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-   -   A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request. (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=606124)

In The Ten Ring 11-29-2013 02:26 AM

A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
I'm planning to update my truck's idiot lights to gauges and I guess I'll get TBone to help me out. Could someone post or send me a video of LED's in an OEM cluster compared to a video of regular bulbs in a cluster?

I'm talking like the gauges that the trucks came with?

I realize this is weird but it's been 20 years since I've driven my truck at night!

THANKS!

Vova 11-29-2013 03:14 AM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring (Post 6393550)
I'm planning to update my truck's idiot lights to gauges and I guess I'll get TBone to help me out. Could someone post or send me a video of LED's in an OEM cluster compared to a video of regular bulbs in a cluster?

I'm talking like the gauges that the trucks came with?

I realize this is weird but it's been 20 years since I've driven my truck at night!

THANKS!

I'm in the middle of upgrading my gauges and just got my led's in the mail.
I can send you some pics when I get everything wired up.
If you want to save yourself some time read this thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=295681

BigCountryx 11-29-2013 08:35 AM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
How about a pic. Plain Jane 3 hole cluster with cheap 5 way led (eBay) for the two speedo and fuel gauge. I used some single led for the turn signals, don't do that.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps11a7a622.jpg

Longhorn 70 11-29-2013 03:11 PM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
I don't have pics but can say when I installed LEDs, I lost dimming. Now they're on or off

Mister-B 11-29-2013 03:23 PM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn 70 (Post 6394009)
I don't have pics but can say when I installed LEDs, I lost dimming. Now they're on or off

That makes sense. Also, I've always heard you may need a load balancer with led lights so they function properly. For me, the best approach when restoring my cluster, was to get a slightly brighter stock type bulb. They work great, and light things up as much I could ever want. Any more, and things could be blinding and distracting. If you search my old posts, I believe I list a Sylvania bulb part number

BigRed76 11-29-2013 04:27 PM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
The cluster in my '71 has 194 bulbs in it and its plenty bright enough for night time driving. The only thing left to make it look nicer is repaint the gauge needles.

DT1 11-29-2013 04:41 PM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
I've thought about doing this with my truck too. About two years ago, I installed LED's in my 67 Mustang dash. The stock lights were so dim, I had a hard time reading the gauges. The original lamps were 5 watt so I replaced them with 10 watt lamps. That did the trick but it turned out to be a dumb idea. The Mustang dash lights have colored plastic covers and the higher wattage lamps melted them. I decided to make spacers out of .125 thick copper to bring the lamps further away from the plastic covers and it worked out fine. I recently found a Web site that sells direct replacement LED lamps specifically for the Mustang so I bought a set. They make a spectacular difference and the best thing is, all I had to do was put them in place of the old ones. I also remember that the company that sold me them had three types of LED sets. The least expensive set did not dim but their "Better" set did. I bought their better set and they work perfectly. I'm not sure if this company offers the lamp sets for other makes or models, but if anyone's interested, I can look through my paperwork and try to find the invoice for the particulars.

DT1 11-29-2013 05:29 PM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Source...

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/l...bulbs/vehicle/

BigCountryx 11-29-2013 06:54 PM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
I've never found the need to dim the dash lights personally but to each their own.

In The Ten Ring 11-29-2013 07:18 PM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Well I like having the ability to dim anything.

I may just go with bulbs but those LED's in DTI's posts look good.

shopking72 11-30-2013 01:04 AM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister-B (Post 6394020)
That makes sense. Also, I've always heard you may need a load balancer with led lights so they function properly. For me, the best approach when restoring my cluster, was to get a slightly brighter stock type bulb. They work great, and light things up as much I could ever want. Any more, and things could be blinding and distracting. If you search my old posts, I believe I list a Sylvania bulb part number

I have LEDs in my cluster and dont have a load balancer... If you want lights that look bad and are not bright enough for nothing, then stay with your stock style lights.

In The Ten Ring 11-30-2013 01:07 AM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Hence why I am looking for comparison videos or pics.

I honestly don't remember what my dash cluster looked like at night! :lol:

Lattimer 11-30-2013 01:21 AM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
The load balancer only comes into play if the LED needs to flash on and off, like for the turn signals. Sometimes they will flash very fast, or not at all, because of the way the flasher modules work. The LED uses less power, so the flashing doesn't work right.

Mister-B 11-30-2013 01:29 AM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by shopking72 (Post 6394696)
I have LEDs in my cluster and dont have a load balancer... If you want lights that look bad and are not bright enough for nothing, then stay with your stock style lights.

That's great about the load balancer, but read my post again. I said I used brighter than stock bulbs, and that they light it up as much as I could ever want

Mister-B 11-30-2013 01:56 AM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring (Post 6394697)
Hence why I am looking for comparison videos or pics.

I honestly don't remember what my dash cluster looked like at night! :lol:

Taken just now without a flash or any editing or fancy filters. Just a raw photo. Nice, huh?

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...psd18b9866.jpg

shopking72 11-30-2013 02:50 AM

Re: A weird request! LED vs. bulbs cluster video request.
 
Here is my cluster with cool white LEDs and blue LEDs in the other gauges. From super bright LEDs.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3...616_214353.jpg


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