LED gauge bulbs installed

[DrLove]

I took pics of the 194 bulb. The left is the one of the gauge, the middle is a regular "white", and the right is a "hyper white" bulb.

The hyper white bulb looks almost like the regular one, i was very disapointed of this, more because it cost me $25 for nothing.



This is the 194 white LED that I ve used for the gauges (5 bulbs).

For the "ignition", I took a white LED with a 440 Ohms resistor. I did this by myself because I didnt find the 74 white LED at the market. I'm gonna buy #74 led for the others, because you need to cut the socket and solder it, it's not "plug and play" and I don't want to mess.

I took the 194 "hyper white" white-yellow bulb for my licence plate, it doesnt make a big difference but than I can use them.

[Kenz]

I saw this come back up. As an update, the LEDs I put in my gauges still work great.
However I just got in the mail today two blue normal #74 bulbs to replace the HVAC (blower and temp) controls. The LED bulbs don't work very well in that spot, ill take some updated pictures tomorrow after I put them in.

Oh and DrLove, the what looks really nice! I might have gone for white if I saw the pictures.
Nah, I still like blue

[Ransom8707]

Was it sorta difficult to install this bulbs? or was it just a unscrew the screws and find the bulb and switch. Since I really dont wanna mess with any sorta wiring to get to the bulbs. If I find it easy to do I'll give it a chance this weekend.

[DrLove]

I'm thinking about using theses white LED for the HVAC

They are from http://www.superbrightleds.com

it's quite expensive (more because I need a "$25 minimum merchendise order" ebcause I live in Canada. I only need 2 * #74.

I see that the "beam" is 120 degrees, wider then the regular LED with 55 degrees.

Does somebody have theses LED? I dont want regular bulb "hyper white" because they will not look like a real white led.

I called the only 2 company here in my city who sells "mods cars" products and they don't have the 74 bulbs (LED).. I dont mind to pay 10$ eachs if I can get them quick and without pay 25$ merchendise when I dont need so much.

[Kenz]

However I just got in the mail today two blue normal #74 bulbs to replace the HVAC (blower and temp) controls

Well the normal #74 blue bulbs I got don't work well at all. They are way dimmer then the LED's I use now, so that was a waste of 10$.

The LEDs work "OK" but you can see its dimmer on the outside edges of the controls.

I might try these... Thats the site I bought the normal blue bulbs from, they were very fast.
http://autolumination.com/74.htm
...

edit... here is a pic that kind of shows how the light isn't as even on the HVAC controls. It's not that bad, I think im done working on it. Looks good enuf for me!

[fastsolara]

have you tried the 168s? they are brighter than the 74 and 194s

[DrLove]

Today I tried to change the bulb for the HVAC. First I wanted to put 2 wide angle LED..but it's sure that it will not work, the led would need almost a 180 degres beam. After I tried with a "Led bar" 12V that i got at Ikea long time ago for my home theater and who wasn't usefull. The light was spotty.

I burned the 2 bulbs (#74) when I was trying to but them back with the 12V on.. oops. It was hard to find the right bulb, I bought 2 new #74 and it was too big for the socket.. after I tried #37 and same problem! After using my muscle I put them back.

I bought a blue acetate at an artist shop for $0,99 CAN, so $1,05US lol. I cut 3 little pieces and glue 3 littles square behind the buttons for the HVAC. It makes a not so bad result for the price. I didnt put the acetate over the blue-red circle for the temperature..it is beter this way.
Now I need to make 2 little custom hats for the AC and defrost bulbs, just like the green condoms who was on the bulbs.

For the clock It would looks ugly if I put the blue acetate on it...

With the "yellow-white" bulb it looks almost like a "hyper white" blue bulb but more blue, it's not so far from the color of my gauges (with white LEDs).

So before to start this "little" project, think it twice, it's harder than it looks and to put LEDs everywhere it s not easy. I was thinking about using a little board with leds like I was on this site, but the board cost $15 and I would need to buy lots of wide angle leds.. for now I prefer my $0,99 choice.

[DrLove]

Today I received my 74 white LED from Ebay.


the light is perfectly white..wow .. the beam is not enought wide to light up all the HVAC... I wanted to buy 2X 74 sockets because I have 4 LEDs, but for now I didn't find one in my city. I would like to add 2 more socket in the corners so it will be very bright and uniform... wow it will look amazing..really it's makes he HVAC looks much better!

I put a red cellophane over the clock, now it looks orange-red just like my Nakamichi radio, it's much better this way!

Im gonna try to find 2 sockets for the 74 bulbs and I will post some pics of the result!

[r0w]

show us some pictures! plz!

[Jakecallun20]

yeah man, that looks sweet. good job