hi everyone this is my first post and want to share with you my attempt to improve the dash lights of my s130 note that this is only a test


prueba sobre el reloj

1- dremel
4- 3mm led
4- resistencias de 470 ohm


primero desarme el reloj
luego hice un agujero para introducir los led
luego puso todo junto

mejor que la luz original no




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pd. Sorry about the poor quality of the photos but as you can see if there is improvement in comparison with the original

 

Looks great. I use LEDs as a replacement for old incandesent stuff whenever I can.

LEDs produce a very nice light in the specific wavelength (eg the Red is Red - no other light produced, blue is just blue, etc..) Problem with LED is that it's very spotty as in you can tell that there are four LEDs in your clock (top, bottom, left and right). Also assuming you have 2.8V drop across your resistor and worst case for your voltage is 14.4V (normal charging/running voltage) and you are running the typical 20mA max for you LED you should have a 580 ohm resistor or you'll reduce the life of your LEDs without any significant gain in brightness.

(14.4V-2.8V)/0.02A = 580 ohms

There are a few tricks to disperse the light in an LED. You can file a V grove in the top with a file, bead blast the lens, drill a convex in the lens, etc, etc...

 

Since going to the led's. I have liked the look better. Still lacks brightness because of the outdated dimmer control or whatever you call it. lol Anyway I thought of trying to find one that was stronger and hooking it up to my dash lights.

Of course the main reason I went led, is because I wanted purple dash lighting. And doing it with the stock bulbs were either poor. Or more a pinkish color, which will not work for me. lol They do look nice at night. Just sucks, I can't get them to be a little brighter.

 

You just need to use a higher intensity LED or multiple LEDs. Mine are way brighter than the stock bulbs (but more directional). Changing the dimmer isn't going to do anything because your max voltage isn't going to change. Regardless the voltage is way higher than the LED can use and it's the current that determines how bright the LED will run (or burn out) not the voltage. The stock dimmer works with my LED/resistors. It's possible if you are using an LED bulb with a built in switching power supply that they may not dim properly...

 

What intensity would you suggest? I am really new to led's. I just need my dash lights a little brighter in purple.

 

currently use LED light on my gauges looks great at night, but this test where the LEDs placed directly on the faceplate of the clock get better lighting but as said FricFrac Problem with LED is that it's very spotty .

gauges with smd led 14v


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but controls a / c are illuminated with LEDs embedded in 3mm acrylic plate that is behind the faceplate, so it gives better lighting, that's what I want to replicate the faceplate of the gauge



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