Waterproof, surface-mount LED ideal for exterior lighting needs

Larson Electronics’ magnalight.com adds surface mount, waterproof 12/24 volt directional LED flood light for small area illumination.

With its brushed aluminum finish and concealed mounting, the LEDCL-280 LED light can be used in the sleeper, and the back of the cab, or illuminate instrument panels in remote area equipment rooms.

Drawing only 280mA on 12 volts, the LEDCL-280 LED  was initially designed with aesthetics in mind with its brushed aluminum finish and concealed mounting method.  However, with an IP65 rating and articulating LED light head, this low amp draw LED light is applicable to a wide variety of industrial and military applications, where a directional wide area flood light is useful.

When installed at 20 feet in height, the LEDCL-280 covers and area 25 feet in diameter with approximately 10-15 foot candles of light.

“This is a small powerful LED light that the operator can position to provide bright, white light that exceeds the output of a 100 watt incandescent bulb,” said Rob Bresnahan.  “These LED lights are designed for wet area usage and offers some advantages in small work areas, storage facilities and other areas where operators want to conserve power but need bright white light to inspect instrument panels, breaker boxes and other equipment.”

For more information: www.magnalight.com; (800) 369-6671; (214) 616-6180 international).

Magnalight.com adds new 12 Volt Micro LED lights for small areas on trucks  and equipment

Larson Electronics’ magnalight.com adds to its range of explosion proof and general area LED lighting with LED lights smaller than a quarter.  Drawing 30mA and operating on 12 volts, the LEDSM30 series LED lights offer a very small footprint, bright white light and minimal amp draw for vehicles, boats and equipment.

Designed to illuminate small areas less than 5 square feet, these small form factor LED lights (smaller than a quarter) are useful for courtesy lighting on trucks, boats, instrument panel lighting and other applications where a small bright light is needed to inspect, check or measure different processes.

The LEDSM30 and the LEDSM30MW surface mount with a single screw and are shaped like an eyeball to provide bright white light approximately 5 feet in diameter when mounted at a height of 3 feet.

The LEDSM30MW indirect courtesy LED light serves as a mini wall washer, bathing approximately three to five feet of a wall or floor directly beneath the fixture with bright white light.

Both are made from stainless steel and are waterproof, dust proof and US Coast Guard certified ignition proof.  These micro LED lights draw 30 milliamps on 12 volts DC.

“We continue to advance the https://www.magnalight.com/c-140-led-lights.aspx [LED lights] offering on magnalight.com to meet the needs of consumer, commercial and military customers,” said Rob Bresnahan with Larson Electronics.

“There is a wide range of vehicles, boats and other industrial equipment that can benefit from small foot print, bright white light output, long life and low current draw provided by led lighting,” says Bresnahan.

” Our LED lights are integrated into automated task equipment, robotic inspection lines, automated test equipment, instrument panels, portable buildings, military vehicles and a variety of other applications where durable, bright lights are needed with minimal amp draw on 12 and 24 volts systems.”

Larson Electronics provides a wide array of LED lighting on magnalight.com.  Ranging from explosion proof and intrinsically safe LED lights for tank inspection to explosion proof LED fluorescent lights for paint spray booths, the Magnalight line of LED lights continues to serve the commercial and industrial sector.

For general location LED lighting, Larson Electronics continues to grow its range of low voltage LEDLB and LED10W series, high-lumen-output LED lights.

Finally, new products like the LEDSM30 micro LED lights round out the LED lighting with small area task lighting for vehicles, boats and equipment.  You can learn more about Larson Electronics at magnalight.com or 1-800-369-6671 (1-214-616-6180 international).

HOLLOW SOULS

If you really want the interior of your custom rig’s cab to stand out when the doors are opened, nix the round mixer stick for a Hollow Soul.

Hollow Soul is part of Outlaw Customs new shifter line for Peterbilt 379’s.

These custom shifters come with genuine Eaton isolators and are hollow so the shift knob’s airlines run inside the twisted stick for a truly custom look.

Available in various lengths and finishes. Prices start at $475. www.outlawcustomshd.com; (303) 952-8109

Rugged, compact 12-volt inverters bring AC power inside the cab

PowerDrive^TM, a mobile power solutions brand, has announced the launch of their new line of automotive power inverter products ranging from 300  to 2000 watts.  These robust power inverters convert a vehicle’s 12-volt battery power to household AC power, providing you with the rugged power that drives your lifestyle. They are designed to bring you all the comforts of home while on the road.

