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Posted by: Qarl Oct 6 2004, 08:26 PM

Okay... I had some LED instrument bulbs made for my 914-6 project car. I know that this has been discussed before, but I had the correct bulbs made with the correct Ba7s base.




In my opinion, they offer some variation from stock bulbs.

The limitations on getting brighter lighting via LED really has a lot to do with the configuration of the bulbs in the instruments. The tachometer and speedometer really should have three lights to look better. Also the speedometer is deeper then the rest of the gauges. The two bulbs in the speedometer are actually farther away from the face plate then the other gauges. And the tube in which the are inserted are should be shorter (in my opinion) That's why this instrument is the dimmest.

You are also limited by the fact that the LED bulbs tend to direct light in one direction. I tried the same bulbs with a diffusing lense (reflects light sideways, but these were even dimmer when used in the instruments).

So here are some pictures...

(sorry for crappy pics. It is really hard to take digital photos in virtually no light.).

This is stock...




1. Blue LED is the brightest and looks the best (IMHO)




2. White (superbright) is second brightest and is a better white than stock. (superbright has every-so-slight bluish tint to it... Sort of like Xenon headlights)




3. Red looks good too, but is the weakest as far as brightness (just slightly better than stock bulbs). These bulbs have the lowest output of the three colors I had made. I knew this based upon the bulb specs. Again, just slightly better than stock, but they DO look cool!




Here is what you have to keep in mind.

1. LED bulbs will last virtually forever (about 10,000 hours) and will not get dim or "yellow" over time (inlike incadescent bulbs). They generate no heat.

2. There is no brightness control for these bulbs. They are either on or off. They require a constant voltage, however these bulbs have an internal resistor and can handle the varying voltage of our funky charging system. (about 11 to 14 volts)

3. You cannot use this for the alternator light. Something about the resistence of the filament used for this circuit...

4. You CAN use these for the remaining indicator lights. I would select the white bulbs for the indicators and dummy lights.

5. The speedometer and tachometer each takes two bulbs for peripheral lighting.

6. I believe the combo gauge and the center console gauges take one bulb each.

7. These bulbs are a direct replacement for the standard OEM bulbs, and will fit in the same bulb housing. They have the correct Ba7s base.


Now they do not necessarily offer a BRIGHTER solution then stock bulbs.... they offer color choices, and a brighter white.

The incandescent bulbs can yellow a bit.

Here is a side-by-side of a stock bulb next to a superwhite bulb in the Tachometer.




Do you like?

If so, I can make these available for sale. I have a ton of them. Cost would be about $1.25 per bulb, plus S/H

Posted by: Curvie Roadlover Oct 6 2004, 08:31 PM

I'd like a full set. Let me know when they're available. They look great, Qarl. In the pics, the needles on the gauges seem hard to see in the blue and red.

Posted by: Curvie Roadlover Oct 6 2004, 08:34 PM

Any chance you could post a pic taken with the stock bulbs, for comparison?

Posted by: Qarl Oct 6 2004, 08:35 PM

Yes.... keep in mind that my needles are yellow... so they look duller to factory indicator needles. Blue light will not "light up" yellow needles. Red does slightly. Of course with the white bulbs you can see the yellow needles just fine.



Also keep in mind that these photos are a little dim. This is a 5 second bulb shot trying to keep the camera steady (I don't have a tripod)..

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 6 2004, 09:07 PM

I need a full set in blue for my dials, and some white ones for the rest. You have answered my prayers. I have LED lamps in ALL my other sockets. Even the festoon bulb for the interior light and the license plate. Now that these are available it will be 100%. I could not find anyone with the Ba7s bulbs. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Can't thank you enough. For anyone who wants a good source for the OTHER LED bulbs, go to http://www.superbrightleds.com. They do NOT have Ba7s. They DO have all the rest, at reasonable prices. They even have the #74 bulbs for your pull switchs, heater indicator lamp, and seatbelt warning lamp, and 4 lamps for heater/blower dash controls. Do it, and you'll never have to replace a bulb again. Thanks again. You rock.

Posted by: sgomes Oct 6 2004, 09:27 PM

Two of my extra instruments have green LEDs. Any chance you could work up a set for me in super or ultra bright green?

Posted by: Qarl Oct 6 2004, 09:33 PM

I can get green, but I would need to order about 300 of them, so probably not!!!

I had these made in China...

Posted by: ThinAir914 Oct 6 2004, 09:40 PM

So what do these bulbs do when you turn the light knob. Does a lower current cause them to do anything weird like shut off?

