Instrument Lighting

[Zoomad75]

I've got a factory tach cluster I'm gathering stuff to install. One of the items I'd like to change is the lighting. Right now the stock cluster is actually pretty bright even without the chrome paint trick. I'm looking to go LED. I will end up painting the backside of the cluster with the chrome paint so I have better reflective quality.

Through SuperbrightLEDs.com, they have wide angle LED wedge base bulbs that drop right in to replace the stock bulbs. They come with resistors installed so you don't have to cut the voltage down like you would with regular LEDs. They have a good range of colors, but I've been torn on what to use. White would be a straight upgrade over the yellowish 194's, but kind of boring. My next though was blue for an indiglo look, but with black faced gauges I'm not sure how it would show up or if it might wash out the white lettering. Next though would be the UV/blacklight color. I'm thinking it might give the coolest effect with the stock white on black gauges. The white lettering and dayglow orange needles would pop against the black background. This would be without lighting up the inside of the truck from the cluster.

Has anybody else looked at doing this? What colors would look best?

(I did check out the write up on mikes73-87 page for LED's but I don't want to get that complicated. I've got enough to do to make a hybrid 75/78 tach cluster out of two. Mainly it will be a 78 cluster with the 75 mechanical oil pressure gauge, but I have to rewire the 75 connector to match the 78 cluster.)

[71chevylowrider]

Wow, I think the blacklight idea sounds pretty darn cool, maybe take a blacklight bulb a cheap one from the hardware store & hold it over the guages before you install em to see what it might look like?

[Zoomad75]

I was thinking the same thing. At $1.59 a pop for LED's I don't want to be buying two sets. A regular blacklight bulb in my droplight might be the ticket to simulate the look.

The only thing that might be different on the effect is the lighting in the cluster is indirect where as the blacklight bulb from the outside is direct. I don't know how well blacklight "reflects" off of other surfaces.

[84 400]

WOW this seems really cool!! i you do it would you mind doing a write up on it? I would really like to do this on my 84 if it works. if the gauges look like i think they would that would be a really cool look. Great idea! I have thought of blue or red before but blacklight would be sick!

[71chevylowrider]

Yea, i was thinking about that too, the drop light would throw alot more light on the cluster, maybe you could use something to hold between the bulb & the guages to narrow the field of light (cardboard with a small hole in it for the light to penetrate?

[71chevylowrider]

& definetly do it in as dark a place as possible to get a real idea of what you will be seeing at night.

[Zoomad75]

I've got the Tach cluster sitting on my bench that I can take the bulbs out of and shine the blacklight through from the back. That should give me a good Idea if the blacklight would work or not.

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by 84 400

WOW this seems really cool!! i you do it would you mind doing a write up on it? I would really like to do this on my 84 if it works. if the gauges look like i think they would that would be a really cool look. Great idea! I have thought of blue or red before but blacklight would be sick!

Don't worry. I'll put together a full write up on it. I'm going to take a quick run over to wally world to pick up a black light bulb to try this out.

I like keeping stuff simple so just being able to drop in the LEDs instead of putting together an entire secondary harness/dimming contro for them.

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

... I'm looking to go LED. ...
Has anybody else looked at doing this? What colors would look best?

I'm throwing some ideas around as well.

I'm straying away from UV LEDs, due to the damage that the UV lightwave may cause on the eyes. One of the challenges in using LEDs is the narrow beam that they disperse. Without a diffuser, single cluster LEDs may cause hot spots (as in Chevychick's mod.) I've got a couple of ideas, but it's more involved than what you're after.

I plan to stay with a stock background on the gauge face. Although a white face is capable of reflecting the color of the LEDs used. The black background will probably asborb most the color spectrum. But, the white/orange lettering and needles may stand out. But, I haven't tested it yet.

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

I was thinking the same thing. At $1.59 a pop for LED's I don't want to be buying two sets. A regular blacklight bulb in my droplight might be the ticket to simulate the look.

The only thing that might be different on the effect is the lighting in the cluster is indirect where as the blacklight bulb from the outside is direct. I don't know how well blacklight "reflects" off of other surfaces.

