LED mod advice

[ketyokeinnor]

in the next week or two i want to order some LEDs for my digi dash and have it glow blue to match my interior. I was wondering if you guys have any online vendors you'd suggest using.

I found http://superlumination.com has them. has anyone dealt with them in the past. I'd like to spend less then $5 per led.

-Ron-

[DustyLBottoms]

I'd recommend SuperBrightLeds.com

http://www.superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html

Get 6 of the WLED-B5 LED Wedge Base Bulbs.

Good luck, and check out the tech article!

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00184.html

-Dustin

[ketyokeinnor]

saw the article and really liked the results. i had no idea they would produce such a drastic cahnge. that's the reason i want to do it.

the prices on the 5-led bulbs at superlumination are way better.

it shouldn't be too hard, i've had the cluster out before to change the shift indicator lamp(with a 194(no 192s anywhere, around here) now my fuel gauge is dimmer than the rest of the cluster, i'm guessing because of the different current draw of the new bulb. the whole shift indiacaor is coming out anyway, hopefully at the same time as the leds go in)

-Ron-

[DustyLBottoms]

saw the article and really liked the results. i had no idea they would produce such a drastic cahnge. that's the reason i want to do it.

the prices on the 5-led bulbs at superlumination are way better.

it shouldn't be too hard, i've had the cluster out before to change the shift indicator lamp(with a 194(no 192s anywhere, around here) now my fuel gauge is dimmer than the rest of the cluster, i'm guessing because of the different current draw of the new bulb. the whole shift indiacaor is coming out anyway, hopefully at the same time as the leds go in)

-Ron-

What year is your Conti? The main bulbs behind the cluster are 194's (which is what the 5-LED base is) The Shift indicator bulb is a #74.

[ketyokeinnor]

What year is your Conti? The main bulbs behind the cluster are 194's (which is what the 5-LED base is) The Shift indicator bulb is a #74.

1994, i think you're right, whatever it was, the base on the 194 was the same size, just the main bulb part was longer/wider. its the same one in the headlight indicator which i also replaced with a 194, which melted the plastic a little, got stuck in the panel and broke. i got an extra bulb for that from the airbag light the new wood dash trim i got. 194 was the smallest i could find at the time

[DustyLBottoms]

1994, i think you're right, whatever it was, the base on the 194 was the same size, just the main bulb part was longer/wider. its the same one in the headlight indicator which i also replaced with a 194, which melted the plastic a little, got stuck in the panel and broke. i got an extra bulb for that from the airbag light the new wood dash trim i got. 194 was the smallest i could find at the time


I think you're getting confused - all those are #74 bulbs, not #194.

194's are your license plate bulbs, outer left & right turn signals, and instrument cluster.

194:
http://www.ecklers.com/images/vette/20084.jpg

74:
http://www.weisd.com/store2/EIK74.jpg

[ketyokeinnor]

:confused: lol, you've got that right

ok, i guess i bought the 194's i'm thinking of 194's for the license plate then....i dunno what i put in my dash....not 74's they had the same size base but bigger bulb areas and more current draw/heat apparently, i'll check the number while i have the cluster apart

[ketyokeinnor]

One more question...on my way home today i noticed one set of the buttons on the side of the cluster are burned out. I think their #74's. If i got #74 blue LED's for there, would i get a similar effect?

[MichiganTeddyBear]

the 3 buttons on the side of the cluster use led's I believe, not replaceable bulbs.. I am going from memory here, but pretty sure they are not servicable. both mine are out too.

[DustyLBottoms]

One more question...on my way home today i noticed one set of the buttons on the side of the cluster are burned out. I think their #74's. If i got #74 blue LED's for there, would i get a similar effect?

the 3 buttons on the side of the cluster use led's I believe, not replaceable bulbs.. I am going from memory here, but pretty sure they are not servicable. both mine are out too.

Michigan is correct - these are LEDs that are soldered into place behind the switch packs. Now, you could replace them with new (read not burned out) switch packs but where's the fun in that? If you're feeling adventurous you can rip 'em out and solder your blue LEDs in place.

