fibre optics

[hallsie]

Has anyone got a pic of what is inside the fibre optics switch thingy?

Ive found one behind the centre console and was thinking of replacing the lamp with leds to make them brighter!

Ive also just read the SH Bible cover to cover ( because Im fishing )and despite my FHC being registered 4th march 1981, it has a lot of newer bits that do not correspond to the year of manufacture, the fibre optics being one of those!

Stu

[Grady]

Not really helpful but IIRC - there were a series of threads a while back on switching to individual LEDs. Might include comments about the old fiber system. Grady

[Wedg1e]

The fibre optics arrangement WAS original fitment on the Tasmin (it was lifted from the Princess or a Jag, I think), however one or two enterprising owners have mentioned on here replacing the fibres and lampholder with more modern stuff.

The bulbous black thing is simply a lampholder with ports to keep the fibre ends aligned with the lamp. It's important to use the correct size lamp (both pysically and electrically) so that the fibres are actually 'looking' at the light and not the threaded base! Also, too powerful a lamp will melt plastic...

[leorest]

Optic fibre and light source are over stating the technology involved.

The fibres are very poor plastic attempting to guide the light from a small 12V bulb crudely positioned somewhere near the end of the fibres.

Due to temperature and age the bulb will have darkened and you will be lucky to get more than a handful of photons going into each fibre which probably means less than a photon dribbling out the other end!

LEDs are getting incredibly bright these days. Best solution is to bin the fibre guff and fit LEDs

[Barkychoc]

I don't know if its the same arrangement but the fibre optic arrangement on the V8S came out of a range rover - there's one or two pics in the RR haynes manual.