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 6 2004, 09:53 PM

They're either on or off, no in between.

Posted by: Qarl Oct 6 2004, 10:09 PM

Alright... $1.25 a bulb...

S/H would be $2.50 (to cover postage, padded envelope, handling) for any number of bulbs via U.S. mail anywhere in the U.S.

Just multiply the number of bulbs you want times $1.25 and add $2.50.

I can do Paypal (karl@iepg.com).

In the Paypal comments area you would need to all specify how many you want of each color. (i.e., 7 red and 5 white)

If you want to send a cashier's check or postal money order, them PM or e-mail me and I will send you my address.

Sorry, I don't want to deal with shipping outside the U.S.

Posted by: morphenspectra Oct 6 2004, 10:19 PM

i like it looks pretty kool
ill need a set in red and white bright.
ill need to go count how many that is
lol
but i like it.

Posted by: Qarl Oct 6 2004, 10:28 PM

I can't tell you how many you need because there are differences amongst the gauges. Early tachometers had turn signal indicators for left AND right. Later tachs had just one indicator that didn't show the direction.

Two for Tach, two for speedo, one for combination gauge...

And then you gotta count your idiot lights, indicators, etc. There are some differences, so again... go look and count...

It also depends on which combination gauge you have.

Just count idiot lights, turn signal indicators, high beam, etc. But subtract one for the Alternator (Generator).

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 6 2004, 10:29 PM

Posted by: Qarl Oct 6 2004, 10:31 PM

Does anynody know of the fuel gauge uses a standard bulb for the "empty" light?

I no longer have a standard fuel gauge....

Posted by: Mueller Oct 6 2004, 10:41 PM

nice.....when is the cutoff date for ordering these??

Posted by: McMark Oct 6 2004, 10:46 PM

Looks like 12 for stock guages + 3 for console.

Speedometer:
2 surround lights
1 parking lights indicator

Tachometer:
2 surround lights
1 brights indicator
2 turn signals

Stock 4 cyl Combo Guage:
1 red flasher
1 gas surround
1 gas low indicator
1 idiot light
1 generator light (not applicable for LED)

Console Guages:
1 surround light each (total 3)

PayPal now.

Posted by: Qarl Oct 6 2004, 10:50 PM

No cutoff date...

I have 3 bags of 300 each sitting on my desk...

Posted by: bondo Oct 6 2004, 10:51 PM

Awesome! I want some! (now I just have to figure out how many and what color I want)

Posted by: lagunero Oct 6 2004, 11:14 PM

I'll be converting the faces to a white face so I'm guessing the blue would look great.

Posted by: bernbomb914 Oct 6 2004, 11:28 PM

just sent paypal for 12 white bright ones

Bernie

Posted by: skline Oct 7 2004, 12:00 AM

I want some too but I am not buying one more thing for this car till I can safely take it to 100 MPH without a problem. Too much into it now and I have never even driven this car........Ever.

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 7 2004, 04:59 AM

Posted by: Mark Henry Oct 7 2004, 05:58 AM

Posted by: Qarl Oct 7 2004, 06:26 AM

Canada is okay... (I forgot about you guys). $1.00 more for postage to Canada is fine.

Posted by: scottb Oct 7 2004, 06:34 AM

paypal sent for 15 of the white ones....

thanks qarl!

Posted by: i love porsche Oct 7 2004, 06:47 AM

im in for a set...ill send you paypal when i get home, i have to count my bulbs first too

Posted by: Lawrence Oct 7 2004, 07:44 AM

Yes.... keep in mind that my needles are yellow... so they look duller to factory indicator needles. Blue light will not "light up" yellow needles. Red does slightly. Of course with the white bulbs you can see the yellow needles just fine.

Posted by: Lawrence Oct 7 2004, 07:45 AM

Hey Qarl... have you posted in the Parts & Services forum, too?

-Rusty

Posted by: Qarl Oct 7 2004, 07:57 AM

I will post in the parts section later.

These are selling fast. I posted on the Bird Board (911 Tech) and have lots of orders for bright whites...

Posted by: itsa914 Oct 7 2004, 08:20 AM

12 blue & 12 super white please Sent you a PM.

- Garold

Posted by: McMark Oct 7 2004, 11:14 AM

Nope, see my list. The low fuel is the same as the other guage lights. Accessed from the back of the combo guage.

Posted by: StratPlayer Oct 7 2004, 11:26 AM

Please put me down for 12 blue and 12 super whites. Thank you very much

Posted by: iamchappy Oct 7 2004, 11:41 AM

Qarl

Save some white and blue ones for me too!
A dozen of this and a dozen of that.

