dash panel lighting issues

[moparmat2000]

Hi y'all,

I have started on my dash resto. I purchased push in 194 series LEDs in green. I got everything cleaned up, and installed them in the PC boards. Using a 9V power supply i turned em on and shut off the lights in the shop to look at the back lighting. Now maybe i am just used to the modern cars after all these years and the more linear lighting effect, but the dash seems to have bright and dim spots in it. The only spot that has an even glow is where the tachometer sits. I took aluminum tape and a leather punch and knocked out small caps for the tops of the LEDs to diffuse the lighting to the side a bit, it made the whole cluster dimmer.

I know i should use a 12v supply to be playing with this, and would if i had one. I removed the blue diffusers as they were causing the lighting to be even dimmer.

I thought about LED flexible strip lighting inside the housing. Put it all around the perimeter inside the housing to eliminate bright and dim spots.

Anybody eelse do this or concider it?
I want to make the cluster to where i dont have to mess with it again once i reinstall it. LED lighting goes a long way in this regard.

Matt

 

[Riddler]

LED's have a more focus light pattern unless you purchase 180 optics which I'm sure won't fit into the cluster housing.

Do you have pictures of the LED's your using as well as the space available?

Riddler

 

[moparmat2000]

I can get pix when i get home.

 

[moparmat2000]

I didnt get pix, however once i dissassembled everything, i removed the blue light diffusers, repainted the inside of the housing with fresh gloss white spray paint, cleaned everything up, and ran a true 12V into the panel. I must be used to the newer cars i guess where the lighting is more even. But it doesnt look bad now. Everything is pretty visible.

I also cleaned all the printed circuit boards in alumiprep 33 to remove the tarnish, rinsed thoroughly, and using the ole weller soldering gun, i soldered all the pins to the boards.

I may add 2 more LEDs inside the housing to even out the lighting, but thats about it.

The ones i am using are a direct replacement for the GE 194 bayonet type, and fit into the stock bulb holders.

One place you cannot use an LED in the dash is the brake indicator in the dash. You have to keep a light bulb there. Reason being is it gets power from either end. One end from the park brake switch, and power from the low brake pressure warning switch on the proportioning valve. LEDs are directional meaning they light only one direction. Reversing polarity they wont light.

So using an LED there you may get your parking brake indication, but not low brake pressure.

 

[ptptCuda]

to moparmat2000,

I used cheap strip LEDs (RED) for my custom dash with phantom Autometer gauges. It was too hard to get the lights stuck in the periphery inside of the gauge so I simply made loops from the strips close to the size of the gauge and "fished" them into the gauge. Let me tell you it looks great, and the great thing about some of the LED strip lights is the they oftentimes have a tester battery with then so you can actually see how they will light up when finally wired in.

 

[christmas53]

I have a 68 barracuda and I would like to make the dash lights brighter. Can anyone help me out ?

 

[clhyer]

ptptCuda, I would sure like to see a pic of that set up.
C

 

[ptptCuda]

I'm just getting my entire car back from wiring and fuel lines ect, ect within the next 2 weeks so I will take pictures then.

 

[ptptCuda]

Here is a picture of my dash that I just got back. It actually looks even better up close. The looping of light in the gauge works very well and balanced.