The Ultimate LED Ba7s bulbs for Gauges ala ETarga (pic & vid)

[DaddyGlenn]

Has anyone tried red LEDs like aircraft instrument lights?

[dan88911]

I don't know specifically about aircraft instrument lights.
However, I recall reading something about red leds do not display very well behind a red lens.

[AJ's 911]

Originally Posted by DaddyGlenn

Has anyone tried red LEDs like aircraft instrument lights?

These pics were deep inside the thread....You be the judge

[Uneekone]

wwest- can you post a picture of the high mounted brake light you mentioned? I'm just curious if its what I'm thinking it is...

[joe payne]

Originally Posted by Craig_D

Here's the latest video with the tail light covers on.

Thanks for the video. The blinkers look great! Would you turn on the tail lights and then hit the brakes so we can see the difference between lights on and brakles on?

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by joe payne

Thanks for the video. The blinkers look great! Would you turn on the tail lights and then hit the brakes so we can see the difference between lights on and brakles on?

Sure. I'll see if I can do that tonight. Only thing is that my LED brake lights are from Radiantz, and aren't as sophisticated as Etarga/Jake's LEDs. The radiantz are more directional. Still super bright, but you can see they are discs with LEDs pointing straight back.

[Rich Gas]

Hey guys, any hints on getting the first guage out of the dash. I'm using a plastic putty knife, but can't seem to get them to budge. Do you remove them with the rubber sleeve, or? Are you starting with the clock first? I was thinking one of those glass suction cup devices would be great to have about now. Any help would be appreciated.

Rich

Found it on a previous page. Pushed the gas gauge out through the trunk.

[Etarga]

Rich, please start with the clock or the fuel gauge, with a little twisting and turning they come right out, either with or without the sleeve. Then help the gauge next to it out by pushing it a bit from the rear.

The tail/ brake and turn signal LEDs also come with a 2 year warranty, same as the dash lights.

[Rich Gas]

Thanks etarga. I've got a feeling I'll be ordering from you soon. I bought a bunch from Amazon and I'll give them a try.
Question... I bought ba7, 74 wedge LEDs. I notice that the bulbs in some of the pictures aren't wedges. Are your guage bulbs wedge bulbs, and how do they fit? I heard they must be put in with consideration to polarity (think that's the term). Thanks for your input.
I'm starting with the installation tomorrow so maybe it'll become evident then.

I'll need your signal lights for sure.


Rich

[kidrock]

Rich, if you can't get the gas gauge out from the front, open the "frunk" and you'll see the back of the gauge. Reach in and wriggle it towards the driver's seat.

FYI, you'll need to remove the steering wheel and forcefully wriggle the tach for removal.

[Rich Gas]

Hey Kidrock, actually after I wrote that I found your previous post explaining how you did it. I was able to push it out. Thanks bother.
Are the bulbs wedge type...haven't looked yet. Ordered a bunch, so I hope so. I ordered different makes and wattages. Probably end up buying etargas though. Just experimenting.

Thanks again.
Rich

[Etarga]

Rich , they are BA7s bulbs, not wedge style bulbs.

[Rich Gas]

Yeah, I messed that up. Superbriteled shows the instrument lights as 74 wedge bulbs. I used them as a guide
I'll attempt to PM you.

Rich

[Craig_D]

Here's the video we shot last night. It's not the best because of the overall night lighting, but gives an idea of the brightness of the new Etarga LED turn signals, and the older style Radiantz array style tail & brake lights

LED turn signals night test - YouTube

[DRACO A5OG]

nice, indeed brighter, was the driverside standard bulbs?

[joe payne]

Originally Posted by Craig_D

Here's the video we shot last night. It's not the best because of the overall night lighting, but gives an idea of the brightness of the new Etarga LED turn signals, and the older style Radiantz array style tail & brake lights

LED turn signals night test - YouTube

Wow! If the new LED tail light/brake lights are similar to those we're cooking with gas! They have a nice contrast between running tail light and brake light from what I can see in the video.

One problem I had when trying a set of LED's in my tail lights was, for some reason my Parking brake light stayed on until I switched back to the incandescent lights. Any issues I should be aware of? Also, the LED's wiggled around alot in the sockets so I had no idea if I even had lights.

Also, I like the idea of less heat generated by LED's so you don't melt a hole in your tail light lens.

[DRACO A5OG]

Unfortunately, you may have a loos ground in the housing assembly. That is what I found when I had errand LED and standard bulb issues.

The sockets are wired to a PCB type board and if fractured or in my case cracked in half the ground will short and cause havoc. Before you buy or even the standard bulbs I would remove assembly and take a look. Use caulking to replace the OEM caulking around the housing in the back of it.

Jim

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

nice, indeed brighter, was the driverside standard bulbs?

Hi Draco, no both sides are Etarga LEDs, but the left side does seem a little down on light quantity. It may be the housing reflectivity is lower, or some other issue. I'll investigate over the weekend.

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by joe payne

Wow! If the new LED tail light/brake lights are similar to those we're cooking with gas! They have a nice contrast between running tail light and brake light from what I can see in the video.

One problem I had when trying a set of LED's in my tail lights was, for some reason my Parking brake light stayed on until I switched back to the incandescent lights. Any issues I should be aware of? Also, the LED's wiggled around alot in the sockets so I had no idea if I even had lights.

Also, I like the idea of less heat generated by LED's so you don't melt a hole in your tail light lens.

I would guess that Etarga's bulbs are every bit as bright as those, but I can't speak to the difference between running light and brake light.

For the floppy bulbs, try applying a very thin strip of electrical tape (2-3mm wide) around the bulb shaft, closer to the outside of the socket. That's what I did for all of my LED bulbs to keep them snug in the older housing.

[Canada Kev]

Craig, you still have regular incandescents in the front judging by the light on your garage wall, right? They seem to be kinda gradually turning on and then fading off, as opposed to the crisp blinking of the rear LEDs.

Looking good.