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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead
Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 16881 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades |
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I think you're going to hate the pattern at night. they need to "flood" more and the LED's seem to "spot"
at least that was my observation _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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chabanais Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2002 Posts: 4866
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades |
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LEDs are great for being 'bright' for someone behind you but as far as being a directed light they may not been ideal for actual illumination.
You could do a light meter or an 'eyeball' test but they tend to have a more focused beam. _________________ "I spud therefore I yam." |
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telford dorr Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2009 Posts: 3555 Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades |
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Am working on a LED upgrade for the dash instruments. I used Pilot CZ-3143W flexible LED strips (2 to a package, only 1 needed, Pep Boys, etc.). These are silicone rubber encased 12 inch LED strip lights rated for 12 volts. For testing, a junk instrument cluster (courtesy AeroMech) was modified.
Unlit:
Lit up:
Inside:
Details:
Small holes were drilled into the plastic case, and tie wire was used to secure the LED strip. The strip clears the instruments. A little juggling is needed to get them back into the case.
Am working on a dimmer module which uses the original headlight switch dimmer control as a control input. It's working nicely, so far - adjustable from dark to full brightness. Need to do some packaging and in-the-vehicle testing. _________________ '71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST) |
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Westy_West Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2013 Posts: 5 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades |
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Looks nice telford! I did something similar with my cluster using a strip of red led lights. I suggest putting a little dab of silicone onto the holes where the wires go through to hold your LED strips in place. This will keep out the dust. _________________ 79 Westfalia, 2.0L FI Type 4
@GoneWithTheWesty |
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NASkeet Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 2958 Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 8:17 am Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades |
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mattlockwood wrote: |
Weird what it does to your license plate....... |
What is equally weird is that the rear turn-signal lenses seem to have changed from the sensible orange colour (as is the norm outside North America), to red, matching the tail lights and brake lights!!! _________________ Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
http://www.vwt2oc.net |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:45 am Post subject: VDO LED Bulb Upgrade |
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To link to this post copy and paste
Code: |
[url=https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8550630#8550630]VDO LED Bulb Upgrade[/url] |
VDO LED Bulb Upgrade
https://www.vdo-instruments.com/accessories/led-bulb-upgrade.html
VDO 600 840 Type E Plastic Bulb Socket
VDO 600 815 Type E Wedge Based Bulb, 12V 3.4W
VDO 600 886 Type E LED Upgrade, White
| White 600 886 |Red 600 878 | Green 600 879 | Blue 600 880 | Amber 600 881 |
LED Cross 158 168 194
VDO 600 818 Type B Steel Bulb Socket 11/32" (9MM) Bulb
VDO 600 819 Type B Plastic Bulb Socket 11/32" (9MM) Bulb 15/32" Socket Base
VDO 600 804 Type B 11/32" (9mm) Metal Base Bulb, 12V, 2W
VDO 600 806 Type B 11/32" (9mm) Metal Base Bulb, 12V, 2W
LED Cross BA9s
Last edited by Tcash on Tue May 15, 2018 9:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Air_Cooled_Nut Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2004 Posts: 3040 Location: Portland, Oregon
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Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades |
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NASkeet wrote: |
...
What is equally weird is that the rear turn-signal lenses seem to have changed from the sensible orange colour (as is the norm outside North America), to red, matching the tail lights and brake lights!!! |
Make sure the LED bulb color matches the lens color. For example, amber turn signal amber LED bulb; red brake light red LED bulb. _________________ Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion |
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obnoxiousblue Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2007 Posts: 2943 Location: East Northport, NY
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Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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What relay are you guys running to convert your turn signals? _________________ Mike
1964 Beetle
2001 Eurovan Camper |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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obnoxiousblue wrote: |
What relay are you guys running to convert your turn signals? |
chabanais was working that out. Don't know if he found one or not? Maybe pm him.
Good luck
Tcash |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 9:07 am Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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VDO LED light
telford dorr wrote: |
Update: bent over and bought the official VDO LED bulbs (ouch!).
These bulbs have four forward facing LEDs each, arranged as two series-wired pairs in parallel. Below the LEDs is a full-wave diode bridge rectifier (makes them polarity-insensitive) and some series resistors.
They fit. They dim. They work....
Here's the results (note: the dimmer was turned most of the way up to get enough light for a hand-held pic with some semblance of focus..)
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Last edited by Tcash on Wed Sep 20, 2017 2:02 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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telford dorr Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2009 Posts: 3555 Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 9:32 am Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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FYI: these ^^^ are VDO 600-886 bulbs and are used in the tachometer. See this post for a review of how they actually worked out (hint: less than optimal).
[Somehow there are two threads going on this.]
Another thing: these 194-W4-32 lamps from superbrightleds.com look suspiciously identical to VDO 600-886 bulbs (but at 1/6th the price). Even the labeling printed on the lamps is the same. But the SBL bulbs are labeled "non-dimmable" in the spec sheet while the VDO's dim nicely. Would someone from SBL like to explain this? What exactly makes your lamps "non-dimmable"? _________________ '71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST) |
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NASkeet Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 2958 Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 8:05 am Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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Tcash wrote: |
VDO LED light
telford dorr wrote: |
Update: bent over and bought the official VDO LED bulbs (ouch!).
