LED dash lights

[mylittlecj5]

Ok bear with me guys...Im at a cheerleading comp with the kid, and Im trying to stay sane...:laugh:
The S/W gauges i bought are real nice, but the wiring for the internal lights suck. Three of them have lost the pigtails altogether, and the lamps dont want to stay in the sockets.
So im thinking of replacing them with LEDs.
My new wiring and switches are not dimmer equipped, so I need an LED that isnt too bright. I know they can be adjusted with resistors, but i dont have the patience to fiddle with finding the right combination.
Anyone happen to have a recommendation to look at? id like red, but anything but white is cool.



BTW, we took second place, our "worst" showing this season. Not bad for a bunch of 3-5 year olds!

 

[fzsk4p]

Ok bear with me guys...Im at a cheerleading comp with the kid, and Im trying to stay sane...:laugh:
The S/W gauges i bought are real nice, but the wiring for the internal lights suck. Three of them have lost the pigtails altogether, and the lamps dont want to stay in the sockets.
So im thinking of replacing them with LEDs.
My new wiring and switches are not dimmer equipped, so I need an LED that isnt too bright. I know they can be adjusted with resistors, but i dont have the patience to fiddle with finding the right combination.
Anyone happen to have a recommendation to look at? id like red, but anything but white is cool.



BTW, we took second place, our "worst" showing this season. Not bad for a bunch of 3-5 year olds!

Got mine from
Super Bright LEDs – LED Lights, Bulbs, and Accessories

They come in various flavors so surely you can find what your looking for.

FWIW I replace all the lights in my Autometer gauages with LED`s from SB. Worked well.

For an idiot light the license plate LEDS work great.
1/4 -20 thread and waterproof.

Super Bright LEDs - LED Accent Lighting and LED Modules

Scroll down halfway

Good job on the kids !!

We play the #1 U11 Michigan soccer team tomorrow. Gonna move up from 4th to 1st !! Not bad for a bunch of 9/10 yo`s that are playing up an age group and in the top (Premier) division.

Next oldest daughter starts her indoor session next week. Her and her team (U14 Premier) finished 2nd in the state last fall.

 

[mylittlecj5]

Lessee...so many questions. That is a neat website, FZ.

questions...
What LUMINOUS INTENSITY did you use on yours?
I'm assuming to use at least a 45* viewing angle to light up the gauge, maybe more (120*?)
I'm looking at the 5mm size range, is that about right?

 

[IOPort51]

LED's are incredibly easy to wire and calculate resistance for and cheep. check this out and see if a trip to radio shack is all you need.

LEDs for Beginners

 

[Cheepjeep85]

i used three small blue leds in each gauge (sunpro gauges, only so far) ordered em off ebay from hong kong, got about 50 of em for less than $5 with pigtails and resistors for use with 12v on em already. they work great. i also took the sockets that came with the gauges and removed the wire and terminal on the inside, pulled 3 of the pigtails through it and made little "bulbs" that fit perfectly in the gauges, they light up just right. i plan on doing the speedo and indicator lights eventually, the tach is going to be more difficult because you can't take it apart and replace the light (crown factory style tach). little more expensive now, but still cheap 50x 3mm Blue LED Lamp Light Set 25cm Pre Wired 12V - eBay (item 220707886717 end time Feb-05-11 08:48:21 PST)
excuse the jeep its a little dirty

 

[Cheepjeep85]

The S/W gauges i bought are real nice, but the wiring for the internal lights suck. Three of them have lost the pigtails altogether, and the lamps dont want to stay in the sockets.

if you use my idea take a pair of pliers and pinch the bulb sockets so they are just a little out of round and it will make em stay in the socket just don't get to crazy with it

 

[mylittlecj5]

My gauges use a plastic socket, and the bulbs are the bayonet style, so that won't work.
Do you have a night shot of the lights? I just don't like my dash lights being too bright and blinding me, but too dim is worthless

 

[Cheepjeep85]

i can't get it to take right, they don't show up bright enough on my cell phone camera, its all i can use right know. but they are almost as bright as the indicator light for the air control cables, the blue makes the orange needles show up good. i think its just about perfect, but thats me.