Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

3 Pages V  1 2 3 >  
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> I have LED Instrument Bulbs, Tell me what you think...
Qarl
post Oct 6 2004, 08:26 PM
Post #1


Shriveled member
*****

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 5,233
Joined: 8-February 03
From: Florida
Member No.: 271
Region Association: None
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.

(IMG:http://www.my914-6.com/compare.jpg)


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...

(IMG:http://www.my914-6.com/stock.jpg)


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

(IMG:http://www.my914-6.com/blue.jpg)


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)

(IMG:http://www.my914-6.com/white.jpg)


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!

(IMG:http://www.my914-6.com/red.jpg)


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.

(IMG:http://www.my914-6.com/sidebyside.jpg)


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
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Curvie Roadlover
post Oct 6 2004, 08:31 PM
Post #2


Two trunks are better than one!
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,025
Joined: 29-December 02
From: Southeast Michigan
Member No.: 42
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. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Curvie Roadlover
post Oct 6 2004, 08:34 PM
Post #3


Two trunks are better than one!
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,025
Joined: 29-December 02
From: Southeast Michigan
Member No.: 42
Any chance you could post a pic taken with the stock bulbs, for comparison?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Qarl
post Oct 6 2004, 08:35 PM
Post #4


Shriveled member
*****

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 5,233
Joined: 8-February 03
From: Florida
Member No.: 271
Region Association: None
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.

(IMG:http://www.my914-6.com/images/DSCN1745.JPG)

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)..
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
bob91403
post Oct 6 2004, 09:07 PM
Post #5


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 618
Joined: 15-September 04
From: Los Angeles, CA
Member No.: 2,763
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. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sgomes
post Oct 6 2004, 09:27 PM
Post #6


Electric Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 815
Joined: 6-May 04
From: Campbell, CA
Member No.: 2,029
Two of my extra instruments have green LEDs. Any chance you could work up a set for me in super or ultra bright green? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Qarl
post Oct 6 2004, 09:33 PM
Post #7


Shriveled member
*****

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 5,233
Joined: 8-February 03
From: Florida
Member No.: 271
Region Association: None
I can get green, but I would need to order about 300 of them, so probably not!!!

I had these made in China...
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ThinAir
post Oct 6 2004, 09:40 PM
Post #8


Best friends
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,542
Joined: 4-February 03
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Member No.: 231
Region Association: Southwest Region
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?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
bob91403
post Oct 6 2004, 09:53 PM
Post #9


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 618
Joined: 15-September 04
From: Los Angeles, CA
Member No.: 2,763
They're either on or off, no in between.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Qarl
post Oct 6 2004, 10:09 PM
Post #10


Shriveled member
*****

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 5,233
Joined: 8-February 03
From: Florida
Member No.: 271
Region Association: None
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.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
morph
post Oct 6 2004, 10:19 PM
Post #11


quality parts builder
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,828
Joined: 25-November 03
From: oregon coast
Member No.: 1,389
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
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.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Qarl
post Oct 6 2004, 10:28 PM
Post #12


Shriveled member
*****

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 5,233
Joined: 8-February 03
From: Florida
Member No.: 271
Region Association: None
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).
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
bob91403
post Oct 6 2004, 10:29 PM
Post #13


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 618
Joined: 15-September 04
From: Los Angeles, CA
Member No.: 2,763
QUOTE(Qarl @ Oct 6 2004, 09:28 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 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.

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).

Thanks, diagram is in my Haynes manual.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Qarl
post Oct 6 2004, 10:31 PM
Post #14


Shriveled member
*****

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 5,233
Joined: 8-February 03
From: Florida
Member No.: 271
Region Association: None
Does anynody know of the fuel gauge uses a standard bulb for the "empty" light?

I no longer have a standard fuel gauge....
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Mueller
post Oct 6 2004, 10:41 PM
Post #15


914 Freak!
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 17,146
Joined: 4-January 03
From: Antioch, CA
Member No.: 87
Region Association: None
nice.....when is the cutoff date for ordering these??
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
McMark
post Oct 6 2004, 10:46 PM
Post #16


914 Freak!
***************

Group: Retired Admin
Posts: 20,179
Joined: 13-March 03
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Member No.: 419
Region Association: None
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.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Qarl
post Oct 6 2004, 10:50 PM
Post #17


Shriveled member
*****

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 5,233
Joined: 8-February 03
From: Florida
Member No.: 271
Region Association: None
No cutoff date...

I have 3 bags of 300 each sitting on my desk...
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
bondo
post Oct 6 2004, 10:51 PM
Post #18


Practicing my perpendicular parking
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,277
Joined: 19-April 03
From: Los Osos, CA
Member No.: 587
Region Association: Central California
Awesome! I want some! (now I just have to figure out how many and what color I want) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
lagunero
post Oct 6 2004, 11:14 PM
Post #19


Donkey Member
***

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 1,042
Joined: 8-January 04
From: orange county,ca
Member No.: 1,531
I'll be converting the faces to a white face so I'm guessing the blue would look great.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
bernbomb914
post Oct 6 2004, 11:28 PM
Post #20


one of the oldest Farts on this board
***

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 1,873
Joined: 29-December 02
From: Temecula, CA
Member No.: 36
just sent paypal for 12 white bright ones

Bernie
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

3 Pages V  1 2 3 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 18th May 2024 - 06:45 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...