Ok, so I did a mad thing… bought a genuine Airbus A320 cockpit reading lamp assembly. I really want to make a desk lamp out of it, ok for the design but need help with the electrics!
Would love some fellow SIM supporter’s to be part of it and help me achieve a funky desk addition.
Gotta find out what the input voltage is and if it’s AC or DC. DC will be polarity sensitive. Then find a power supply and adapt it. A multimeter will be your freind. Good luck.
Hiya
It’s 28V DC
Now find out the current draw of the light and then find a power source that can transform your mains AC to 28V DC and provide enough current.
Can’t imagine it would be more than 1A for a reading light… ?
First 28V is not, well not as in RV or Car DC average voltage used in the US. So it’s a European thing, or an industrial voltage, maybe standard in real AP’s. Remember 48VDC in some control systems in electrical substations I was associated with for control and station service. You are going to have to come up with a Power supply to run it. And it would really help if you could maybe get AirBus to give you an electrical print of how it’s supplied and that power is shared with other things on that circuit. First, you need to find PS, and figure that into design, but the print is essential as well. I would guess AB would be glad to provide at least that section of the wiring diagram to help you. Yes, a better than good VOR meter, that also reads amps is going to also be your friend. Don’t know you will need Fluke quality, but good one at least. When younger this would be project I would love to do. Not anymore, MSFS is going to tap all my energy and intellect over the next few years as I see it.
If you are daring, you could keep the housing and just replace the bulb and potentiometer with something else. Maybe a variable LED. It might be tricky to cut the filament out if it’s a sealed light however.
Nice project that!!
Aircraft DC systems are 28VDC. You might be able to find a circuit breaker picture that shows the DC bus. You could also inquire on one of the airline pilot forums or one of our pilot/mech members. They may have access to the Airbus tech manuals online.
I found a LED driver on an electrical store online that has a 200-220VAC input at 50/60Hz that provides an output of 28V 600mA (0.6A) 20W - based on W/V=A, i need 0.41A to power the 11.5W bulb @ 28V, so i am thinking this might be just the thing i need - thoughts?
This may be a direction to go:
Are you planning on plugging it into the wall or your computer? zooming in on the bulb i can see 28v/11 start there. if your gonna plug it into the wall the easiest thing to so would just get rid of everything but the housing and knob (maybe the light bezel if its not built into the bulb) and replace it with an appropriately sized switch and plug put the oem knob on the new switch boom. Nones the wiser. Def possible to get it working the way it was ment just means more homework
There so many cool options for this project. Update us.plz
Realy nice idea! I want to build one too! Where you buy this?
Ebay! 
Received today - looks like there is a wiring @ 100OHM from the Rheostat knob - an odd wire that goes nowhere - but may be an earth of some kind.
I have considered getting a household single dimmer switch and effectively transplanting all the bits, keep the 20W dimmable LED bulb in place (they have these direct aerospace replacement bulbs) and put a 220V chocolate box on the back with a separate master switch to cut the power - mounting into a stained dark oak wood box section -
thoughts?
Thatd be the route id go but i dont mich care for messin with low volt. Also worth mentioning im on 60hz pwr noticed your price was in euros
Just order 1m of triple cord L,N,E cable, 1x UK Plug 3A (fused), 1x 120W Dimmer LED/Halogen dimmer module (i will cut off the plastic bits i don’t need to mount to the rear of the faceplate and use the original switch (even if i have to bore it out abit) - then wire that to a GU10 bulb holder …
