Another alternative to getting brighter gauges

[Porsche_monkey]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Do you know if one needs a inverter per guage

Webpage says 15 m of tape per inverter. I would hope you aren't using more than that...

http://www.glowhut.com/12-volt-dc-inverter-for-el-wire--el-strip--el-tape--el-pan.html

[SpeedracerIndy]

Subscribed.

I've been using the LED replacements and they're not that great, actually there pretty bad. One big advantage to this is it has the ability to dim with the factory light switch.

I just bought 5 feet with a 12v inverter to experiment with on an old 911 clock. It was only $25 for everything, so if it doesn't work not a big loss.

[DRACO A5OG]

Very Cool Speed!

Please post pics. I agree the LED effect is not that great because of the un-even spread of the LEDs. I just like it took away the yellow tint an dit matched the LED display of my Stereo.

I just need to update my vent control lights too.

[TheMentat]

Why stop at the gauges?

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by TheMentat

Why stop at the gauges?

Ha ha, Well it is a VW in that pic. LOL

[scarceller]

This is indeed a very nice idea! I had best results with standard bulbs that simply had higher wattage rating, but I must say this approach will evenly distribute light.

The only negative would be you need to open the gauges.

So what Light strips where used with good success?

[CBRacerX]

Subscribed! good luck!

[SpeedracerIndy]

Update: WOAH, serious potential here!

I ordered the kit Sunday night, got it in the mail today. I'm in Indy and it came from California, so that's pretty quick shipping. I installed it in my spare clock. I spent about 5 minutes on this (literally) to see what it would look like, no installed gauges or anything. And, I cannot seem to keep still enough to take a picture in low light so the pics are a little blurry. See my initial results below:

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by SpeedracerIndy

Update: WOAH, serious potential here!

I ordered the kit Sunday night, got it in the mail today. I'm in Indy and it came from California, so that's pretty quick shipping. I installed it in my spare clock. I spent about 5 minutes on this (literally) to see what it would look like, no installed gauges or anything. And, I cannot seem to keep still enough to take a picture in low light so the pics are a little blurry. See my initial results below:

Wholy Crap!

That is awesome!

Details please Where, What ( do they have WHITE ) and How? Did it dim OK?

[SpeedracerIndy]

One more with the SLR.



This kit was $25 shipped to my door and came with 5 feet. I should have enough to do all of my gauges. I still have to figure out how to wire it, but it looks pretty straight forward. The stuff is very sticky on one side, but I'd probably still add some RTV or something. The inverter is about the size of two small match boxes stacked (~1"x2"x0.75") The only problem I've noticed so far (aside from having to split all of the gauges to install), is that the inverter makes a whining noise. I noticed though when dimmed, it didn't wine much. Still need to investigate that.

[SpeedracerIndy]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Wholy Crap!

That is awesome!

Details please Where, What ( do they have WHITE ) and How? Did it dim OK?

glowhut.com. That is white. It is exactly the same color as white LEDs (which are currently in my gauges). I haven't fully experimented with the dimming feature yet, but I did try it with a 9v batter and it seemed dimmer. Gotta go for now (dinner plans), but I'll play with it more later.

[DRACO A5OG]

You could always put the inverter in the trunk behind the fire wall or Dynamat?

[jpnovak]

Sweet! Thanks for the update.

[Canada Kev]

Wow, that almost looks modern. When you get a chance, can you show the insides, and reveal where you got the kits and all the other stuff we need to know? Thanks.

[RSTarga]

I've yet to discover a clean way to disassemble the instruments, and then how do you recrimp them properly?

[JTL]

Man - those look bright! I looked at this stuff on their website. It comes in 5' segments so it obviously needs to be cut to length per gauge. How do you then wire the cut up strips?
I have the stock lighting setup right now. The 2 left gauges are ok, speedo is marginal, tach and clock are really weak. The wiring behind the gauges is mighty interesting...

jt
-84 targa

[Kroggers]

Nice update, thank you...

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

The only way to recrimp the instruments "properly" is to use whatever the special tool is that the instrument-maker uses to roll the soft flange back into place. Failing that, you just have to tap-tap-tap the crimp as neatly as possible, though it'll never be perfect.

[DRACO A5OG]

Spoke to Mark at GlowHut, nice guy.

Here is what he recommends after looking at pics of our dials and proximate dimensions:


5' El Wire (2.2MM thick)

He believes it would better emit light due to it's radial structure to fill the knooks and cranny of the guage with light, he believes it would be easier to work with (we'll need the RTV glue) and you can solder the splitters if you wish. Tape is very difficult to solder.

2 12Volt Inverters (may get away with one and splice the 2 3-way splitters)

To service two 3 way Splitters

2 sets of the 3 way Splitter ( one terminal will not be used, maybe a red map light or shifter knob light under the Ash Tray??? I would get one of those red rubber slip cover )

Optional, 4 Accessory Kits (2.2MM) at $1.00 each.

These extra parts include connectors for the cut wires for each guage and end caps for the exposed ends of the wires possibly to avoid shorting. Shrink Wrap and so on see site.

I am going this route so I can take out the dials individually if in need of servicing in the future.

Whole Cost $28 before S&H, he is in Chino so he will let me Will Call. Hell it will cost me more for gas but I want to make certain I am getting the right stuff. I will bring my spare clock just in case.

I asked him about the Brighter Wires out there in the market and he replied, "Why would you want it to be that Bright?" Good Point.

Jim

As far as crimping, I used the end of my screw driver to roll it on and it seemed to work fine. I just made sure I did not pry all the way around the guage, just enough to pull the rim off. with the rubber outer seal can't see any side effects of cracking her open.

I did find another company with US made inverter at (3Khz others are only 2Khz) and parts for $25.85 but no end caps www.coolight.com

Found another that has a 5-way splitter but their site is broken, can order everyting except the wire, strange www.vibelights.com

[SpeedracerIndy]

DRACO: I think your spot on. I tinkered with the tape, and it would be destroyed if you tried to solder it. There doesn't seem to be any way to get to the wires and solder new leads on without destroying it. That would mean buying a 5' section for each gauge and cutting the excess. Quite a bit of waste. I think I will go the wire rout too since you can add connectors to it. The only problem I see with the wire is how to get it to stick to the can without covering it in RTV.

As far as brightness: after my experiment, my concern is that they would be TOO bright. The pictures I took were in my garage in daylight. The lights were off, but it was still pretty bright in the garage, and the gauge was VERY bright. It will dim just fine though. When I hooked it up to a 9v battery it was at least half intensity. I still need to try it with a rheostat though.

No good way to re crimp the gauges as FSW stated. I probably spent at least an hour slowly taking that clock apart. I leave it uncrimped so that I can experiment with it for things like this. I originally bought the clock to try to add more LED bulbs to it to see if that would make it brighter. That one failed. I have also taken the speedometer apart to repair my odometer gear, and that one took me about 2 hours. I was extremely careful though so I didn't damage the ring. It will be one gauge at a time on a rainy weekend project for me.

I wish I didn't have to do this work thing, otherwise I'd be fiddling with this stuff more.