I don't know for sure, but I think you may need to paint the lettering and needles with a fluorescent paint unless, of course, they fluoresces enough as is with a blacklight.

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by boxrodz

I don't know for sure, but I think you may need to paint the lettering and needles with a fluorescent paint unless, of course, they fluoresces enough as is with a blacklight.

Good point. The test with a blacklight bulb should give a good idea. I think the lettering has some fluorescent quality to it. Heck even a white t-shirt under a blacklight light gets pretty bright. White letters on a black background should show up good. Still need to test first.

[Zoomad75]

I thought the same thing on the narrow angle of regular LEDs. Here's the ones I'm looking at. These are wide angle LEDS:



I think these should be better from getting the hotspots as the light is diffused better.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Defiantly would be interested to know how it all turns out, I kicked an idea similar to this around with my buddy for awhile but we ended up not getting around too it and had some unanswered questions. Should be pretty kool if it works right.

[84 400]

yeah i can't wait to see if it works or not. if it does i am doing it!

[Srubydo1986]

if the black back ground and white letter are a problem try this http://whitegauges.net/

They dont just do white u can have any color combination along with brushed aluminum look. Iv been looking into this idea for some time for my truck and my chevelle. Ive been told it a little tetious work but works out when done.

[Zoomad75]

I found out a couple of things on my Tach cluster that is sitting on my bench. I picked up a blacklight bulb from wally world and did some testing.

Naturally the orange needles and markings popped visually under the direct blacklight. The white lettering didn't as much. so I pulled a few of the light bulbs and shined the blacklight in from behind. Zero light. The blacklight is not reflecting at all. Keep in mind this is an unmodified cluster with the light blue backside.

To have the true backlight effect, it's going to need two things. Direct light and brighter/more flourescent lettering.

I can't think of it working any other way based on my test. I'm probably just going to go with the blue LEDs. If anybody's got any other thoughts I'm all ears.

[Mickey_D]

Try using 5% reflective window tinting on the inside of the clear plastic gauge panel. The stuff that only reflects 5% of light, not the stuff that only allows 5% through. This may give enough of a reflection of the blacklight without hampering your view of the gauges.

[Srubydo1986]

idea on black lights u guys like to use chrome paint on the backs but doesnt black light reflect better of of whire then that chrome paint.

(only because my chrome paint always turns out dull and never shinny)

[Zoomad75]

My test was made on an unmodfied cluster. But you would think with a 60 watt incandecent blacklight bulb (that lit up my dark garage well) that the light should reflect well if the cluster was set up for it. I think blacklighting doesn't reflect all that well.

I did try out some white LED's though. I've got a 3 led conversion bulb in one of my AA maglights. popping out a stock bulb and pointing the maglight through the hole yielded decent results. The white lettering showed up well and the orange needles/marks had almost a similar look to the blacklight conditions. Meaning the orange showed up well under the White LEDs.

My thought is if the look was good with 3volts from the maglight, the drop in LEDs running with system voltage should show up better. I might order some white bulbs to start with and a couple blue to see the color effect.

[84_chevrolet]

hey i am very interested in this also, i am going 2 put a new dash bezel on this week and was wondering the same thing, what would leds do, or different bulbs, any suggestions or pics would be appreciated

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

I thought the same thing on the narrow angle of regular LEDs. Here's the ones I'm looking at. These are wide angle LEDS:



I think these should be better from getting the hotspots as the light is diffused better.

Rob -
You're probably right. Those inverted lens should help diffuse and spread out the light. I wonder these super wide angle would be even better and brighter. Although they are double in cost, they may be worth it.

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by 84_chevrolet

hey i am very interested in this also, i am going 2 put a new dash bezel on this week and was wondering the same thing, what would leds do, or different bulbs, any suggestions or pics would be appreciated

For a plug-n-play mod, use 168/194 wedge-base LED substitutes like what Rob posted. Superbrightleds (http://superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html) offer a reputable product. The key is to use LEDs with a wide angle to spread out the light to minimize any hot spots on the gauge faces. For a more custom mod, you could try Chevychic's LED mod: http://webpages.charter.net/chvchk/ledinstall.html