[ketyokeinnor]

i'm pretty good with soldering and whatnot, and and that place sells plain LED's too, way cheaper radio shack($0.72 ea compared to $2-4 ea for a blue), and i'm making an order anyway, so i guess i'll give it a try. I guess i'll take the dash out tomorrow and try to figure out the voltage and current draw from the working ones, and which physical size would be best

[ketyokeinnor]

Ordered some leds tonight. i didn't get the button ones yet. just the 6 for the cluster and a #74 for the shift light

[ketyokeinnor]

before
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/4176/1000243eo0.th.jpg (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000243eo0.jpg)

after
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8525/1000247rl3.th.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000247rl3.jpg)

I'm happy with it. The camera makes it look a little greener than it is. Its sky blue with some green in some places. I think the green is where there's dust in the cluster blocking some of the light.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

Looks good, but ya need to get some gas!!!

Great job.

One thing I wonder about, how much range does your dash dimmer have now? I know that when my radio is out, my dash will not dim much with the park/headlights on. With the additional load from the radio, it dims properly. Since the LED's draw a lot less current, I am wondering if the PWM module is compensating properly?

[ketyokeinnor]

Looks good, but ya need to get some gas!!!

Great job.

One thing I wonder about, how much range does your dash dimmer have now? I know that when my radio is out, my dash will not dim much with the park/headlights on. With the additional load from the radio, it dims properly. Since the LED's draw a lot less current, I am wondering if the PWM module is compensating properly?

Yeah, lol i got to pick some gas up in the morning. I like to keep it above 1/4 tank, but i slept in and a had a lot to do today(not a lot of travel though).
not so much dimming, there's a little bit of difference between the ends of the dimmer but not as much as there was.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

hmm, maybe with a little expermentation and calulation I could come up with a 'dummy load' to put on the circuit so the dimmer works more like it should. LED's dont dim as well as normal lights, but they will dim somewhat before they 'shut off'.

but thats a project for later on, if I get there!

[DustyLBottoms]

Update on the cluster:

I took mine apart a removed the green filters - now I can do any color LED I want!

:cool:

[ImTheJoker4u2]

before
http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/4176/1000243eo0.th.jpg (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000243eo0.jpg)

after
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8525/1000247rl3.th.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000247rl3.jpg)

I'm happy with it. The camera makes it look a little greener than it is. Its sky blue with some green in some places. I think the green is where there's dust in the cluster blocking some of the light.

that looks great, but you forgot the shift indicator lol, now heres the million dollar question, is it possible to change EVERYTHING to blue (the radio, the push buttons ect):confused:

[DustyLBottoms]

that looks great, but you forgot the shift indicator lol, now heres the million dollar question, is it possible to change EVERYTHING to blue (the radio, the push buttons ect):confused:


Yes, but you'll have to solder.

[ImTheJoker4u2]

Yes, but you'll have to solder.

thats OK, Im not skeered;) How bad is it to get into the climate control?

[DustyLBottoms]

thats OK, Im not skeered;) How bad is it to get into the climate control?


Not bad at all - gotta remove the fake wood trim first. Then the CCM is held in with 4 torx screws. Disconnect the two harness pigtails, plus the vacuum connectors and it's out.

After that you'll need more small torx bits...plus a tiny flat head to pry plastic clips. It'll come apart easy.

Trivia note: The bulb under the fan speed wheel has two wires attached - to replace the bulb you must cut the wires and solder a new bulb/wires together.

[DustyLBottoms]

thats OK, Im not skeered;) How bad is it to get into the climate control?

BTW, you got pics of your car? Sounds like we got basically the same one (champagne/tan).

[ketyokeinnor]

that looks great, but you forgot the shift indicator lol, now heres the million dollar question, is it possible to change EVERYTHING to blue (the radio, the push buttons ect):confused:

I did the shift indicator at first, but the #74 led I got did't light it up too good. so i put the bulb from over by the headlight switch in there and the led over by the switch. the shift indicator burned out again the other night so I guess i'll try looking for a brighter led.

[ImTheJoker4u2]

BTW, you got pics of your car? Sounds like we got basically the same one (champagne/tan).

Im gonna wait till theres a few leaves on the trees to snap a few shots to post...she needs a paint job...the clear is all peeled off of the roof, hood, and trunk, and the strip on the midpanels on the doors are all messed up. I know they are glued on n its gonna be a real pain to get them replaced...all in good time thu:)