Aftermarket map light bulb?

Are there any aftermarket bulbs available for the two forward map lights in the X? I'd like to get some red bulbs for reading maps at night. That white bulb is too harsh and washes out my night vision for awhile. I have seen people use red tail light repair tape on the lens. But I'd rather by a bulb if they are available?

No rice boy comments either.............smart asses!

I use the red reflector repair tape. One nice thing is if a single layer isn't dark enough you can add more to adjust the output. (which I'll be doing soon)

but I found some dark film contact paper.
You might be still need some clear bright light inside, so I added a flexible hella map light, attached to the side of the radio, slipped a bracket behind the last screw, so didn't have to drill any holes.

Dome will be white, but I want the maps to be red. :flash:

Use a red permanent marker and paint the bulb red...old army trick, just make sure the bulb is the low wattage kind that will not over heat and kill ya with the fumes ;)


Claus

Like Xlax said - try red markers. You might also try a red TRANSPARENT spray paint used for model toys.

These work great... (little ones in the middle of the picture)

http://www.standres.com/products%5C26-3.cfm

I picked them up at AutoZone last year after melting lens tape.

Okay, I must have missed them when I was looking yesterday? :alien2:

They are only $1.97 at Schuck's.

You can get red(tactical), blue(ricey), or green(ricier)!

So you bought 3 Blue 2 Green for your Looovvvvee mobile....


C

Jeezh. I thought for sure you would hold out for Solar Yellow bulbs. :)

You see the package is yellow don't you :D

I just found the perfect X-mas gift for Rick.....a Review mirror Discoball !!. TO go with his Yellow and green interior dome rice lights.

:finger:

Getting the 20" wheels next week~Painting the ARB solar yellow too~

Rick, I can only highly recommend the Mirror Muff. (http://store.yahoo.com/fuzzy-dice/mirrormuffs.html)

what about the dingle balls that go around the head liner.

I's got to slam er to the ground too.............

I picked a set up a few days ago for 2.49 from PepBoys. I drove home the last couple nights from work clicking the red light on/off several times to see how my eyes would adjust. No problems at all on either lighted roads or dark roads. They don't interfer with the guages either, I wondered about that since the needles are red.

Should make a huge difference on the trails.

i did that to my bulbs with a blue marker...looks awesome, i sujest matching the exterior color or get a color similiar to the interior

I drove today for carpool so it's my first time to try thm out!

I bought one of those small map lights..works like a charm as they have a weak deflector.....now we just need to make a road trip and drive without headlights.....


C

i did that to my bulbs with a blue marker...looks awesome, i sujest matching the exterior color or get a color similiar to the interior

The point behind using red lights is not decorative. Using a red light vice the stock white light is to preserve night vision.


Dog

I hated the map lights because they were so bright. The red light works like a champ. They remind me of my submarine days when the bridge would "rig for red" during night ops.

Um, what's a "night op" on a submarine?

I do seem to recall something about concern that light from the interior could be seen via the periscope on the surface. Does that have anything to do with it?

Brent

I think the solution would be a big ass GSP with a dim green screen to drive from. Map reading while driving sucks !

Originally posted by Xlax
I think the solution would be a big ass GSP with a dim green screen to drive from. Map reading while driving sucks !

What's a GSP?

And what is up with that picture? It looks nothing even resembling the Dutch/Canadian I know?

Originally posted by OffroadX
Um, what's a "night op" on a submarine?

I do seem to recall something about concern that light from the interior could be seen via the periscope on the surface. Does that have anything to do with it?

Brent

That’s half of it. The other is being able to see contacts at night without having your eyes adjust. In fact, curtains cover the area around the periscopes so it is completely dark.

Originally posted by rrdstarr


What's a GSP?

And what is up with that picture? It looks nothing even resembling the Dutch/Canadian I know?

GSP canadian for GPS...and no that is me !

C

That's Claus' other brother Darryl. Nice looking guy Claus, too bad you drew from the short end of the gene pool eh?

Just put red bulbs (#168 in 2002 X) in my map lights too.....much easier on the when I needed to turn one on driving home last night!! Funn though the owners manual listed a totally different bulb....

Take care,

Steve

get a red one for the left side, a blue one for the right side and then turn on the dome. the all american xterra... :D

Red lights go back to map reading in the artillary in WWI. The human eye is least sensitive to red light. Also red light is somewhat "vibrational" to human eyes. This is because it is at the lowest wavelength of light that is visible at all by the human eye. All this means is that it imparts the least effect on the retina. Read that statement as the least likely to leave light spotting which severely effects night vision. In aircraft, submarines, etc. it is the least likely to be seen from a distance. Read that as your least likely to get shot at. On aircraft guages "regular" light is green/white (green is the color that the human eye is most sensitive to), and red for night vision.
HERE'S THE INFO THAT WILL HELP YOU---check out glass paint (works on plastic too)---www.jurgeninc.com
(They have extensive info on glass painting(but, they're products are expensive-particularly if you only need to paint a few bulbs).

Thanks for the info, but did you realize the previous reply to this thread was 2 and a half years ago?

Guys, guys, guys...tape? Red pens? They sell replacement bulbs in red at the local NAPA or West Marine. They work great except for whiney wives who kid you about how they look like they would attract "Ho's", and simply refuse to understand what they're for. Oh too much info? Sorry. I think I paid a whole $5 for the pair.

I like the tape because I can double or triple it up if I want different levels of light.