I had an hour to waste...

swooshdave · Dec 19, 2011

Have you been able to test this out? Were the 8 LEDs much better than the 5?

Jeandr · Dec 19, 2011

swooshdave said:
Have you been able to test this out? Were the 8 LEDs much better than the 5?

Yes, 8 LEDs in three strings are better than 5 LEDs in one string. The reason is each LED will drop about 2 volts (5 X 2 = 10 volts) so the load resistor would be calculated for the correct current and if the voltage goes up and down like it does on a Norton, the brightness will vary a great deal. Using them in three series gives better more even LED brightness. The best however would be to use an LED strip if the instrument is to be worked on and place it inside the shell, more LEDs, better distribution light all around instead of in one spot.

Jean

Brooking 850 · Dec 19, 2011

Hi Jeandr, any chance you could post a diagram as well, thinking it would be a better option inside the ignition, high beam and indicator's in the headlight shell. It would also mean I could shorten the globe holders, or has this already been done. ?
Regards Mike

Jeandr · Dec 19, 2011

Brooking 850 said:
Hi Jeandr, any chance you could post a diagram as well, thinking it would be a better option inside the ignition, high beam and indicator's in the headlight shell. It would also mean I could shorten the globe holders, or has this already been done. ?
Regards Mike

Sure, just give me some time and I will post the diagrams. I'm really busy now renovating a restaurant my daughter bought, the story is in french and in pictures here http://www.facebook.com/lechienrose Give it a "like" it boosts my daughter's spirits :lol:

Jean

rpatton · Dec 19, 2011

I don't know what kind of clearance there is on the inside of the case but these are pretty small, w/double sided tape. By using a sort of 'building a ship in a bottle' technique maybe one could lay a few of them down inside the hole against the bottom of the case. Is 6000mcd bright enough?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... Fld1-x.htm

swooshdave · Dec 19, 2011

Jeandr said:
Brooking 850 said:

Hi Jeandr, any chance you could post a diagram as well, thinking it would be a better option inside the ignition, high beam and indicator's in the headlight shell. It would also mean I could shorten the globe holders, or has this already been done. ?
Regards Mike

Click to expand...

Sure, just give me some time and I will post the diagrams. I'm really busy now renovating a restaurant my daughter bought, the story is in french and in pictures here http://www.facebook.com/lechienrose Give it a "like" it boosts my daughter's spirits :lol:

Jean

Already did.

swooshdave · Dec 19, 2011

rpatton said:
I don't know what kind of clearance there is on the inside of the case but these are pretty small, w/double sided tape. By using a sort of 'building a ship in a bottle' technique maybe one could lay a few of them down inside the hole against the bottom of the case. Is 6000mcd bright enough?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... Fld1-x.htm

Like this?

pictures-inside-speedo-and-tach-t11062.html

prmurat · Dec 20, 2011

Great idea, as usual!! Are you not afraid that stronger magnets will disrupt the magnet inside the speedo/tachometer ?? ( there is a magnet in there right?)
Philippe

rpatton · Dec 20, 2011

swooshdave said:
Like this?
pictures-inside-speedo-and-tach-t11062.html

Great thread, don't know how I missed it. I like the idea of not having to open up the gages. I think it's possible to over do it with the brightness. Less is more.

drones76 · Dec 20, 2011

rpatton said:
swooshdave said:

Like this?
pictures-inside-speedo-and-tach-t11062.html

Click to expand...

Great thread, don't know how I missed it. I like the idea of not having to open up the gages. I think it's possible to over do it with the brightness. Less is more.

When I first installed them, I had them closer to the glass and the LED's were even with or slightly above the number dial. That was too bright. When I pushed them down a bit, the amount of light on the dial can be controlled and it was a much more subtle light and plenty of illumination. Of course, at night, you really only need a little light to see the dials. The reason I did it was to have a more even light distribution.

T95 · Dec 20, 2011

davamb said:
Fit a mini bridge rectifier so it won't matter what the polarity is. Cost you a couple of diode drops, but who cares.

Would you mind explaining what a bridge rectifier is, why its needed in this application and how to size and install it. My understanding of electronics is limited, and I doubt if I am totally alone.
Thanks

swooshdave · Jan 2, 2012

So I ran the circuit through a LED calculator and 3 LEDs in series only required a 39 ohm resistor (which isn't very much). If I'm doing it right then 5 white LEDs shouldn't require any resistors and may actually be dim.

Can someone confirm this?

http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/ledcalc.php

Values I used were:

12v
30mA
3.5v
3 LEDs

swooshdave · Jan 2, 2012

Here's what I got. Anyone want to comment what this looks like compared to a stock bulb?

This is with 30 Ohms resistance.

Almost want to "frost" the LEDs to get them to distribute the light better.

I had an hour to waste...

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