A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.

[In The Ten Ring]

I'm planning to update my truck's idiot lights to gauges and I guess I'll get TBone to help me out. Could someone post or send me a video of LED's in an OEM cluster compared to a video of regular bulbs in a cluster?

I'm talking like the gauges that the trucks came with?

I realize this is weird but it's been 20 years since I've driven my truck at night!

THANKS!

[Vova]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

I'm planning to update my truck's idiot lights to gauges and I guess I'll get TBone to help me out. Could someone post or send me a video of LED's in an OEM cluster compared to a video of regular bulbs in a cluster?

I'm talking like the gauges that the trucks came with?

I realize this is weird but it's been 20 years since I've driven my truck at night!

THANKS!

I'm in the middle of upgrading my gauges and just got my led's in the mail.
I can send you some pics when I get everything wired up.
If you want to save yourself some time read this thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=295681

[BigCountryx]

How about a pic. Plain Jane 3 hole cluster with cheap 5 way led (eBay) for the two speedo and fuel gauge. I used some single led for the turn signals, don't do that.

[Longhorn 70]

I don't have pics but can say when I installed LEDs, I lost dimming. Now they're on or off

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70

I don't have pics but can say when I installed LEDs, I lost dimming. Now they're on or off

That makes sense. Also, I've always heard you may need a load balancer with led lights so they function properly. For me, the best approach when restoring my cluster, was to get a slightly brighter stock type bulb. They work great, and light things up as much I could ever want. Any more, and things could be blinding and distracting. If you search my old posts, I believe I list a Sylvania bulb part number

[BigRed76]

The cluster in my '71 has 194 bulbs in it and its plenty bright enough for night time driving. The only thing left to make it look nicer is repaint the gauge needles.

[DT1]

I've thought about doing this with my truck too. About two years ago, I installed LED's in my 67 Mustang dash. The stock lights were so dim, I had a hard time reading the gauges. The original lamps were 5 watt so I replaced them with 10 watt lamps. That did the trick but it turned out to be a dumb idea. The Mustang dash lights have colored plastic covers and the higher wattage lamps melted them. I decided to make spacers out of .125 thick copper to bring the lamps further away from the plastic covers and it worked out fine. I recently found a Web site that sells direct replacement LED lamps specifically for the Mustang so I bought a set. They make a spectacular difference and the best thing is, all I had to do was put them in place of the old ones. I also remember that the company that sold me them had three types of LED sets. The least expensive set did not dim but their "Better" set did. I bought their better set and they work perfectly. I'm not sure if this company offers the lamp sets for other makes or models, but if anyone's interested, I can look through my paperwork and try to find the invoice for the particulars.

[DT1]

Source...

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/l...bulbs/vehicle/

[BigCountryx]

I've never found the need to dim the dash lights personally but to each their own.

[In The Ten Ring]

Well I like having the ability to dim anything.

I may just go with bulbs but those LED's in DTI's posts look good.

[shopking72]

Originally Posted by Mister-B

That makes sense. Also, I've always heard you may need a load balancer with led lights so they function properly. For me, the best approach when restoring my cluster, was to get a slightly brighter stock type bulb. They work great, and light things up as much I could ever want. Any more, and things could be blinding and distracting. If you search my old posts, I believe I list a Sylvania bulb part number

I have LEDs in my cluster and dont have a load balancer... If you want lights that look bad and are not bright enough for nothing, then stay with your stock style lights.

[In The Ten Ring]

Hence why I am looking for comparison videos or pics.

I honestly don't remember what my dash cluster looked like at night!

[Lattimer]

The load balancer only comes into play if the LED needs to flash on and off, like for the turn signals. Sometimes they will flash very fast, or not at all, because of the way the flasher modules work. The LED uses less power, so the flashing doesn't work right.

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by shopking72

I have LEDs in my cluster and dont have a load balancer... If you want lights that look bad and are not bright enough for nothing, then stay with your stock style lights.

That's great about the load balancer, but read my post again. I said I used brighter than stock bulbs, and that they light it up as much as I could ever want

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Hence why I am looking for comparison videos or pics.

I honestly don't remember what my dash cluster looked like at night!

Taken just now without a flash or any editing or fancy filters. Just a raw photo. Nice, huh?

[shopking72]

Here is my cluster with cool white LEDs and blue LEDs in the other gauges. From super bright LEDs.