2G Gauge cluster LED project

[turbosax2]

All the write-ups are finally finished.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-exterior-interior/274519-how-light-gauge-cluster-leds.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...ght-fog-cruise-mirrors-switch-bezel-leds.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-exterior-interior/282624-how-remove-hvac-unit.html

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-exterior-interior/282656-how-light-hvac-leds.html

 

[ApexVIII]

Here are some pictures of the cluster installed. I looks awesome during the day and even better at night!! If anyone wants any more pictures, just let me know and I'll get them for you.

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looks good, but how come it looks all scratched? is it just the picture?

any more pictures?

ima start mine in a week, i got a Red 120cm/120 LED strip off ebay for like $25ish shipped

 

[turbosax2]

It's just the pictures that really bring out the scratches. The clear part does have some scratches on it but you don't notice them in person. I'll have Brian take some more pictures tonight. I'm also working on lighting up the hazard lights switch, rear defroster switch, and rear wiper switch.

 

[ApexVIII]

It's just the pictures that really bring out the scratches. The clear part does have some scratches on it but you don't notice them in person. I'll have Brian take some more pictures tonight. I'm also working on lighting up the hazard lights switch, rear defroster switch, and rear wiper switch.

ohh i see,

im doing mine in Red LED's

do i have the do the SMT ledis by the needles inorder to see them?
I think i am going to leave mostly all the stock light bulbs in there too if i can so those should atleast get the needles to stock brightness.

and all the red led's should flood out the yellowish tint fromt the stock left over bubls right?

 

[turbosax2]

Yes, the smt light ring underneath the needles is required to illuminate the needles. Someone in this thread tried lighting their cluster up without the rings and the needles didn't light up at all. You might have to get creative to leave the stock bulbs in. All of my wires for the led strips were wired to the spots where the stock bulbs used to be, so I couldn't put the stock bulbs back in if I wanted to. I would assume the red light would drown out any light left over from the stock bulbs.

 

[ApexVIII]

Yes, the smt light ring underneath the needles is required to illuminate the needles. Someone in this thread tried lighting their cluster up without the rings and the needles didn't light up at all. You might have to get creative to leave the stock bulbs in. All of my wires for the led strips were wired to the spots where the stock bulbs used to be, so I couldn't put the stock bulbs back in if I wanted to. I would assume the red light would drown out any light left over from the stock bulbs.

hmm i see, did any of your led strips go over where the stock blubs were?

do you have any more pictures of how you routed the led strips in the tach and speedo?

how bright would you say it is , like compairing it to a STi gauge cluster?

Thanks!

 

[turbosax2]

I'll have to check my home computer for more pictures tonight. I've never been in an STI but my lights are BRIGHT when they're turned up all the way

 

[ApexVIII]

I'll have to check my home computer for more pictures tonight. I've never been in an STI but my lights are BRIGHT when they're turned up all the way

sweet!, im going to order some Red 1206 SMT LED's
Super RED 1206 SMT LEDS SML-LX1206SRC-TR (50) LOT - eBay (item 380026462726 end time May-17-08 08:02:04 PDT)
it says each one is 1.7- 2.2V so does that mean i have to use X amount to get it to equal 12V so they dont burn out? so i would need to use 6 in a series so i dont have to use a resistor?

or how many of those do i need ot put in a series like how you did 4?

im still kinda new to LED's

 

[turbosax2]

For those smt's I would probably put 7 or 8 in series. Even though cars run on a 12V system the voltage is usually higher than 12V. I would really advise trying to find smt's like I used that are rated for about 3.4V. Wiring 7 of those tiny lights in series will not be fun - 4 is hard enough.

 

[snowborder714]

Here's a few pictures of the LED strips for the tach and speedo.

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[ApexVIII]

Here's a few pictures of the LED strips for the tach and speedo.

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looks good! thanks alot! that helps.

well the white 1206's are about 3.4v each and the red at 2.2, so i would have to get some resistors.... how do i figue what ones and how many i need?

 

[turbosax2]

I wouldn't use the red smt's. Get the white ones like I used, then paint your needles red like I show in the article using red fabric paint.

 

[ApexVIII]

hmm are yours really red? i got some of the red fabric paint also

 

[turbosax2]

Mine are orange, not red, but the red fabric paint should work fine for you.

 

[eibomz]

looks good! thanks alot! that helps.

well the white 1206's are about 3.4v each and the red at 2.2, so i would have to get some resistors.... how do i figue what ones and how many i need?

I know that this question was asked about 3 months ago, but if you still haven’t found an answer for the resistor requirements here is link to a website with a type of calculator that you can use. Super Bright LEDs - LED Info Just plug in the specs of the LED's you will be using and it will figure out the type of resistor. There are also some other handy links when dealing with LED's.

 

[GalantGreg]

Can this be done for Gen 1's?

 

[jayiszraw]

would it work with variable color leds?

 

[LONEWOLF01]

this is very helpful i look forward to doing this my self makes a great winter project.

 

[blackGSX2g]

looks good! thanks alot! that helps.

well the white 1206's are about 3.4v each and the red at 2.2, so i would have to get some resistors.... how do i figue what ones and how many i need?

Did you ever finish your red LED set-up? I've got my HVAC to red LED and am ready to finish up my cluster, but am stuck on the SMTs for the needles. I've got my needle bottoms painted white and would like them to be light up red at night.

Just wondering what you did for yours.

 

[snowborder714]

Here's my car finished! All of the lights are finally replaced and working. The only thing that isn't lit up is the radio - it has a mind of its own

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[dre206]

subs

 

[miniturbo23]

all I can say is WOW! so sick!! I want! wished you lived in Arizona!! so I could pay you to help me!

 

[DSM_23]

Can this be done for Gen 1's?

I have the same question....white interior lights in a 1g? Possible?

 

[miniturbo23]

does anyone know the size bulb for the two in the rear view mirrior? I want to get them led for them too..

 

[dre206]

subs