Dash Bulbs

[xmexclusive]

Hi Wirdy

I agree that it is easy to turn them round to get the polarity right. It is easy to check the illumination bulbs are right BUT how do you test the fault indicator ones for polarity before you reassemble the dash.
Before I found these on ebay I was going to make my own up for the dash indicators with 4 minature polarity diodes in circuit to make them polarity immune.

Regards

XMexc

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on January 03, 2007 11:47 am

[wirdy]

Hopefully I can follow the tracks to work out the polarity, but a good point nonetheless.

Oh I wish we had a 'test lamps' switch like aircraft have.

I know most of my temp fault lamps are okay after my minor overheat just after getting the car when the fan relays decided to go on strike!. AFAIK all the warnings are also displayed on the LH matrix too - so there is some redundancy for the fault lamps.

Just for now I'll only fit these LEDS to positions I can test. The rest of the bulbs I'll just con check.

[xmexclusive]

Hi Wirdy and All

The LED dash bulbs turned up in the post this morning. Have tried one so far and am not 100% happy with the results. I think two different types will be needed to give perfect results. These ones have a flat topped lense which gives a rather narrow light beam. Ideal for warning lamps but not so good for back of dash illumination. I have fitted one behind the LCD temperature display on the aircon panel. It illuminates the whole display well but gives a noticably brighter circle behind the centre number. I suspect that a round topped LED would be better in this application.
These LED's plug straight into the filament bulb holders and are small enough to fit into the panel holes. They came with a packet of new holders. Overall I am not sufficiently unhappy with the results to take the LED back out. Will post supplier details later as I have some W5W LED's to try next.

Regards

XMexc

[xmexclusive]

Hi All

Supplier of dash LED's can be found at http//stores.ebay.co.uk/DashLights
Have now tried fitting some LEDs to some spare dash centre warning panels. These can have up to 18 bulbs in 2 rows. I found both a Mk1 and a Mk2 one in the spares box. When the LED is fitted to the bulb holder it swells the plastic of the holder just enough to make it a very tight fit in the pcb hole on both boards. I could make it fit on a loose pcb but I do not think it would be easy on one attached to the back of a dash panel. Next thing is that on both pcb's the polarity of the contacts varies according to how it suited the designer laying out the printed circuit. Even worse the contact tracks are on the inside of the pcb on both types so the whole thing has to be taken to bits to trace polarity if LEDs are to be used.
None of this is insurmountable but not the easy ride I had hope for.
I have also now found a couple of Peters soldered dash bulbs during this exercise.

Regards

XMexc

[DerekW]

If all you electrical whizzkids will forgive my ignorance, will an LED bulb fitted as instrument panel backlighting react to the dimmer switch?

Derek

[noz]

Hi Derek,

Yes, it will dim - no problem. There will be a low cut-off though. It won't dim all the way down to zero but I doubt you'd notice it.

cheers

noz

[xmexclusive]

Hi All

I have now used the LED in the temperature display in the dark. It is a bit brighter than the rest of the normal bulbs. I think I will get a few coloured ones to try next as they have blue, green, orange and red as well as white.
Have not played with the dimmer switch yet but suspect Noz is right about not dimming in sync with the filament bulbs.

Regards

XMexc