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knewknew
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 217
Location: Alexandria, VA
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 Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 8:32 am Post subject: LED upgrade in the dash gauges and domelight |
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I was curious if you guys have ever tried converting your regular filament bulbs to LEDs.
They are supposed to be far brighter and use less juice.
(They also are made in 6v these days).
if so, just curious where you guys have bought them. And if you were happy with the results.
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1970 Squareback |
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presidential
Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2010
Posts: 325
Location: Front Royal, VA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 8:47 am Post subject: |
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I've dealt with superbrightleds and a few others in the past with good results. With taillight bulbs, you really have to be careful on what you buy. If you get a tower, they're decently bright. If you get the "parts store" ones, your light output will be reduced over incandescent bulbs.
But for interior, go for it. They're great for people who tend to leave the interior lights on (like me) and won't melt lenses if that happens.
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~Craig
2007 Husky Sled dog |
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knewknew
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 217
Location: Alexandria, VA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 9:00 am Post subject: |
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what did you mean by 'tower' and 'parts store' versions?
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1970 Squareback |
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presidential
Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2010
Posts: 325
Location: Front Royal, VA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Tower type. LEDs have a very narrow viewing angle so more are required to properly reflect.
Parts store type. Light output is poor, these often disappear during the daytime but are decently visible at night.
Hope that helps.
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~Craig
2007 Husky Sled dog |
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vlad01
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2010
Posts: 3069
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 4:57 am Post subject: |
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leds are no good for the backlights in the gauges. They have a avalanche point at the forward bias voltage, which makes using the dimmer impossible unless you made a dedicated PWM circuit just for this purpose.
Also they are too directional for backlights and wont illuminate the gauges very well at all due to the optical design of the gauges.
They are good for the warning and indicator lights though.
btw if it ain't broke then don't fix it. |
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EverettB 
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 71525
Location: Phoenix 602
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presidential
Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2010
Posts: 325
Location: Front Royal, VA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:32 am Post subject: |
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| vlad01 wrote: |
| Also they are too directional for backlights and wont illuminate the gauges very well at all due to the optical design of the gauges. |
I've been using LED bulbs in vintage dashes for years with no issue, there are even multi-directional mini-wedge bulbs specifically designed for instrument clusters that work great. The down side is that they aren't dimmable but that's minor.
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~Craig
2007 Husky Sled dog |
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sharkskinman
Lateral Lunatic
Joined: April 26, 2006
Posts: 4045
Location: Deep In My Own Psyche
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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can someone link the correct bulbs for the interior and dash lights
also turn lights (small)
also a Red LED is needed for a Red Lens?
as white wont fully shine thru red?
are there taillights (LED) that we can just drop it without changing Relays?
LINKS PLEASE
Im having a bit o' trouble figuring this out
_________________
74 Mexi Swamp Thing. 70 square volksrod (Swamp Rat)..65 C10
| Me of Course wrote: |
| Extremity is relative to how far your willing to jump |
| Ward Cleaver wrote: |
| You ever try a pink golf ball, Wally? Why, the wind shear alone on a pink golf ball can take the head off a 90-pound midget at over 300 yards |
PS4 "NKOGNEATO" |
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Seanz0rz
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2007
Posts: 190
Location: Redlands
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| sharkskinman wrote: |
can someone link the correct bulbs for the interior and dash lights
also turn lights (small)
also a Red LED is needed for a Red Lens?
as white wont fully shine thru red?
are there taillights (LED) that we can just drop it without changing Relays?
LINKS PLEASE
Im having a bit o' trouble figuring this out |
for the front markers of my 73, i could not find LED bulbs for. my solution will be outlined in my thread, ill probably update it tomorrow or wednesday. basically use the stock bulb bases to create an adapter to the more common 1156 bulb (this will vary depending on year im guessing, im not sure what the earlier years used for the turn light in the front or the rear for that matter)
a colored bulb is not needed for the colored lens. HOWEVER, the lens will only allow light of a certain wavelength to be transmitted through it (red lens allows red wavelengths, etc). bright white bulbs are nearly twice the price of red bulbs, and much of that light is wasted in the lens. i purchased red bulbs for my red lenses, amber for amber, etc.
you wont need to change relays, you will need a new flasher to combat a hyperflash, but that can be had at autozone for about 10 dollars. look for an electronic flasher, not a thermal flasher. OR you can use a resistor to allow the thermal flasher to work, but that really defeats the purpose of having LED bulbs in the first place (more efficient, uses less power)
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-Sean
1998 4Runner. lifted, locked, armored, and illuminated.
1973 Squareback. She runs! Hopefully she'll drive! |
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presidential
Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2010
Posts: 325
Location: Front Royal, VA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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Browse around here: www.autolumination.com and www.superbrightleds.com.
One trick one that I like is the white/amber switching bulb. I used this on a C6 Corvette once...the parking light (low) is a bright white color and the turn signal illuminates the bulb amber. Very sweet, would be perfect for a vintage car as well.
