Instrument lamp rating???

[mikeb]

Having struggled all day today and now finally I have got all of the veneer panels off to fix the instrument light failure I now have to replace a few of the lamps in the smaller gauges.

What rating are yours??. I had a few lamps gone but these were all different ratings.....

Also what happened to the LED bulb replacement idea? anybody tried this after??.

MikeB

[wedg1e]

2 or 3 watts is usual for instrument lamps, Mike.

[jon@127]

Mike,
I did all of mine last week, I could only get one size (rating) I think it was 2W. Just been out to the garage and emptied the rubbish bag but the old ones are not it, mus have thrown them straight in the dustbin.
Anyway, I got mine from Halfords and as I say they only had one rating that would fit, they seem fine.
Jon

[wedg1e]

Re the LEDs: you can get an assortment now with different bases (such as the MBC that is usual for instrument lamps) from the likes of RS (for a fee, of course ).
No doubt Maplins do them as well, aimed at the bling brigade (not that I'm suggesting any such proclivities apply here )

[mikeb]

Well I would like to have the instrument lights lit well in the night. A couple were three watt and a couple were two so I think I will go for three watt.

When I was having a poke around did I notice that the clock lamp had started to burn a hole through the plastic housing!

I would like to change all of the lamps for LED's I will have a looksee in my local RS superstore tomorrow to see what I can dig up.

Presumably the LEDs will be brighter and cooler running?

Not knowing a lot about automotive lamp specifications and nomenclature what is the exact designation of the push in instrument lamp base so I won't look like a complete numnut when I ask the know-it-all staff in RS?

Mike (can now almost see in the dark again) B

[streaky]

Try www.ultraleds.com/ - that's where I got mine - Streaky

[leorest]

One thought to throw in is that the heat generated by the bulb is usefull for drying out any condensation within the instrument. I too will have to tackle the dash out job to sort out lighting. The LEDs last longer and probably give out more light but little in the way of heat. When I eventually get round to it I might look into LEDs and a small resistor in parallel as a heater.
Leo