Hi all, I'm jumping ahead here on my build thread but here goes anyway. I've seen loads of nice Halo roofs on vans but none had a pop top conversion so I thought I'd give it a go.
I had the pop top fitted to self build spec so it was a raw finish, no carpet etc etc. I worked out how it operated in terms of the bed itself being hinged at the back and the 2 gas struts as I knew I didn't want to just add lights to the side of the frame and besides the gas strut on each side would partially block them. I was going to need to raise the bed a bit and make the halo surround under it and this would also give me about 25mm extra head room.
First off I bought a sheet of 18mm ply to make the spacer around the edges where the lights will sit and where the surround will be fixed to.
These spacer strips of wood have the wiring going through, provide the gap for the lights and have the 2 gas struts secured to them. I used 18mm ply as the led aluminum heat sync profiles are 17mm and they have to fit inside. The piece at the back to where the hinge is attached was also raised in height. I routered a channel down the length of one strip to house the wiring as the power had to come up at hinged end but the led strip had to begin at the end that raises up. You have to remember too that you are all time working upside down
Having done that I took a sheet of 5mm ply to cut out the surround to hide the lights above etc
I offered up the surround on top of the spacer and drilled the holes for the push clips that would secure it to the ceiling and then carpeted the bed/ceiling
I fitted the U shaped aluminum heat sync profile to the edge of the spacer, 5 meters in all.
Push clips inserted before carpeting over
RBG 12V 24W 5M strip installed before the diffuser is fitted
Diffuser in place
Back in to the house to cut the carpet in one piece
Back out to glue and fit
Threaded the wires for remote sensor, power and led strip through the woodwork
Lifted the bed/ceiling back into the van and refitted the hinge at the rear to its new mounting and secured with 2 brackets to the roof for extra stability. The 2 gas struts attached to the new wood.
Well happy with the fit and look of it
Hey presto !
Lights on whether ceiling is up or down
That's it, took about 2/3 days to complete, 1 sheet 18mm ply, 1 sheet 5mm ply, 5 meters of led aluminum profile and diffuser, 5M LED RGB strip.
I had the pop top fitted to self build spec so it was a raw finish, no carpet etc etc. I worked out how it operated in terms of the bed itself being hinged at the back and the 2 gas struts as I knew I didn't want to just add lights to the side of the frame and besides the gas strut on each side would partially block them. I was going to need to raise the bed a bit and make the halo surround under it and this would also give me about 25mm extra head room.
First off I bought a sheet of 18mm ply to make the spacer around the edges where the lights will sit and where the surround will be fixed to.
These spacer strips of wood have the wiring going through, provide the gap for the lights and have the 2 gas struts secured to them. I used 18mm ply as the led aluminum heat sync profiles are 17mm and they have to fit inside. The piece at the back to where the hinge is attached was also raised in height. I routered a channel down the length of one strip to house the wiring as the power had to come up at hinged end but the led strip had to begin at the end that raises up. You have to remember too that you are all time working upside down
Having done that I took a sheet of 5mm ply to cut out the surround to hide the lights above etc
I offered up the surround on top of the spacer and drilled the holes for the push clips that would secure it to the ceiling and then carpeted the bed/ceiling
I fitted the U shaped aluminum heat sync profile to the edge of the spacer, 5 meters in all.
Push clips inserted before carpeting over
RBG 12V 24W 5M strip installed before the diffuser is fitted
Diffuser in place
Back in to the house to cut the carpet in one piece
Back out to glue and fit
Threaded the wires for remote sensor, power and led strip through the woodwork
Lifted the bed/ceiling back into the van and refitted the hinge at the rear to its new mounting and secured with 2 brackets to the roof for extra stability. The 2 gas struts attached to the new wood.
Well happy with the fit and look of it
Hey presto !
Lights on whether ceiling is up or down
That's it, took about 2/3 days to complete, 1 sheet 18mm ply, 1 sheet 5mm ply, 5 meters of led aluminum profile and diffuser, 5M LED RGB strip.
