.
`
There is a much more mobile and budget conscience alternative that is available to us.
`
I would like to introduce you to something called "Piranha LEDs". These are small LEDs that
can be soldered onto circuit boards for many different various uses.` They are extremely bright
and very efficient energy users.` If you are a talented electrician, you can try to create a light
bar using these LEDs yourself.` If you are not that talented (or short on time), then Ebay is
your friend.` I like to purchase the LED strips that already have a USB wire soldered onto it.
This saves me time and effort, as they already have the needed resistors and other components.
`
Here is an example of a few light bars that I use.` These are not my items, I am not soliciting
for you to purchase from these vendors.` I only am listing these for comparison.
`
This first one is a 42 LED bar with USB, and costs less than 8 dollars
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-DC-3-6v-white-Light-42-LED-Piranha-Panel-Board-Lamp-lighting-5v-usb-/400569497495?pt=Lamps_US&hash=item5d43cd7797 (`http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-DC-3-6v-white-Light-42-LED-Piranha-Panel-Board-Lamp-lighting-5v-usb-/400569497495?pt=Lamps_US&hash=item5d43cd7797`)
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m9uSgnITjrSJni2lK5vhhBQ.jpg
or
This second one is a 7 LED board with USB, and costs less than 4 dollars.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-DC-3-6v-white-Light-7-LED-Piranha-Panel-Board-Lamp-lighting-5v-usb-/261210380315?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item3cd15a181b (`http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-DC-3-6v-white-Light-7-LED-Piranha-Panel-Board-Lamp-lighting-5v-usb-/261210380315?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item3cd15a181b`)
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mLiP9ZBuHAnoiih5dJjLIwA.jpg
`
Piranhas are very bright for their size.` I have found that they work perfectly with small
USB battery packs.` Considering that you can find a 2600 mAh Battery pack for less than
8 dollars (including shipping), this becomes quite a budget package.` 2600 mAh is quite a bit
of battery juice.` This is comparable to modern cell phones.` If you factor in that the LEDs
will take very little power consumption, you can assume that these lights will last quite a while
on a single charge.`
`
Example of Battery Pack.` I like the rectangular ones, because it allows me to gorilla tape a
LED strip onto it, with a professional appearance.` http://www.ebay.com/itm/2600mAh-USB-Power-Bank-Backup-External-Pack-Battery-Charger-For-Mobile-Phone-/350966428086?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&var=&hash=item51b73ab1b6 (`http://www.ebay.com/itm/2600mAh-USB-Power-Bank-Backup-External-Pack-Battery-Charger-For-Mobile-Phone-/350966428086?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&var=&hash=item51b73ab1b6`)
http://ebaypa.com/albums/20120003/poa079551.jpg
`
If you want to make a larger light bank, you can purchase a larger battery pack, and a
USB Hub.` This then allows you to hook up multiple LED strips to a single battery.
I suggest a hub with switches, so that you can turn on all of the LED strips, or a single
strip individually.`
`
Example of USB Hub with Switches
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-White-4-Port-ON-OFF-Switch-USB-2-0-HUB-High-Speed-60CM-Cable-Laptop-PC-/271266093399?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item3f28b81957 (`http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-White-4-Port-ON-OFF-Switch-USB-2-0-HUB-High-Speed-60CM-Cable-Laptop-PC-/271266093399?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item3f28b81957`)
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m8K10gyNfJYzAwl1tseggHA.jpg
`
`
If you decide to delve into these USB lighting solutions, I have one suggestion.`
A USB extension cable is your friend.` I use a 10 foot cable, and it helps immensely.
Not only does this help with lighting, but I use it to connect my cell phone to charger
so that I have extra mobility.` I have not used a 50 foot USB extension, but they are only
13 dollars with shipping.` If this length of cable transmitted enough power for the LEDs,
then you would be able to extend this all the way around the vehicle.
http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mxLYl2DHAjv8FjDtFW3H1NA.jpg
`
`
I hope that you appreciate this journey into the technology of USB lighting.
While is is not new technology, it has gotten significantly cheaper, which has made it a
good modern day solution for lighting.
`
There also was a great article about how to take a certain strip of LED christmas lights
and place them into a flood lamp case.` This also made an effective light, with the bonus
that it could be used in the elements outside.`
`
`
`
I would like to add that this is not a professional setup.` You probably will not get as good
of results as with the professional setup from the first picture and the first linked thread.`
This is for the weekend detailers, or the people who are just starting out their business
and have more important things to spend the money on.` If you combine some budget
lighting with some photography basics, you should get much improved results than without
either one of them.` Just remember that photographs are the core of a good detailing business.` You need something that makes you stand apart.` Results that your customers
can see will make the difference.` You want to be able to justify your difference in cost above your competitor.`
I saw the very professional setup pictured below (not my picture)
`
http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab317/highdesertdetailing/LED/P1030573_zpsa1f0693a.jpg
`
Wow, this is quite a professional setup.` Very impressive.` I am sure that this provides quality
results, and allows you to get a good look at the paint defects.` The better the lighting is, the more
detailed and precise quote that you can make. A light setup like this seems perfect for a detailer
who details at a brick and mortar location, BUT is there a better solution for a Mobile Detailer.
