Fibre Optics

[Northern_Paul]

I've got 3 fibre strands and I don't know where they go!!!

Putting it all back together after the trimmer has finished and I've 3 black fibre wires each with a different coloured light in the core. I suspect they go to the heater panel below the dash but thats just a guess............does anyone know their location?? and their function??

On an early 4.0 Griff.

[david010167]

Rather odd, I did not know TVR used fibre optic cable, I thought all lights were LEDs on all the instruments.

Are you sure they are fibre optics, not that I doubt you but it does not sound right to me.

David

[burriana500]

There are fibre optics in a Griff?!!!

I am astounded, isn't that a bit on the technical side? I thought the principle behind the Griffs and Chims was that if they broke you could usually fix em with either a hammer, some sticky tape or a bit of baler band - or in worst cases, a combination of all three!

I shall await the more technical (and more useful), replies with interest.

[Northern_Paul]

There is a black and silver canister with one end shaped like a minorette (I'll try and get a pic!!). This thingy is the light source and it has quite a few black fibre cables, 3 of which are at present loose, when you look down the ends you can see yellow, red and blue light (I'll check colours).

[fatbuttfast]

Interesting, I will be amazed if there are fibre optic cables in the Griff (of any generation). I think you will find this is an add on by a third party.

Fibre Optic cables are expensive, and used to run large amounts of data only. You also need a laser generator and decoder, which are expensive pieces of kit.

Let's have a look at those pics.

Steve

[roop]

Nah, fibre optics are cheap these days and you certainly don't need quality optics or a laser source unless it's for high speed data. I expect TVR bought a couple of dozen 'fibre optic christmas trees' cheap in the post crimbo sales and a bulk pack of LED's from Maplins. It sounds about right to mix up the colours for the heater lights or such, but I really don't know. One for Steve Heath I think...

fatbuttfast said:

Fibre Optic cables are expensive, and used to run large amounts of data only. You also need a laser generator and decoder, which are expensive pieces of kit.

[gingerprince]

They're for your neon's under your car. Fast and the Furious anyone

Certainly sounds aftermarket. Could it be an old bit of flash hifi gear perhaps? Or one of those old 1970's fibre optic lamps

[Griffer]

Hi NorthernPaul,

Your quite right, they do go to the heater panel.

The light source module with the optical cables is from a Range Rover! There is a colour filter inside to give the different colours to the pipes.The heater panel has small dots/symbol shapes to illuminate switch function independent of the internal switch lighting spots.This feature is unique to 4.x cars with the black heater panel.

The red and blue ones go to the hot/cold switch at top left, then there are green ones to the air direction switch at lower left and to both window switches on the right.The light pipes are bonded into the GRP console beneath the heater panel. Remove the heater switches carefully, this will reveal the fixing screws for the perspex panel, the wiring is a bit tight to the switches.The panel should pull up over the fan knob.Careful, these are difficult to replace if you bust it. There should be ground glass spheres in pockets beneath the switch panel that act as light diffusers, pull these out with a bit of blu tac and you will see the ends of the optical cables. Hopefully you can just push them back in.If they are broken off you will probably need to remove the console completely to remove the broken bit to fix it.
Hope this helps.
Griffer

[fatbuttfast]

Well I never....You learn something every day.

Trust TVR (Sorry Rover) to go down the complicated route of providing coloured lights for the heater control. Most others would just use individulal LED's and wires (Maplins sell these as well Roop)

Steve

[Griffer]

The odd thing is that the light unit is wired to an ignition feed, rather than the panel lights, so its on all the time you are driving, and can't be seen in daylight as there so small and quite dim. When the pilot bulb goes it's a swine to get at to change. A lot of 4.x owners probably don't know it's there at all,when I first got my car they didn't work.
Griffer

[RichB]

I thnk the S3 had the heater controls illuminated with fibre optics. Didn't work very well though, so it may have been a carry over to the early Griffs until it was changed. R...

[Northern_Paul]

I was beginging to loose faith, begining to think I would have to join the ranks of the max power boys (because of my underbody neons!!)

Thanks Griffer, it must be that the pre-cat owners are the cleverest

I have pics but fotango is playing up at present, as soon as I can I will post....Thnaks again.