PowerDrive^TM feature-rich Power Inverters include models offering up to three grounded AC outlets to power and charge laptop computers, coffee makers, TVs, power tools, DVD players, digital cameras and more.

Within each of the eight models offered are the right balances of power, safety and convenience. Five models ranging from 300 to 2000 watts easily install into your vehicle for a constant supply of household power. For those who demand convenience and require less power, there are three models designed to simply plug into a vehicle’s 12-volt power port.

“Leveraging our extensive retail experience with professional drivers and leisure travelers, we’re excited to launch our innovative line of PowerDrive^TM Power Inverters.” said Michael Stiefel, PowerDrive^TM Brand Manager. “If you’re looking for rugged power to charge your mobile lifestyle, look no farther than PowerDrive^TM.”

To see the complete line of these new inverters, check out displays at automotive retailers and travel centers across the United States.  Learn more on-line at www.PowerDriveInverters.com.

Let’s face facts: An older tractor that’s clean and sharp on the interior always seems a lot newer and more inviting than one that’s dirty and ragged. That look and feel is magnified in a customized rig where one’s eyes tend to focus on the seats before anything else in the cab.

While full-on Limited Mileage show trucks may have the luxury of low annual miles and owners who think nothing of re-working the interior before every major show, owner-operators of working class show trucks usually make the best of whatever seating is there because they have to be frugal.

Show truck or work truck, upholstery has to be maintained to look sharp and perform well over time. And there’s a right way and a wrong way to handle such upholstery upkeep.

“Keeping upholstery clean is best done using mild cleaners and cleaning it often,” advises Elwin Eash, senior vice president of sales at Indiana Custom Trucks in LaGrange, Indiana.

If the cleaning gets tough, be careful, Eash says, and “certainly, stay away from bleaches and harsh cleaners as they can actually remove dye colors.”

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CLEANERS

The type of cleaner used makes a difference, concurs Bryan Martin, owner of 4 State Trucks of Joplin, Missouri. “Develop common sense about upholstery cleaning. Don’t use anything with petroleum or harsh chemical as its base.”

While general cleaners such as Windex or Formula 409 will work “outside the truck,” he says, for interior detailing use a product designed for that task. “You can certainly use this on vinyl and plastic found in the sleeper and on the dashboard,” says Martin holding up a near-empty bottle of green-hued liquid. “But I’d be careful using it around leather.

Martin says real leather “is not as forgiving as simulated leather and vinyls as far as cleaners go. A general-purpose interior cleaner might be OK. But you might want to try such a product on a very small area, preferably a corner, behind the passenger seat first to see how it works if you have reservations.”

Lane Pietro, President & CEO of Fast Lane Mobile Wash & Detail in Ellisville, Missouri, and manufacturer of Lane’s Professional Car Products, agrees:

“Owners of custom rigs should invest in cleaning and conditioning products designed specifically for whatever type of material is used for the upholstery,” advises Lane, himself a long-time professional detailer of customized vehicles.

“A leather-specific cleaner, like our E140 for example, used in conjunction with a leather upholstery conditioner, is the only sure way to keep the seats looking new. A leather conditioner replaces the natural moisture back into the material after cleaning so it doesn’t crack or deteriorate over time.”

“Your leather seats should be cleaned and conditioned every two to three months to preserve the leather’s strength, durability and appearance,” Pietro says. “And I’d recommend avoiding detailing seats with Armor All and other products that have alcohol or silicone in them because those ingredients tend to dry out leathers and vinyls.”

TOUGH CLEANING SOLUTIONS

The toughest-to-clean stains come from nicotine, Martin says. “It discolors the upholstery and puts a film on it. This is the one time you might want to use a very strong cleaner, normally a powerful solvent, on synthetic materials only,” he says.

Pietro says the most common mistake made by non-professional detailers in these instances is “over-saturating” the area with the cleaner to the point it soaks into the foam underneath, which can compound the existing problem, and scrubbing hard, “spreading the stain instead of removing it.”

The key with stains is to apply a light amount of cleaner, let it work for a few seconds, then pad the area with a micro-fiber towel, or use a brush to lightly scrub in a small, circular motion, dabbing away the dirty cleaner as you work.

“You could use a special upholstery cleaner on seats or the dash, or an aggressive shampoo on rugs,” says Martin. “If the stains don’t come up the first time, reapply using the same concentration and repeat the process.”

The best advice of all is if ever in doubt as to how to go about cleaning your rig’s upholstery and carpet before a show, take the safe route and make an appointment with a professional auto detailer.