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01-05-2021, 06:51 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: GA
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66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
I have started with my American Auto Wire kit and the instrument panel needs bulbs and I couldn't find what I did with the old bulbs from the original harness. When I searched I have seen that some tried out LED lights though as well. Has anyone had issues with LEDs? If anyone has had no issues with LED and can share what they used and where they buy them I would appreciate it.
In the meantime I did look up what part number the incandescents were and it looks like an 1895 for most of them. I did convert the ammeter to a voltmeter, but it shows a 53 for that. Last edited by msg; 01-05-2021 at 07:15 PM. |
01-05-2021, 08:03 PM | #2 |
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Location: Manlius, NY
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
I used LEDs and I like them a lot. The only drawback IMO is they are not dimmable...not that I need to dim them, but sometimes I want things to work even if I don't intend to use them to the fullest...
I bought them from www.superbrghtleds.com I bought 6 green and 1 red for the headlight "bright". On another note...do have in that book what bulb the dash clock uses? Not sure if it is the same as the gauge cluster or smaller. Thanks Here is my dash at night... Last edited by roll_the_dice; 01-05-2021 at 08:26 PM. |
01-05-2021, 09:55 PM | #3 |
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
Hated how dim the dash was when driving at night, so I replaced the old bulbs with "Serundo Auto BA9S LED Car Bulbs". Got them on Amazon, $10 for 10 bulbs, and I can't be happier with the results. The dash is the perfect brightness, would do it again without any hesitation.
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01-05-2021, 11:12 PM | #4 | ||
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
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01-06-2021, 09:35 PM | #5 | |
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
Quote:
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01-07-2021, 11:37 AM | #6 |
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
Thanks guys, I like the LED in only a few spots approach. Ive already ordered the sylvania 1895 bulbs which say 25 lumens, and Ill try the LED Warm 3200k bulbs. Thanks for the link on that RTD, if I ever get this thing working again Ill post pics of led vs incandescent. Pics sometimes help, no promises my phone doesnt take great low light pics.
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01-08-2021, 11:14 AM | #7 | |
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
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01-06-2021, 01:30 PM | #8 |
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
New incandescent bulbs in a clean housing with a clean lens are bright enough to clearly see the gauges, and they're dimmable. LED's, especially if not dimmable will be more intense than your headlights so your eyes adjust to the brightness of the gauges instead of down the road where you're trying to focus, which is terrible for seeing where you're going. No need to create a problem by using LED's when normal bulbs are more than adequate.
I imagine that most people saying the stock bulbs are too dim have old bulbs, dirty housings, faded lenses, and they're driving around in a brightly lit city which makes the gauges seem dimmer. If you're out in the middle of nowhere with no other lighting then you'll need dimmable gauges or they'll easily be more intense than your headlights.
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Project Goldilocks '66 C10 Short Fleet BBW Build '65 C10 Highly Detailed Stock Restoration Thread '78 Camaro Targa Roof Build '55 International Metal/Body/Paint Work '66 F100 Full Rotisserie Restoration '40 Packard 120 Convertible Coupe Restoration How To Restore and Detail an Original Gauge Cluster How To Detail Sand Body Panels, Edges, Corners, Etc |
01-06-2021, 04:47 PM | #9 |
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
That is what I was concerned about, being too bright. The cluster is all newly refinished and I was not sure if the 100 or so extra lumens from the ones I was comparing to the 1895 would be too bright. I assumed it would unless someone had found a warm white low lumen LED bulb.
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01-06-2021, 05:04 PM | #10 | |
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
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25 lumens 5 Lumens The 25 lumen may be close to the original 1.7watt #53 bulb. |
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01-06-2021, 05:27 PM | #11 |
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Location: Yreka, CA
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
I ordered these for my '64. After installing, I had turn signal problems. The wiring was shaky at best so I rewired the front blinkers and still had the same problem. I also had the one of the idiot lights stay on after starting. I put the LED's in only the dash lights, no blinkers, idiot lights. It worked in the high beam light. They are dimmable it appears. they look good and close to stock, just brighter and clearer.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Serundo Auto BA9S Led Car Bulb BA9 1895 1891 53 57 Led Car Bulb, 2SMD 3030Chips 6000K White 47830 64111 3893 LED Car Bulb for Car Interior Dome Map License Plate Glove Box Light etc, Pack of 10pcs |
01-17-2021, 11:43 AM | #12 |
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Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Austin, TX
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Re: 66 dash lights- Incandescent or LEDs?
I populated my 66 Chevelle panel with "dimmable" LED bulbs from SuperBright Lights.com.
They will not dim by use of the OEM light switch dimmer but would if I patched in a an LED dimmer. Fortunately, the bulbs I selected are low enough lumens that they are not distracting for night driving. They look like the 5 lumen bulbs that RTD linked above. I decided to use incandescents on the 64 C10 |
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