What is the best way to increase brightness in gauges?

[t951]

Originally Posted by marks914

Yes,
to get this type of glow you need to go with the led strips. We do those all the time. If they are too bright for you,we can provide an inline resistor to dim them down. They are $35.00 per gauge with other work, otherwise just to install the LEDs its $55.00 per gauge.
Mark

I am looking at these pics of the quad-gauges....why do they have water temp? What would normally go there?

[scarceller]

Thanks for the feedback on terminal #57.

Pictures are sometimes hard to tell the improvement, do you like this solution? is it worth the effort?

[gsmith660]

Originally Posted by scarceller

Thanks for the feedback on terminal #57.

Pictures are sometimes hard to tell the improvement, do you like this solution? is it worth the effort?

The improvement was dramatic, the solution while not plug and play and took considerable time (I made 15 bulbs instead of 8) I think was worth it. I now can see my gauges at night.

[gsmith660]

Went out tonight and turned on the dash lights in pitch black, the illumination level is perfect I also got a couple red panel lights and put them in the fresh ait lighting points and they light the fresh air stuff with a warm red glow not the least bit overpowering so now I can see all the controls in the car on a dark night. I took another pic but it didn't do the lights justice so I won't post it.

[marks914]

Originally Posted by t951

I am looking at these pics of the quad-gauges....why do they have water temp? What would normally go there?

Those are from LS and subaru powered 914s, typically the quad gauges for 914s get fuel, oil pressure, oil temperature and volts.




These are a bit more traditional, this guy wanted stock appearance so we went with the warm white. No tricks or high ISO pics, the gauges really do light up that well. We also have a dimmer made for us by a local LED manufacturer




There are a couple of quicktime movies of the lighting here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/558336473KkVazr?start=192

I can't figure out how to post movies or gifs.
Mark

[marks914]

Forgot to mention that we have a remote dimmer and an "invisible" in-line dimmer in the works

Mark

[RoninLB]

a bump for those not wanting LED

member scarceller used Xenon B715205

project can be downloaded here

911 Projects

http://members.cox.net/widebody/GaugeLighting/911GaugeLightMod.doc


what i couldn't find in his docs is a dimmer he recommended years ago

IMTRA Marine Products


I think this is a great project

[911 in SC]

I don't use a dimmer. I have the dimer bypassed, as described in an earlier post. My upgraded bulbs have been in my car for over 4 years with no issues. Yes, I love this upgrade!

[ClickClickBoom]

Hello
If you really want to "fix" the problem, and aren't afraid of a little guage work, here ya go:
Remove offending guage
Carefully uncrimp the bezel with an 1/8" screwdriver, a little bit at a time.
After the bezel comes off carefully remove the guts of the guage.
Clean the glass face
Rough up the interior of the "can" with 220 grit sandpaper
Clean the inside of the body of the instrument with lacquer thinner/acetone.
Spray with the whitest white paint you can get.
Let dry.
Reassemble, using a pair of pliers with tape on the jaws and finish crimp with block of wood covered with a cloth and wood dowel and a hammer.
It really sounds like alot of procedures, but its not. Just work slowly and methodically and clean the work area well.
The painting of the interior of the can reflects the light really well. The can was originally zinc plated and most have oxidized over the years, mine were a corroded dull grey. I now have to turn my dimmer to the half way point on country roads, and to the 3/4 position on city streets.
I would rate this a 2 banana job.
eric
P.S. If I can remember I will take a flick after dark.

[79 Euro]

Good thread. Just found it. Hope I didn't waste my money. My order from Autolumination arrived yesterday. I bought 10 (I know, I only need 8) blue Ba7 Superstar LED bulbs at $4.99 each. They're supposed to be 3x brighter than their standard $2.99 LED and fit the existing Porsche socket. Anyone have any history with this company?

[DRACO A5OG]

None, but would love to see your results, break a LED!

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by ClickClickBoom

Spray with the whitest white paint you can get.


