Dim Dash Instruments

[Jabbah]

My instrument lights had all been replaced with LEDs by the previous owner. I've always found them far too dim at night especially the speedo and revs. I've tried upgrading them to higher intensity ones as recommended on other threads here but still not quite bright enough. Has anyone tried putting a strip of LEDs in such as these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/warm-white-12v-ip65-5cm-...

I think they would fit just inside the metal back cover and might work quite well?

[Jabbah]

LincsCerb said:

Hi I think if you were to remove the speedometer and look inside the hole where the bulb goes you will most likely see a bunch of wires that are directly in front of the bulb. They should be stuck to centre of the speedometer with some sticky tape and what happens is the tape gradually comes off with the heat from the bulb and the wires then block the light.
The same had happened on mine, I noticed it when I had the speedometer apart to do a repair on the motor.

Thanks, I'll have a play this weekend so if I can get the existing ones any better. I thought you could take the metal back off the speedo, but that's not the case is it? Would certainly make putting a strip of LEDs in more difficult!

[Jabbah]

I had a look inside the speedo and no wires to prevent the light going anywhere so went ahead and tried the LED strips:







If anything it might be too bright now! Might need to add a dimmer switch lol.

[Jabbah]

Not long at all, the RPM dial took less than an hour. The most time taken up is carefully bending the back of the aluminium ring to get the case off. I already had a couple of 12v wires from previous LED mod that I could use to power these as well though.

[Jabbah]

No danger of not seeing these at night. Time to think about a dimmer... It's a crappy camera phone pic so it's not actually that bad in person but still, could be distracting.

ETA: Changed second pic for one with headlights on.

Edited by Jabbah on Sunday 8th March 19:41

[Jabbah]

I bought a 40cm strip using 20cm for each, you can cut them every 5cm. Cost just under £9.

[Jabbah]

Added a dimmer:

Edited by Jabbah on Saturday 14th March 19:45

[Jabbah]

Mr Cerbera said:

Jabbah, any chance of detailing what you did to include a fader for a numpty like me ??

When I bought it the LEDs that were in the standard bulb positions were wired in separately as they weren't the right type. I haven't checked but I expect they are just patched into the same wires that go to the lights for the oil pressure / water temp / clock / fuel gauges. All I did was add in a 1K pot to the +12v source for the two LED strips and used a couple of cable ties to secure it behind the cowling that holds the clock and fuel gauge. I connected the +12v to one of the outside terminals and the middle one to the LEDs.

Used this one:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/omeg-1k-andohm-linear-si...