Chap

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 7 2004, 11:56 AM

So, you only need a total of 12. Unless you have a center console, then it's 15. Plus one for any added gauges. These don't burn out. There's no point in ordering extras. They will probably outlast you or the car which ever goes first.

Posted by: Korijo Oct 7 2004, 12:03 PM

just sent paypal for 24 white bright ones

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 7 2004, 12:08 PM

Korijo, what is that colorful little item at the bottom of your post?

Posted by: Korijo Oct 7 2004, 12:13 PM

OOPs

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 7 2004, 12:14 PM

Too popular dude. Better get on the horn to china and order two more batches of white. Ha, china, white, sounds like a drug deal.

Posted by: Korijo Oct 7 2004, 12:17 PM

Posted by: JmuRiz Oct 7 2004, 12:27 PM

wow that was fast, I just read the post today and all the whites are gone, oh well.

Question, how many bulbs for the combo gauge? Is it one per module...ex: 3 in your triple gauge? Thanks...if I build one I'd have to be sure to get enough bulbs.

Let us know when/if you have more white bulbs...I don't think the blue would look quite right on a 30 year old car ;-)

Posted by: bondo Oct 7 2004, 12:42 PM

Doh, I'm too slow. Anyone know how many lights I'd need for just the dash (no console guages) with the 904 style triple guage? (not including indicator lights, since white is sold out) Just the lights needed for lighting the guages at night (I'm gonna choose blue).

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 7 2004, 12:44 PM

Posted by: bondo Oct 7 2004, 01:05 PM

Posted by: Qarl Oct 7 2004, 01:53 PM

Okay... if you want White bulbs, you can order them for me. I will put them on back order and ship when they come in.... 4-5 weeks.

Paypal is karl@iepg.com

PM or e-mail for payment address for checks.

I have plenty of blue and red bulbs left.

Posted by: rick 918-S Oct 7 2004, 02:06 PM

What? No Green?

Posted by: JmuRiz Oct 7 2004, 02:16 PM

So...does anyone know how many bulbs go into a triple gauge? Is it one for each module? I might make one and want to know how many to get, thanks!

Posted by: bondo Oct 7 2004, 02:53 PM

The very first post says it's just one (right in the middle I presume?) I missed it too

Posted by: nein14 Oct 8 2004, 09:43 AM

I tried to send you a pm,I sent payment to your paypal account for 25 blue and 5 white blubs. Thanks , great job!

Posted by: Brando Oct 8 2004, 02:38 PM

I like the superbright white LEDs... I do want a third one in the middle of my Tach though, so i can see when i'm about to hit 4k rpms... How abouts would i do that? just drill a hole?

REALLY nice product Qarl... expect me to buy a few when they're in stock

Posted by: bob91403 Oct 8 2004, 03:16 PM

I like the superbright white LEDs... I do want a third one in the middle of my Tach though, so i can see when i'm about to hit 4k rpms... How abouts would i do that? just drill a hole?

REALLY nice product Qarl... expect me to buy a few when they're in stock

Posted by: cgnj Oct 8 2004, 08:51 PM

Posted by: Lawrence Oct 8 2004, 08:55 PM

Are you answering your PMs, Qarl?

Posted by: Qarl Oct 12 2004, 01:35 PM

I am out of blue bulbs now. If you have Paypaled, or e-mailed me about an incoming check, you should be good.

I will probably order more blues.

Regards,

Karl Ellzey

Posted by: Qarl Oct 12 2004, 04:45 PM

For those that have responded (inquired), please bear with me...

Several factors at play...

1. I've been getting quite a few e-mails and private messages. Sometimes there are just screen names and sometimes your real name is included.
2. I have been getting Paypal payments (when Paypal is actually working) and I do not get a screen name in the Notes section. So it's often difficult to match the real name with the Paypal ID and the 914club screen name.
3. I have received several dozen private messages and e-mails inquiring, with just the screen name. Or I might get a n e-mail directly from someone that previously private messaged me using their screen name. It gets confusing.
4. Paypal has been acting difficult lately.

Bottom line...

I have ordered more white bulbs. WIll be here in 4 weeks.

I am probably ordering more blue bulbs tonight as I am sold out of these too.

I have red bulbs on hand.

So one way or the other, everyone will get their damn bulbs!!!!!

Ahhh, leave me alone!!!!!!!!!

Just kidding..

As always, thank you.

Qarl