Speaking of VWs with Christmas lights, very cool video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ckukw_des-centaines-de-coccinelles-volkswagen-illuminees-pour-noel_auto
On Tuesday, January 6, 2015 1:41 PM, Bert Knupp <[email protected]> wrote: Volks, I appreciate the further comments. I’m pondering all this in my heart. Ray’s observation is valid: having an array of odd lights is always going to be a distraction -- something we need fewer of in traffic, not more. I’m interested in illumination at shows, cruise-ins, etc., not for use while moving through traffic. Legalities aside, the safety factor is an important consideration! Salting the roads is apparently mostly an Eastern phenomenon (meaning east of the Rockies). When I grew up (?) in Oregon, they put coarse sand down on any ice or packed snow; they swept it back up after a winter storm, recovering some 30% to 50% according to a buddy. The good news is that sand is chemically inert, unlike salt (NaCl), which converts nicely into hydrochloric acid (HCl). The bad news is that you sandblast the undersides of your fenders and panels: they could be shiny bright metal by spring. Or rusty metal. No thanks. Tennessee uses highway salt (sodium chloride, often with some potassium chloride admixture). Instant body cancer. Highly nasty stuff for your old VW. Hunker down, y'all. We haven't had any snow down here yet, but the temperature is sposta hit the single digits Wednesday. Our Southern houses are mostly only insulated to R19 standard, meaning every outside wall is cold to the touch. Brrrt Knupp in Music City USA From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of No Quarter Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 11:34 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [vintagvw] Using Christmas lights on 12 volt Well I talked to him and he indicated that it's not by his design that it acts this way. When he turns on his turn signal, the inverter trips out - evidently not getting enough supply voltage to keep running. Of course we know inverters are lossy by design and anytime you can go DC to DC while bypassing all the transformers, convertors, and transistors, it's going to be a much more efficient system - though definitely not the most convenient. A side note was that since this guy is a Texas native, he was totally unfamiliar with the salting of the roads. When I suggested he not drive his beetle through the winter, he told me that he knew by now because many others had told him to wait until the first big rain in the spring and then you're usually good to go. :) NQ ----- Original Message ----- From: rayvwbug via VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 10:10 AM Subject: Re: [vintagvw] Using Christmas lights on 12 volt Very cool Could be that is by design though as safety might dictate not to have the Christmas lights distract other drivers when the turn signals are being use, such that they would blend in. Ray. -----Original Message----- From: No Quarter <[email protected]> To: vintagvw <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, Jan 5, 2015 11:06 pm Subject: Re: [vintagvw] Using Christmas lights on 12 volt As a little side note on the LEDs and inverters, a local guy who has moved here along with his S.O. from Corpus Christi, TX has a 70 beetle. He runs an inverter to power Christmas lights inside of his beetle, but when he signals a turn, the inverter cuts out and turns off the Christmas lights. As soon as he is done signaling, it kicks back on. I'm guessing that maybe the generator can't keep up with the current draw. NQ -- -- Visit the VintagVW archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- Visit the VintagVW archives at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VintagVW - Air Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vintagvw. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
