LED Dash bulbs

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They somewhat dim on the switch. I never figured out a way to make them dim other than that.

I figured. I really like your idea, and I was researching making led strings dim. Due to design, they really don't like dimming the same way incandescent bulbs do. A pwm dimmer essentially turns them on and off really quick to give the appearance of being dimmed.

I found these and put a set on order. I have a few strings for other projects, and your dash light idea is perfect. I'll put one of the dimmers and see how it works. 2A LED PWM Dimmer with Bypass (pair)

I figure for $20 it's really not cost effective to try and make my own. This design won't allow dimming on the fly, but it will get brightness to a comfortable use level.
 
Got the LEDs in . Much better than the old 194s.. I wonder what the deal is , 194s were plenty bright 30 or so years ago.
:lol:
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I got ones from Superbrite about 6 months ago that didn't require polarity - work either way and were dimmable. You just have to seek out bulbs made that way - pretty important given how hard it is to get to these buggers without dropping the column and popping out the whole instrument bezel.
 
Doesn't really matter which you get. Just make sure they're 12v rated. I have no doubt that they're all made in the same couple of factories. LED strip, then a pwm dimmer and you're set. Or, no dimmer and have them bright. I have not bought a set that comes with a power supply and a dimmer, so I don't know how they have their wiring plans set (if the dimmer attaches to the power supply or is wired inline).

When the dimmers I ordered come in, I'll be setting mine up and taking a few pics. I'll take a pic of the box the LEDs came in as well. I'm pretty sure I ordered them off of Wish.
 
Can you provide details on ordering these? I checked Amazon but found dozens on their search, but none was what you have.
Evilbay is where I got them. You dont need the waterproof coated ones. Lots of options in color and length. They even have the color change ones if you want to change your dash backlighting color periodically.
 
Can you provide details on ordering these? I checked Amazon but found dozens on their search, but none was what you have.
I ordered both type bulbs off Ebay. Dirt cheap. (Pics in the first post) I installed the ones in the first pic. The white ones haven't shown up yet. The idea was to compare the 2 , but I'm to inpatient and installed the first to arrive. The white ones have an extra diode on the tip that I thought would lite up through the dash holes better. So now when they show up I'll have 50 of them I won't need. I can send some to who ever wants some for postage but maybe cheaper just to get them from Ebay with free shipping. :rolleyes::realcrazy:
7 bucks for 20 of the first and 10 bucks for 50 of the white ones, from Ebay
 
My dash lights seem really dim, still wondering if they become dimmer because the parts are now 50 years old or if they become dimmer because my eyes are 60 years old?
 
My dash lights seem really dim, still wondering if they become dimmer because the parts are now 50 years old or if they become dimmer because my eyes are 60 years old?
As large as the rally panel is, it has only 4 #158 bulbs for illumination. I've bypassed the dimmer rheostat so bulbs are full on. I've installed sylvania #2825 bulbs which are a little brighter than OEM. My result is bright as OEM will get. Depending on what panel you have, there may be only 2 bulbs for illumination.
Comparisons are a factor. Consider your cars headlights and/or interior lights, your TV, etc...
I'm 62. I have alarm clock with digital LED display that lights up half the bedroom but also have a vintage analog clock with glow in the dark hands.
We and our cars were born to a dimmer world. This thread is all about making yesterdays instrument panel light up like todays.
 
Pwm dimmer came in, so strip LED mod went into effect. I'll take night time pics tonight.

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Red wire for "full brightness" is just heat shrunk and tucked, not connected to anything. I cleaned up the board and tinned all of the contacts, as well as soldered pins in place. This ride hasn't had any connectivity issues, but it was out so might as well take preemptive measures.

I wrapped the LED's around the inside, just like @moparmat2000 did. Connections are all soldered.
 
I have some led Christmas lights that you can change color on. Has anyone tried that? Seems like it would be cool to change colors.
 
At whatever level the dimmer came set at, it's eye friendly. My camera is just being a sensitive punk and makes it seem bright. It's cleaner, but slightly less than full oem brightness.
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Figured out a relative comparison for brightness since my phone camera is sensitive. The reflection is from stock parking lights.
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I got ones from Superbrite about 6 months ago that didn't require polarity - work either way and were dimmable. You just have to seek out bulbs made that way - pretty important given how hard it is to get to these buggers without dropping the column and popping out the whole instrument bezel.
Do you have a part# of the bulbs that you ordered?
Thanks
 
I believe the best light color would be some shade of red, some kind of science to that isn't it? That's why tail lights are/should be red and why I despise those yellow turn signals at night, make my eyes hurt.

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My lights were very very dim when I built my 66, and as you said I could not see the gauges, I installed the 2886X bulbs they look just like the 194 bulbs and it was a difference of day and night. They fit right into the 5/8 twist in sockets and everything works just fine. They are not LED bulbs, I just ordered a set off of eBay for the 68.
Bob
 
My lights were very very dim when I built my 66, and as you said I could not see the gauges, I installed the 2886X bulbs they look just like the 194 bulbs and it was a difference of day and night. They fit right into the 5/8 twist in sockets and everything works just fine. They are not LED bulbs, I just ordered a set off of eBay for the 68.
Bob

Wow, that is interesting. I have never found that one in my searches. That means my dimmer would work right, which is a problem with leds. Do they run hotter than a 194?
 
Do you have a part# of the bulbs that you ordered?
Thanks

So the part numbers are really obscure. On their web site (superbrightleds.com) you can query "194 LED bulb - 4LED - miniature wedge base"

They have 4 LEDs on the end of the bulb. You need to use the plastic holder on the original bulbs. The old bulbs just pull out and the new ones push in.

I also had BA9 bulbs in my gauges that are wired to the instrument panel fuse so that they dim with the dash lights. I got "BA9s LED bulbs" I got all the bulbs in cool white (there are alternatives) The BA9 bulbs have the same 4 LEDs on the end of the bulb, so they all put out the same amount of light. Before I had an oil pressure gauge that out-shined all the rest of the lights, now they all look the same.

They all dim uniformly and seem to have no problems
 
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