LEDS to replace bulbs

[prussianblue450]

I've just fitted a new stereo which is nicely lit with white leds (they have a great crisp white colour with just the slightest blue tinge, like those expensive headlights.)

As I'm toying with replacing my Chimaera veneer dash with a stainless steel one I was wondering has anyone tried replacing the bulbs on their dash instrument with this kind of thing. I gather you can get bulbs which have the LED and resistors all in one

I've posted here cos I'm not just interested in TVR owners experience

[wedg1e]

Mate of mine replaced all the bulbs in his Imprezza instruments with blue LEDs. I find it a bit hard to quickly read the instruments, but then it's not my car

Ian

[prussianblue450]

Cheers,

Yeah I'm trying to work out whether it will look

a) starship enterprise
b) chavtastic

[8Pack]

yes, They are becoming very common now aren't they, I think think they will, without doubt replace filament bulbs very soon.

Many car manufacture's now use them for rear lights, and in industry they are very common replacements for nearly all standard indication lamps (see R.S) right up to mains voltage. Efficient and long lasting too.

I have a torch which I use (to aid my own ageing lamps) at work now, very high light output! The batteries last for ever. They DO as you say though have a slight blue tinge and are not perfect white, although other colours are available.

Wonder how long it will be before we will be lighting our homes with them?

>> Edited by 8Pack on Thursday 8th July 02:17

[MajorClanger]

prussianblue450 said:

As I'm toying with replacing my Chimaera veneer dash with a stainless steel one I was wondering has anyone tried replacing the bulbs on their dash instrument with this kind of thing.

David Beer of ModWise has played around with these. I'm sure he'd be happy to help out.

MC

[Alpineandy]

Not quite what you want, but they should be able to help:

www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/

[Pigeon]

8Pack said:

Many car manufacture's now use them for rear lights

And buses. And my MZ... I thought there was some piece of mindboggling legal stupidity that proscribed the use of LEDs in this application, but it seems that's been sorted now - about time too.

[Alpineandy]

Alpineandy said:

Not quite what you want, but they should be able to help: www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/

I had a good look at the site, and they do have leds for instruments.

I'd looked here for the LED stop/tail bulb replacements, and haven't got around to doing anything about it.

[deltaf]

Why dont you screen print the dials/numerals onto electro luminescent sheeting and then fit that into the instrument pod?
The numbers will glow in whatever colour you want, without heat and to a design you specify.
Plus points are that they last a very very long time.

[prussianblue450]

Eh...cos I was sh1t at art at school and am not prepared to let my creative side anywhere near my pride and joy!

Think 'changing rooms' for cars

>> Edited by prussianblue450 on Thursday 8th July 22:45

[deltaf]

prussianblue450 said:

Eh...cos I was sh1t at art at school and am not prepared to let my creative side anywhere near my pride and joy! Think 'changing rooms' for cars >> Edited by prussianblue450 on Thursday 8th July 22:45

Lmao! Got a paint program havent you?

[wedg1e]

Pigeon said:

I thought there was some piece of mindboggling legal stupidity that proscribed the use of LEDs in this application, but it seems that's been sorted now - about time too.

I think it was something to the effect that lights had to be 'filament lamps', which LEDs are not. Presumably the wording was originally constructed to dissuade people from using acetylene lamps or candles or whatever...

Ian

[Pigeon]

Right... still not entirely to my liking as (a) it ruled out improved photon emitters, and (b) I don't really see why one shouldn't use acetylene lamps as long as they do the job properly - regulate photon wavelength and intensity distributions, but not the source... I quite like the idea of building a totally electricity-free vehicle. Diesel engine, compressed air start, lighting by a million genetically-engineered glow-worms.

[Alpineandy]

Pigeon said:

Right...I quite like the idea of building a totally electricity-free vehicle. Diesel engine, compressed air start, lighting by a million genetically-engineered glow-worms.

What about Dylithium crystals...

and how do you get the glow worms to 'flash' when indicating?

[Pigeon]

Rotating reflectors, like those beacon things?