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Better visibility in the vehicle: retrofit a reading lamp!

Reading time 5 Min.

Better visibility in the vehicle: retrofit a reading lamp!

A reading lamp is not installed ex works in every vehicle. At least not in a place where the passengers in the back seat have adequate light for reading. On the other hand, they are often available ex works. But a reading lamp for the back seat (of course also for the front) can be retrofitted. A retrofit reading lamp is required for the retrofit and a spacer for the distance between the reading lamp and the headlining.

Preparatory work for installation

Better visibility in the vehicle: retrofit a reading lamp!

The first and most important step when retrofitting the reading lamp is to disconnect the battery from the vehicle. This prevents an electric shock or damage to the vehicle electronics when the reading lamp is later connected. One of the first things to be checked before retrofitting a reading lamp is that you first have to check whether a cable and possibly a plug is installed at the height of the rear door on the driver's side. This would simplify a lot, since in this case the electricity is already available. In most vehicles, the conductor strip with connector is located at this point, between the C and B pillars. About 10 cm from the outer edge of the headlining. The plug is then often only covered by a fabric adhesive tape. But of course this can differ from vehicle to vehicle.

pay attention to the correct position of the lamp

Better visibility in the vehicle: retrofit a reading lamp!

Then it is important to find the right place for the reading lamp to be retrofitted in the rear area of ​​the vehicle. The reading lamp must be positioned correctly to illuminate optimally. Ideally, the lamp should be positioned at a certain distance from the possible reading lamp in the front area of ​​the vehicle. The distance from the rear point of the front reading lamp to the front edge of the rear reading lamp should be approx. 100 cm so that the lamps do not interfere with each other and are as effective as possible. At the measured point, a hole is then cut out of the headlining. If the hole in the headlining is large enough, the reading lamp can be connected to the conductor strip connector. If the cable is not available, an appropriate one must be pulled.

Fixed installation or universal solution

Better visibility in the vehicle: retrofit a reading lamp!

A spacer ensures that the reading lamp fits better between the reading lamp and headliner lays. Anyone who just wants to replace it in a vehicle where a reading lamp is already installed as standard in the rear has no problem finding the right place for the reading lamp. Because if a standard reading lamp is available, it often sits on a specially designed sheet metal frame under the roof lining. The headliner does not have to be specially cut for this. In this case, the lamp only needs to be removed and replaced with another reading lamp. As an alternative, there are also countless Plug & Play variants, either with the cigarette lighter be connected or bring a built-in battery. These devices can then be attached to a suitable location in the vehicle using clips, a strong magnet, a small stand or a Velcro strap.

Finally, light for reading in the back

If you decide to retrofit a reading lamp for the back seat, the passengers who take a seat in the back will be able to finally read a book or magazine while driving, even if it is already dusk outside or it is already dark. We hope that the info report on the topic / term reading light (further names / keywords: car interior lighting, car lamp, book lamp, roof lighting, ceiling lamp, interior lamp, clip lamp, LED lamp, reading lamp, reading light, lens, night lighting, gooseneck lamp, ambient lamp, universal lighting) from the field of autotuning. Our goal is that the largest German-language tuning dictionary (Tuning Wikipedia) and to explain tuning terms from A to Z easily and understandably. Almost every day we expand this lexicon and how far we are, you can HERE see. Soon the next one will be Tuning scene concept be illuminated by us. By the way, you will be informed about new topics if you have ours Feed subscribe to.

Below are a few examples from our tuning lexicon:

But of course tuningblog has countless other articles on the subject of cars & car tuning in stock. Do you want to see them all? Just click HERE and look around. We would also like to provide you with news aside from the tuning. In our category Tips, products, information & Co we pick up contributions from car or accessory manufacturers. And also our category Test sites, laws, offenses, information has almost daily new information for you. Here are a few topics from our tuning wiki:

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Small details for the perfect interior: the handbrake handle

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Better visibility in the vehicle: retrofit a reading lamp!

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About Thomas Wachsmuth

Thomas Wachsmuth - He has been an integral part of tuningblog.eu since 2013. His passion for cars is so intense that he invests every available penny in them. While he dreams of a BMW E31 850CSI and a Hennessey 6x6 Ford F-150, he currently drives a rather inconspicuous BMW 540i (G31/LCI). His collection of books, magazines and brochures on the subject of car tuning has now reached such proportions that he himself has become a walking reference work for the tuning scene.  More about Thomas

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