![]() |
Register or Log In To remove these advertisements. |
|
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
![]() |
#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Posts: 2,191
|
LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
I'm wanting to light up my instrument cluster a bit better. Has anyone replaced their stock instrument cluster light bulbs with LEDs? If so, do you have any part numbers for the direct replacement bulbs? Thanks.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Heart of Tennessee
Posts: 1,120
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
I put green led's in my Blazer. I think I just typed in 194 bulb led.
I did my ac heater control bulbs led as well. It's kind cool, and pretty cheap. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,513
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
Yup, 194s.
I'm using them for my side markers |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 602
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
Can we get a little more in depth than just a 194? Are there go to brands, colors etc? Who has some pics that they can share. There is a surprisingly little amount of info on this forum, I have been searching. Also, what about just using the higher watt version of a 194? I believe it is an 18xx or something. Let's get this set once and for all and then make a sticky out of it!
I'm not looking for anything crazy, just to be able to reasonably readmy gauges at night. Thanks!
__________________
1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 59
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
I recently changed mine to LED's. I used these off of Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Worked fine, a big improvement for visibility. They dim a bit with the dimmer control, but not a huge range. There may be better options out there for dimming, not sure. The high beam indicator and turn signals I just left in regular incandescent bulbs, the LED's didn't add any benefit in those locations. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 602
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
How is the color? Would like something with a greenish tint.
__________________
1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 59
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
These are very white. I would think you'd be able to find simliar green ones online.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Roachdale IN
Posts: 51
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
Go to superbrightleds.com They have 10 different kinds of the 194 bulbs.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 602
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
Yeah, 6 bucks a piece though. Ouch, gotta pass on that.
__________________
1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Collector of Projects
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 3,106
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
On my old cluster setup I used red LEDs but I also disassembled the cluster and painted the inside gloss white to cover the mint green factory color.
I used ebay LEDs that had multiple diodes pointing in different directions to disperse the light in all directions.... ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
A day late and $1 short...
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northwest FL
Posts: 3,870
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
If you do this mod will the lights dim with the rheostat?
__________________
Buck Instagram: C10_ustacould 1963 SWB Fleet Side 528 Desert Beige Milly 1967 SWB Step Side 506 Medium Blue The Old Girl 1968 SWB Fleet Side 503 Light Green Ellie SOLD 1965 SWB Fleet Side 507 Light Blue Prescription Strength SOLD 1971 SWB Fleet Side 521 White Shiro SOLD 1968 SWB Step Side 503 Light Green My Old Farm Truck SOLD |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Collector of Projects
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 3,106
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
No. It's either on or off with the LEDs.
You can add a PWM (Pulse Width Modulator) to dim the LEDs but opted not to. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 602
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
ochre1971 said that his dimmed somewhat. My understanding is that they need to be equipped with some type of diode - some are and some aren't. Could be wrong. A lot of the adds are straight from China and mention that they have a diode vs cheaper ones that do not.
I ordered two sets.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Green and yellow. I'll let you know how things turn out.
__________________
1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 59
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
To add to mcmlxix's comment about the PWM, this seems to be what you need in order to make them "fully" dimmable. It's a stand alone dimmer specifically for this application, so you'd have to mount it somewhere accessible.
https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Meter-91.../dp/B000N8GIYG |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Schoolcraft, Michigan
Posts: 928
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
Why not just put 168 bulbs in? They are 3 watt and the 194's are 2 watt. This is what I did and my cluster is bright enough.
__________________
1972 GMC Jimmy 4x4 LS Swap 1985 Chevy K20 1994 GMC Yukon 2021 GMC 2500HD Duramax AT4 My "It's a Jimmy Thing" Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=583528 Budget Build 1985 K20 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801565 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 602
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
Thanks - that may end up happening. I was hoping that we would get some good, specific info on dash lighting. All I could find was a guy used leds from somehwere, another from another place he cant rememeber, some used bigger bulbs. We need a FAQ about this.
__________________
1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Spring, Tx
Posts: 244
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
They're dash light bulbs! There's 2 kinds, incandescents 168 and 194 or LED. LED's can't dim without a special LED dimmer. They come in different colors. A vendor was given- Super brightness.com and the rest can be had at Amazon or your local auto parts store. What more do you need to know?
__________________
72 Chevy 2WD Blazer |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Westchester, NY
Posts: 602
|
Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM..... which ones - specifically - people have had good luck with.
__________________
1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|