The painting of the interior of the can reflects the light really well. The can was originally zinc plated and most have oxidized over the years, mine were a corroded dull grey. I now have to turn my dimmer to the half way point on country roads, and to the 3/4 position on city streets.


P.S. If I can remember I will take a flick after dark.

greetings

so you had poor lighting on your 1975 so bad you had to stare at your oil temp gauge etc to see read them

and you used high gloss white instead of spray can chrome. What's your thoughts on using chrome paint.

sounds like you went from poor to very good with stock bulbs

sounds too good to be true but you've been there done that so I'll do it

[super9064]

Just posted mine on my thread, didn't know there was so much info out there.
NH speedo did mine.

Robs 911ST Cafe' Racer

[wwest]

Originally Posted by ClickClickBoom

Hello
If you really want to "fix" the problem, and aren't afraid of a little guage work, here ya go:
Remove offending guage
Carefully uncrimp the bezel with an 1/8" screwdriver, a little bit at a time.
After the bezel comes off carefully remove the guts of the guage.
Clean the glass face
Rough up the interior of the "can" with 220 grit sandpaper
Clean the inside of the body of the instrument with lacquer thinner/acetone.
Spray with the whitest white paint you can get.
Let dry.
Reassemble, using a pair of pliers with tape on the jaws and finish crimp with block of wood covered with a cloth and wood dowel and a hammer.
It really sounds like alot of procedures, but its not. Just work slowly and methodically and clean the work area well.
The painting of the interior of the can reflects the light really well. The can was originally zinc plated and most have oxidized over the years, mine were a corroded dull grey. I now have to turn my dimmer to the half way point on country roads, and to the 3/4 position on city streets.
I would rate this a 2 banana job.
eric
P.S. If I can remember I will take a flick after dark.

Why not bright chrome paint..?

That's what I used.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by 79 Euro

Good thread. Just found it. Hope I didn't waste my money. My order from Autolumination arrived yesterday. I bought 10 (I know, I only need 8) blue Ba7 Superstar LED bulbs at $4.99 each. They're supposed to be 3x brighter than their standard $2.99 LED and fit the existing Porsche socket. Anyone have any history with this company?

I now have a collection of LED bulbs from superbrightleds and autolumination (3X and standard), NONE of them even come close to matching the old incandescents.

So I've gone with 300 milliamp blue LEDs (Ebay) that I mount in the instrument bulb holder. I run them at a maximum of 150 milliamps, 60 ohm 3W resistor in series with each one. The original incandescents draw 150 milliamps so dimmer function is close to normal.

[wwest]

LED bulb assembly process.

[DRACO A5OG]

Oh, are those the Luxeon 1 watt LED's? They are definitely bright suckers and 120-130 degree view angle, if I recall.

Break a LED,

Jim

[wwest]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Oh, are those the Luxeon 1 watt LED's? They are definitely bright suckers and 120-130 degree view angle, if I recall.

Break a LED,

Jim

Ebay.

10 PCs 1W 8mm 140° StrawHat Blue LED 170,000mcd@300mA - eBay (item 370392391087 end time Mar-03-11 06:38:08 PST)

300 ma, 2.9 vdc = ~1W

Luxeon? No idea.

[69porsche]

Carmagic, LED Lights for Classic Porsches

Went with this company on my previous cars and today on my 1985-911, gives two great options 1) old vintage white 2) Bright white (but not the "in your face illumination")....basically plug and play-very easy, no relays necessary for my set up....fast delivery and comes with instruction, very easy and makes all the difference.

[scottb]

Originally Posted by 69porsche

Carmagic, LED Lights for Classic Porsches

Went with this company on my previous cars and today on my 1985-911, gives two great options 1) old vintage white 2) Bright white (but not the "in your face illumination")....basically plug and play-very easy, no relays necessary for my set up....fast delivery and comes with instruction, very easy and makes all the difference.

Dimmable?