L E D dashlights

[Mickey taker]

Am I right in thinking you can replace the dash and heater panel lights with LED s.
If so is it just a case of getting LED replacement bulbs or is it a soldering job.
If there are direct replacements what would I have to ask for at the shop.
Also can the light in the clock be made brighter ?
I can hardly see mine in daytime.

[Tim Leech]

You can get the bulbs and they are a direct fit, I tried it on the TRS but they were too bright and shone through the dials and looked naff.

[mat_fenwick]

It seems to be a bit of a lottery - what you want is an LED with a flattish end to give a more diffused beam. Some have more sharply domed tips and hence will be more directional, not what you want for a dashboard bulb!

Bear in mind that the dimmer will have little effect for two reasons; there will be less current going through it so less voltage drop across it and also an LED wired with a series resistor is less affected by the supply voltage.

[merlyn]

Also can the light in the clock be made brighter ?
I can hardly see mine in daytime.

This really winds me up! The one in my Xantia was bright in the day then positively glowing when I put the lights on. In the BX I can hardly see it in the day and it is just black at night! I really would like to brighten it up.

[mat_fenwick]

I don't find it an issue, mind you strong sunlight isn't that common round these parts! It would be worth checking the bulb isn't blackened with age.

[Vanny]

Also can the light in the clock be made brighter ?
I can hardly see mine in daytime.

This really winds me up! The one in my Xantia was bright in the day then positively glowing when I put the lights on. In the BX I can hardly see it in the day and it is just black at night! I really would like to brighten it up.

Take the clock apart and take the filter out, or change it for a more transparent filter. I guess it was tuned for night time driving/glare rather than being able to see it in the night.

The filter can readily be changed for a coloured piece of carrier bag. I use a piece of red M&S carrier bag to give me an orange look to the clock.

[Mickey taker]

thanks everyone, just to confirm it is capless 286 lamps I need isnt it ?.
[mustn't call them bulbs, bulbs are things you plant in the ground according to my electrician mate ]

[docchevron]

I have tri directioanl LED's in the valver, and Dad has the same in Phoenix. I have 286's in the TD, and they are shit. Cant remember where the tri ones came from, but I'll ask dad, they are utterly awesome!

[Mickey taker]

Chris, could you find out where Geoff got the tri directional led's from for me please

[Mickey taker]

is this the sort of thing Doc

http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/ultimate-wid ... -1669.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[docchevron]

thats the kind of thing mate yes.
Sorry for the delay, been off line for a few days.
We get urs from http://www.crazyleds.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but they appear to be the same thing!

[Mickey taker]

Got green tridirectional LEDs for the heater panal and what a difference,may be a bit bright for you younguns with 20/20 vision but they are just what I needed,now do I get green bulbs for the dash binnacle or white being as there must be some sort of green film behind the dials already unlike my heater panel

[Tim Leech]

Any piccies Mick and do we need sunglasses!

[frog]

Waiting for pics!

[citsncycles]

merlyn wrote:
Mickey taker wrote:
Also can the light in the clock be made brighter ?
I can hardly see mine in daytime.



This really winds me up! The one in my Xantia was bright in the day then positively glowing when I put the lights on. In the BX I can hardly see it in the day and it is just black at night! I really would like to brighten it up.

This really is one example of progress not necessarily being a good thing! The analogue clocks in both the GS and my previous BX's are no problem - they light up at night, and are just there in plain sight during the day. The digital clock in Timex is better than most being about right both lights off in the day and at night. The only time it doesn't work is when you need the lights on in the daytime, when it's far too dim. The best answer is to connect it to a light sensor rather than the sidelight circuit.