I use my Yakima Rocket box regularly, and have often been frustrated when trying to locate something when I'm parked outside in the dark. Tough to hold a flashlight and dig through the box contents at the same time - so it was time for a box light. The white lid is a nice benefit here as it reflects light so nicely.

I built the light into half of a 4xAA battery holder and used the bottom half of the enclosure so battery access was possible without removal of the light. The circuit is a uFlex with dimming and auto-sleep, and runs off of 4xAA NiMH rechargeables. I mounted a power (toggle) switch and a momentary circuit control button out of harm's way (I hope!). I mounted the toggle to operate opposite of what most would think is normal. Down is on so that if the switch hits any cargo when closing the lid, the switch will flip up and OFF instead of ON after the box is closed. The Luxeon Star is aimed at an angle so it points roughly straight down when the lid is open. I used a McFlood (straight-sided reflector) and a disk of light-diffusing material to spread the beam way down to the ends of the box. The enclosure is mounted to the lid with four brass 4-40 bolts and acorn nuts sealed with silicone. On the inside, the fixture is somewhat protected by the latch directly below it.

Looking inside the lid. This is the battery hatch side of the enclosure.

The other side has the power toggle and the red adjustment button. You can see the re-aiming of the refelctor here. I heated the plastic and molded it. Everything ends up quite flush, and shouldn't catch on anything.

The only signs of modification on the outside are four brass 4-40 acorn nuts.

My attempt at showing what it lights (no flash). most of the light insidethe box is from the new lamp. You can at least see the shadows up inside the lid, and the arc of the lamp's beam.

Another attmpt with no flash and shaky hands.