Looking at another current thread http://www.autopia.org/forum/topic/1...-frankenstien/
I saw the very professional setup pictured below (not my picture)
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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.
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My answer is YES.
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There is a much more mobile and budget conscience alternative that is available to us.
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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.
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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.
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This first one is a 42 LED bar with USB, and costs less than 8 dollars
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright...item5d43cd7797
or
This second one is a 7 LED board with USB, and costs less than 4 dollars.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-Bright...item3cd15a181b
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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.`
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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-...item51b73ab1b6
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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.`
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Example of USB Hub with Switches
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-White-...item3f28b81957
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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.
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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.
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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.`
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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.`
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