V-56 lighted bottle rack test worked!

[Creighton]

Hi All,

Always liked the lighted door feature on many machines. Since it is not an option on V-56 had to make my own. Very happy about the way the first test run has panned out.

Decided I wanted something that would attach to / light the backside of the bottle rack. Need to see what I'm doing with the main door open sometimes :-).

Parts costs are around $7.00 so far. At craft stores you may be able to find "decorator lights" 20 bulbs to a string. I just zip-tied three for the top 6 racks and 2 for the last as shown in attached pic. No heat and bright.

At same craft store picked up 2 sheets of "quick count" #7 plastic mesh. Used one sheet to stop the flow of cat/dog hair into the compressor intake. The other was cut up and used to attach the light bulbs. Only other parts are small zip-ties and a wooden dowel. Any questions just ask!
br,
Creighton

[Creighton]

Not clear what happened to the pic but here it is.

[johnieG]

Nice Idea! as many of the machines (like my LaCrosse) don't have a bottle area light, heres one I've been messing with, you can get from a upscale computer store, they have these little thin flouresent lights that are powered by a small dc power supply, they come in red, blue, & green. they use them in the new clear-paneled computer cases that the the kids use to show off their computers motherboards, the lights are about 10-in. in length and seem to work ok at lower temps in the bottle compartment area, I'm still trying to find a white colored lamp in the same size, although blue looks cool!

[Creighton]

Hi JohnieG,

Thanks! Yep, have some of the DC units as well. Agree the blue is kewl. Not been able to find white yet here as well (San Jose, CA.). Toyed a bit with the white plastic coil Christmas lights, rejected as un-workable.

Really don't know what I will end up doing. Just got the idea to try this cobbled approach and was surprised at how well it worked. I'll encase the assembly in epoxy if I stick with this design.

Any other idea's out there?
Thanks!
Creighton

[johnieG]

Hey I found white!  '>  mini neons by a co. called "streetglow"
their "mini" series is as small in diameter as a #2 pencil & available in white, should fit nicely I've ordered up a set & I'll see how it goes into a Vendo V63/squarecorner I'm refurbing.
here's a link to their site if you'd like to check them out.

https://www.streetglow.com/cgi-loc....6-9.htm

[Jim]

Johnie,

You never cease to amaze me ! ! !

[Creighton]

Johnie,

Great find. Have a set on the way as well.
Thanks!
Creighton