`
My answer is YES.
`
There is a much more mobile and budget conscience alternative that is available to us.
`
I would like to introduce you to something called "Piranha LEDs". These are small LEDs that
can be soldered onto circuit boards for many different various uses.` They are extremely bright
and very efficient energy users.` If you are a talented electrician, you can try to create a light
bar using these LEDs yourself.` If you are not that talented (or short on time), then Ebay is
your friend.` I like to purchase the LED strips that already have a USB wire soldered onto it.
This saves me time and effort, as they already have the needed resistors and other components.
`
Here is an example of a few light bars that I use.` These are not my items, I am not soliciting
for you to purchase from these vendors.` I only am listing these for comparison.
`
This first one is a 42 LED bar with USB, and costs less than 8 dollars
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-DC-3-6v-white-Light-42-LED-Piranha-Panel-Board-Lamp-lighting-5v-usb-/400569497495?pt=Lamps_US&hash=item5d43cd7797 (`http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-DC-3-6v-white-Light-42-LED-Piranha-Panel-Board-Lamp-lighting-5v-usb-/400569497495?pt=Lamps_US&hash=item5d43cd7797`)
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m9uSgnITjrSJni2lK5vhhBQ.jpg
or
This second one is a 7 LED board with USB, and costs less than 4 dollars.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-DC-3-6v-white-Light-7-LED-Piranha-Panel-Board-Lamp-lighting-5v-usb-/261210380315?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item3cd15a181b (`http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright-DC-3-6v-white-Light-7-LED-Piranha-Panel-Board-Lamp-lighting-5v-usb-/261210380315?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item3cd15a181b`)
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mLiP9ZBuHAnoiih5dJjLIwA.jpg
`
Piranhas are very bright for their size.` I have found that they work perfectly with small
USB battery packs.` Considering that you can find a 2600 mAh Battery pack for less than
8 dollars (including shipping), this becomes quite a budget package.` 2600 mAh is quite a bit
of battery juice.` This is comparable to modern cell phones.` If you factor in that the LEDs
will take very little power consumption, you can assume that these lights will last quite a while
on a single charge.`
`
Example of Battery Pack.` I like the rectangular ones, because it allows me to gorilla tape a
LED strip onto it, with a professional appearance.` http://www.ebay.com/itm/2600mAh-USB-Power-Bank-Backup-External-Pack-Battery-Charger-For-Mobile-Phone-/350966428086?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&var=&hash=item51b73ab1b6 (`http://www.ebay.com/itm/2600mAh-USB-Power-Bank-Backup-External-Pack-Battery-Charger-For-Mobile-Phone-/350966428086?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&var=&hash=item51b73ab1b6`)
http://ebaypa.com/albums/20120003/poa079551.jpg
`
If you want to make a larger light bank, you can purchase a larger battery pack, and a
USB Hub.` This then allows you to hook up multiple LED strips to a single battery.
I suggest a hub with switches, so that you can turn on all of the LED strips, or a single
strip individually.`
`
Example of USB Hub with Switches
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-White-4-Port-ON-OFF-Switch-USB-2-0-HUB-High-Speed-60CM-Cable-Laptop-PC-/271266093399?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item3f28b81957 (`http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-White-4-Port-ON-OFF-Switch-USB-2-0-HUB-High-Speed-60CM-Cable-Laptop-PC-/271266093399?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item3f28b81957`)
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m8K10gyNfJYzAwl1tseggHA.jpg
`
`
If you decide to delve into these USB lighting solutions, I have one suggestion.`
A USB extension cable is your friend.` I use a 10 foot cable, and it helps immensely.
Not only does this help with lighting, but I use it to connect my cell phone to charger
so that I have extra mobility.` I have not used a 50 foot USB extension, but they are only
13 dollars with shipping.` If this length of cable transmitted enough power for the LEDs,
then you would be able to extend this all the way around the vehicle.
http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mxLYl2DHAjv8FjDtFW3H1NA.jpg
`
`
I hope that you appreciate this journey into the technology of USB lighting.
While is is not new technology, it has gotten significantly cheaper, which has made it a
good modern day solution for lighting.
`
There also was a great article about how to take a certain strip of LED christmas lights
and place them into a flood lamp case.` This also made an effective light, with the bonus
that it could be used in the elements outside.`
`
`
`
I would like to add that this is not a professional setup.` You probably will not get as good
of results as with the professional setup from the first picture and the first linked thread.`
This is for the weekend detailers, or the people who are just starting out their business
and have more important things to spend the money on.` If you combine some budget
lighting with some photography basics, you should get much improved results than without
either one of them.` Just remember that photographs are the core of a good detailing business.` You need something that makes you stand apart.` Results that your customers
can see will make the difference.` You want to be able to justify your difference in cost above your competitor.`