instrument lights - what voltage do they run at?

enferno

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Jun 20, 2006

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Sep 1, 2006

#1

• Sep 1, 2006

• #1

title says it all.

i have a 66 coupe. i'm considering converting from those dinky POS instrument lights and rigging some LED's in their place, possibly placing 2 per gauge. Benifits of this would be much brighter, less heat, and lasts a lot longer than conventional bulbs.


i need to know what voltage the instrument bulbs run at so i can determine what rating of LED's i need to buy etc.


thanks in advance!

 

T

TyMeFlAmE

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Feb 16, 2006

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#2

• Sep 1, 2006

• #2

Beat me to it

I've been thinking about doing just that for the past week

 

enferno

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Sep 2, 2006

#3

• Sep 2, 2006

• #3

TyMeFlAmE said:

I've been thinking about doing just that for the past week

Click to expand...

well perhaps we could brainstorm on how to do this then.

my car is gutted as it it going to the paintshop on tuesday, so i can't test and see what voltage the instrument lights get.


if someone can just run out with a voltmeter and let me know, i can draw up some schematics and list what kind of LED's & resistors etc. are needed, as well as make a tutorial if what i have planned is successful.

 

iskwezm

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May 24, 2005

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Sep 2, 2006

#4

• Sep 2, 2006

• #4

just buy the L.E.D.'s that have the same bulb housing. I bought some and they have 4 or 5 L.E.D.'s on one bulb and cost about 5 bux each and come in about 6 colors.i'll look for the comapny i got them from.

 

LUCAFU1

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Tucson

Sep 2, 2006

#5

• Sep 2, 2006

• #5

super led lights dot com or something like that. has everything

 

67Dylan

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May 11, 2006

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Sep 2, 2006

#6

• Sep 2, 2006

• #6

The lights run on 12v's. But why build something when the bulbs, as pointed out, cost only a few bucks? I like projects too, but if you buy the bulbs you won't have to cut any wires, it's a quick change, and you're on to another project

 

iskwezm

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Sep 2, 2006

#7

• Sep 2, 2006

• #7

here you go
http://www.whitegauges.net/products_list.php?catID=4550

your welcome!

and they are A LOT brighter then stock

 

6

66HertzClone

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One problem you are going to find is the LED's are directional, light out the front of the LED, not much to the sides.

 

LUCAFU1

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#9

• Sep 2, 2006

• #9

66HertzClone said:

One problem you are going to find is the LED's are directional, light out the front of the LED, not much to the sides.

Click to expand...

they sell leds with 6 bulbs for one plug so it gets really bright

 

6

66HertzClone

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#10

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LUCAFU1 said:

they sell leds with 6 bulbs for one plug so it gets really bright

Click to expand...

No doubt, except the light is like that from a flashlight, one direction. I am not trying to say this won't work, just trying to point out that this is not going to be as easy as it seems. If it was, don't you think others would have already done it?

 

iskwezm

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Sep 2, 2006

#11

• Sep 2, 2006

• #11

66HertzClone said:

No doubt, except the light is like that from a flashlight, one direction. I am not trying to say this won't work, just trying to point out that this is not going to be as easy as it seems. If it was, don't you think others would have already done it?

Click to expand...

im assuming you HAVEN'T done it,so you dont know, but i HAVE done it it works just fine for me,maybe a little even better then the 40 year old bulbs that were in there

 

Max Power

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Jul 31, 2003

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St Paul

Sep 2, 2006

#12

• Sep 2, 2006

• #12

Instead of the 3 watt 194s, you could get the 5 watt 2825s?

 

65ShelbyClone

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Sep 3, 2006

#13

• Sep 3, 2006

• #13

66HertzClone said:

One problem you are going to find is the LED's are directional, light out the front of the LED, not much to the sides.

Click to expand...

There are two solutions I can think of. Either get LEDs with the widest viewing angle possible(which will knock down the mcd rating, unfortunately) or make one "frosted" with a little 600 grit paper.

You can also punch out the glass from old bulbs and replace it with an LED and resistor. That way there is no hardware modification and it is totally reversible. I don't know how well they work with a dimmer, though. My highway driving usually happens at night and I often have the instrument lights darn near turned off.

Edit: W00T! 3000 posts!