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~Craig
2007 Husky Sled dog |
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sharkskinman
Lateral Lunatic
Joined: April 26, 2006
Posts: 4045
Location: Deep In My Own Psyche
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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cuz im thinking about getting a "bunch" of Single LED Lights
(ready to hook up)
and i think just mount them in the holes (they are "open" light sockets)
with current resistors...
i have tried identical to this in the dome light
but it didnt work
once a couple mods happen
i will be hiding lights like these..(flush mounted from behind)
for turn lights
_________________
74 Mexi Swamp Thing. 70 square volksrod (Swamp Rat)..65 C10
| Me of Course wrote: |
| Extremity is relative to how far your willing to jump |
| Ward Cleaver wrote: |
| You ever try a pink golf ball, Wally? Why, the wind shear alone on a pink golf ball can take the head off a 90-pound midget at over 300 yards |
PS4 "NKOGNEATO" |
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Seanz0rz
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2007
Posts: 190
Location: Redlands
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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what im finding with my 30 LED bulbs is the array is close to the base, and the angle prevents it from going into the rear turn socket with out some grinding, and completely prevents the reverse lamp from fitting. im not sure what im going to do about that, looks like ill be placing another order soon.
my license plate light is ready to go on, just awaiting a good rubber gasket to go between the housing and the hatch.
for your dome light, turn it around. polarity matters for LED's.
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-Sean
1998 4Runner. lifted, locked, armored, and illuminated.
1973 Squareback. She runs! Hopefully she'll drive! |
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Foxx
Uncle Meat
Joined: August 27, 2001
Posts: 4897
Location: at the computer,.......DUH!
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sharkskinman
Lateral Lunatic
Joined: April 26, 2006
Posts: 4045
Location: Deep In My Own Psyche
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 12:11 am Post subject: |
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what bulbs are those
and do they just get brighter when you hit the brake?
if i cant find any smaller LEDs i will probably just fashion a cluster 5 or 7 (5mm LEDs) for the turns and stick them thru the hole
_________________
74 Mexi Swamp Thing. 70 square volksrod (Swamp Rat)..65 C10
| Me of Course wrote: |
| Extremity is relative to how far your willing to jump |
| Ward Cleaver wrote: |
| You ever try a pink golf ball, Wally? Why, the wind shear alone on a pink golf ball can take the head off a 90-pound midget at over 300 yards |
PS4 "NKOGNEATO" |
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presidential
Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2010
Posts: 325
Location: Front Royal, VA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 8:31 am Post subject: |
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You'd get superior light output with a tower bulb, Foxx. These are 23 LED towers in a well lit garage on my old 240sx:
Also, for the interior light bulbs, there are ones made that have a bunch of surface mount LEDs that cast off far more light than the traditional bubble style LED pictured above.
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~Craig
2007 Husky Sled dog |
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Foxx
Uncle Meat
Joined: August 27, 2001
Posts: 4897
Location: at the computer,.......DUH!
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| Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| sharkskinman wrote: |
what bulbs are those
and do they just get brighter when you hit the brake?
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those are 1157 bulbs,.i updated the sockets to accept the 1157 bulbs which are a duel filament type bulbs instead of the 1156 type single filament bulbs.
the less bright light is the running light, the brighter is the brake.
i have two sockets converted per light so there is two per side now
still contemplating if i should do the top amber turn socket as well... we'll see..
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Frank
OG JHC
59 panel
Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity. i seem to use a lot. |
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ataraxia
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 4507
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 9:55 am Post subject: try oznium.com for LEDs |
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If you're good at 'making' your fixtures, you can also try Oznium.com for LEDs. I have purchased from them to retrofit my Speed3 and never got a bad string or bulb. Customer service is fast and prices are reasonable.
Used these in my hatch to replace the dome:
http://www.oznium.com/led-modules
It took me about 15 minutes to install both of them. If you've got some time on your hands, there are pictures of my hatch in the gallery with the lights installed.
The dome light modules with surface mount LEDs are disgustingly bright. I have two and they're turned off unless I lose something in the car.
There are also 'conversion' kits that you can buy to retrofit your VW bulb bases to their LED kit. Makes it easy to install without hacking up your car. |
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sharkskinman
Lateral Lunatic
Joined: April 26, 2006
Posts: 4045
Location: Deep In My Own Psyche
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| Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 10:10 am Post subject: |
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all i see is a couple pics in the gallery but none of the rear hatch and what you did for the lighting
_________________
74 Mexi Swamp Thing. 70 square volksrod (Swamp Rat)..65 C10
| Me of Course wrote: |
| Extremity is relative to how far your willing to jump |
| Ward Cleaver wrote: |
| You ever try a pink golf ball, Wally? Why, the wind shear alone on a pink golf ball can take the head off a 90-pound midget at over 300 yards |
PS4 "NKOGNEATO" |
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| Back to top |
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Shaven
Samba Member
Joined: September 17, 2006
Posts: 879
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:02 am Post subject: |
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is anyone using LED's in the rear lights of their Type 3?
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