These bulbs have four forward facing LEDs each, arranged as two series-wired pairs in parallel. Below the LEDs is a full-wave diode bridge rectifier (makes them polarity-insensitive) and some series resistors.
They fit. They dim. They work....
Here's the results (note: the dimmer was turned most of the way up to get enough light for a hand-held pic with some semblance of focus..)
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I fear that this degree of instrument illumination might be too bright for me and compromise night-vision of the dark-adapted eye. Of course one could avoid this problem by using red LEDs; one's rods in the retina being insensitive to red light. _________________ Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
http://www.vwt2oc.net |
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telford dorr Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2009 Posts: 3555 Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 8:21 am Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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NASkeet wrote: |
I fear that this degree of instrument illumination might be too bright for me and compromise night-vision of the dark-adapted eye. |
Not to worry: the lighting is on a dimmer which can be set anywhere between completely dark to what you see above.
As stated, the dimmer was turned most of the way up to get enough light for a hand-held photo with some semblance of focus..
I did try red LEDs and the color just didn't work for me. The readability of the instrument was poor compared to white. _________________ '71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST) |
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chabanais Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2002 Posts: 4866
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 1:03 pm Post subject: LED Bulb Electronic Flasher Relay |
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Something like this:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/car-insta...r/784/838/
Tcash wrote: |
obnoxiousblue wrote: |
What relay are you guys running to convert your turn signals? |
chabanais was working that out. Don't know if he found one or not? Maybe pm him.
Good luck
Tcash |
_________________ "I spud therefore I yam." |
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obnoxiousblue Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2007 Posts: 2943 Location: East Northport, NY
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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Chanabis, did that one work for you?
I'm in a 77 bus and would love to upgrade all the lights to LED (stop/turn/tail/sidemarkers) but obviously need to figure out which relay is going to allow everything to work at a normal flash rate. _________________ Mike
1964 Beetle
2001 Eurovan Camper |
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scrivyscriv Samba Electrician
Joined: October 04, 2011 Posts: 2922 Location: Memphis
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 9:09 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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As far as the instrument panel goes, I have a few comments...
1) If you change the indicator lamps to LED.. after a few night drives, you'll really regret it. They are uncomfortably bright. I'm talking specifically about the high beam lamp and both blinkers.
2) the ambient lighting in the cluster itself is a great LED upgrade, with flexible LED strips. You get much better illumination. However, the stock dimmer rheostat may not work well with LEDs, so adding a PWM controller is a good standby option.
3) you will get uneven illumination of the gauges if you wrap the LED tape around the inner oval area. The outside edges are all illuminated directly, but the inside edges only get whatever ambient light is bouncing around the cluster. There is a noticeable light falloff.
I put a center strip on the metal backing plate but it is an imperfect solution: _________________ Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help. |
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scrivyscriv Samba Electrician
Joined: October 04, 2011 Posts: 2922 Location: Memphis
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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obnoxiousblue wrote: |
... I... obviously need to figure out which relay is going to allow everything to work at a normal flash rate. |
easy, you need a solid state relay. Parts stores carry both thermal relays and solid state relays. Thermal relays are old school; they heat up a bimetal strip blah blah blah. Solid state relays use an IC chip (assuming a 555 timer chip) to operate the relay contacts at a fixed rate.
The relay packaging should list it pretty clearly. _________________ Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help. |
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lintbrush Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2013 Posts: 269 Location: Campbell, California
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Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 10:48 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades |
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NASkeet wrote: |
What is equally weird is that the rear turn-signal lenses seem to have changed from the sensible orange colour (as is the norm outside North America), to red, matching the tail lights and brake lights!!! |
Yep, given I'm in NA and have single bulb buckets (and an LED conversion) that both utilize just the top portion of the lens, I can't have the more "sensible" amber/red lenses. If I had to do it over, I would switch to the euro style buckets and lenses.
_________________ 1970 Westfalia Campmobile - SF Bay Area
https://www.instagram.com/campishome/ |
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chabanais Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2002 Posts: 4866
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Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2017 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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It just pops in and you're good.
Did back side lights:
Under dash lights:
Gauge lights:
Head lights:
Rear turn signals:
obnoxiousblue wrote: |
Chanabis, did that one work for you?
I'm in a 77 bus and would love to upgrade all the lights to LED (stop/turn/tail/sidemarkers) but obviously need to figure out which relay is going to allow everything to work at a normal flash rate. |
_________________ "I spud therefore I yam." |
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zaidigonzo Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2006 Posts: 305 Location: Punta Gorda, FL
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Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 1:57 pm Post subject: Re: LED lighting upgrades FAQ |
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Did all the lights in my 79 westy.
Everything works except turn signals.
With ignition on, they light up and stay on when just hit the turn signal lever to either side/ no flash.
Emergency flashers work all 4 corners only if ignition off. Really fast but they work.
If you turn ignition to on, the rapid flashing stops and lights go off...on the hazzards
I used all superbrightleds bulbs.
Any ideas to get my turn signals to work / i dont care if they flash fast. I just want the turn signals to flash with ignition on
And hazzards to flash with ignition on. |
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