Fibre Optic unit in Precat Griffith
Discussion
Hi
In the precat Griffith a fibre optic unit behind the dash was installed to illuminate the heater symbols, etc. onto the black semi-opaque heater panel - yes this is why the veneer heater panel wasn't used until the 500s.
Although it wasn't a very successful feature I would still like to retain it for originality. Mine has failed and I want to replace it - it's a Lucas part and I think it was fitted to early Range Rovers.
Anyone know more about this unit and where I might get a new one or better still a more powerful one.
eva
In the precat Griffith a fibre optic unit behind the dash was installed to illuminate the heater symbols, etc. onto the black semi-opaque heater panel - yes this is why the veneer heater panel wasn't used until the 500s.
Although it wasn't a very successful feature I would still like to retain it for originality. Mine has failed and I want to replace it - it's a Lucas part and I think it was fitted to early Range Rovers.
Anyone know more about this unit and where I might get a new one or better still a more powerful one.
eva
It's located under the front section of the centre console, uses six fibre cables from the unit to the under side of the black heater panel. The unit is basically just an enclosed bulb holder with a coloured filter disc and distribution lens inside which provides a red and blue spot for the heater switch, and green for the air direction and electric window symbols. You can just see the symbols if you shine a torch at the unlit panel, the panel is simply clear perspex sprayed matt black from the rear.
As standard the bulb is wired to come on with the ignition, so is on all the time your driving, cant really be seen in daylight so a bit daft, the unit gets hot in use and the bulb blackens reducing the light output. I have wired mine to come on with the sidelights which seems more sensible, there is even a spare cable (red/green trace)in the loom multiplug under the console.
The bulb is an ordinary es cap screw bulb and is quite bright when new, so provided your holder has not melted should be cheap fix although a pain to get at. Under the perspex switch panel ther should be some frosted glass balls (diffusers) sitting on top of the fibre optic ends under each symbol, clean these to increase brightness, mine were covered in fibre glass dust. The fibre cables are simply glued into holes in the console moulding, if broken the can be shortened and reatached.
The unit was indeed Range Rover and NLA.
Hope this is usefull to you,
Steve
As standard the bulb is wired to come on with the ignition, so is on all the time your driving, cant really be seen in daylight so a bit daft, the unit gets hot in use and the bulb blackens reducing the light output. I have wired mine to come on with the sidelights which seems more sensible, there is even a spare cable (red/green trace)in the loom multiplug under the console.
The bulb is an ordinary es cap screw bulb and is quite bright when new, so provided your holder has not melted should be cheap fix although a pain to get at. Under the perspex switch panel ther should be some frosted glass balls (diffusers) sitting on top of the fibre optic ends under each symbol, clean these to increase brightness, mine were covered in fibre glass dust. The fibre cables are simply glued into holes in the console moulding, if broken the can be shortened and reatached.
The unit was indeed Range Rover and NLA.
Hope this is usefull to you,
Steve
If you cant find another one anywhere, you could fit 12 volt round LED's of the correct colour into the fibre optic recesses under the glass diffusers to replace the fibre cables, I nearly did this but as mine was OK apart from a blown bulb I kept it original.
Good luck with it.
Steve
Good luck with it.
Steve
Steve D - Thanks a milion for posting that - at least I now know what I'm looking for! I can't believe it's behind the radio - I had the bloody dash out last weekend but never saw it - mind you there is a tonne of wiring and stuff behind there!
Right - dash out one last time! got some new LED bulbs to try. Interestingly I've been running 3W bulbs all these years and when I went to check the manual I discovered that the recommendation was for 5W bulbs in the gauges. So I now plan to try both 5W tungesten and my new green LED ones to see which works best. I'm hoping it will be the LED - less heat, last longer.
Anyway many thanks for the pointers re: the fiber optic unit...
Saxon
Right - dash out one last time! got some new LED bulbs to try. Interestingly I've been running 3W bulbs all these years and when I went to check the manual I discovered that the recommendation was for 5W bulbs in the gauges. So I now plan to try both 5W tungesten and my new green LED ones to see which works best. I'm hoping it will be the LED - less heat, last longer.
Anyway many thanks for the pointers re: the fiber optic unit...
Saxon
Learnt something new today.
Working on the fibre optic unit in a V8S and found that it does not produce just white light on the fibres.
There are 4 whites, 1 blue, 1 red and the remainder green.
Not having quite as much success with the colour filters behind the heater controls. The plastic I have found so far do not defuse the light enough.
Steve
Working on the fibre optic unit in a V8S and found that it does not produce just white light on the fibres.
There are 4 whites, 1 blue, 1 red and the remainder green.
Not having quite as much success with the colour filters behind the heater controls. The plastic I have found so far do not defuse the light enough.
Steve
davep said:
Steve_D said:
There are 4 whites, 1 blue, 1 red and the remainder green.
Steve
Windows Up/Down, Heater Cold/Hot and Footwell/Screen.Steve
Does the V8S system have the little opaque diffuser balls?
Blue - Cold
2x Green for Footwell/Screen up and down arrows.
Windows are not on fibre but switches for Fog, lights & fan have white back lights for the symbols.
Steve
Steve_D said:
davep said:
Steve_D said:
There are 4 whites, 1 blue, 1 red and the remainder green.
Steve
Windows Up/Down, Heater Cold/Hot and Footwell/Screen.Steve
Does the V8S system have the little opaque diffuser balls?
Blue - Cold
2x Green for Footwell/Screen up and down arrows.
Windows are not on fibre but switches for Fog, lights & fan have white back lights for the symbols.
Steve
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