Guage lighting update for the CSOB, Electro Luminescent illumination for your guages! Options

[Rotary'14]

Porsche Gauge illumination upgrade/modification.
For this write up I’ve used a 914 Tachometer, but the method is similar for other Porsche VDO gauges.



Pointers appear dim, but this is a short coming of my camera.
In real life pointers are easy to see.



Tools you will need:
Small flat screwdriver
Scissors
Soldering Iron
Wire stripper
Crimp tool

Parts you will need:
2 wire connectors
wire
Small diameter heat shrink tubing
Clear packaging plastic(saved from trash)
Scotch tape
solder
5 feet of Electro Luminesent wire
12v inverter for above wire



Gauge Dis-assembly:

First thing is to open up the gauge. This is done by prying at the bezel with a small screwdriver. Work around ¾ of the circumference of the gauge. It should be possible to remove the front trim bezel holding the lens in place. Beneath the lens is one or two additional bezel trim pieces (depending upon year of gauge).


Examine the rear of the gauge and you should notice 3 or 4 small flat head screws. These hold the gauge mechanism in place. CAREFULLY remove the mechanism by loosening the screws, and set the mechanism aside.

[Rotary'14]

I had a chance to show how well this set up works at the RRC in moab last weekend. The folks that saw my gauges were impressed and I explained how easy it was to do this to the gauges. Great Idea, Works Great..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

I saw a guy on the bird board selling these kits for the 911 guys and they were all over his kit at $90. I wish I advertised better. BTW the 911 guys pics of his gauges were really good.

-Robert

[Al Meredith]

I just completed a similer installation with some Fiberoptic / LED cable. I did it on my 912E . The guages on the 70's 911's are not bright enough to see and need something to improve the visability . I'm also working with a green LED that I bought at PEP BOYS to use in the green arrows, can't see them in the daylight.

[Mark Henry]

Cool stuff!
Are these still dim-able or just on/off?
(I think I know, but just in case someone asks.)

[charliew]

At night can the gauge lights be turned up brighter than necessary or is the maximum still just barely enough? I know this might be a relative question but I would like to make it brighter than necessary then be able to adjust it down to the desired level. Also I still like the bling of the aftermarket gauges that have changeable colors. Has anyone seen a supplier that has a multicolored strip?

[Als914]

At night can the gauge lights be turned up brighter than necessary or is the maximum still just barely enough? I know this might be a relative question but I would like to make it brighter than necessary then be able to adjust it down to the desired level. Also I still like the bling of the aftermarket gauges that have changeable colors. Has anyone seen a supplier that has a multicolored strip?

I modified my set with mutiple LED colors

These are in my '74 and pritty much how they look at night

Anothr set I did in cool white.

And another.

[charliew]

In gauges I like bling, that looks good in my opinion. Is that led bulb strips or the wire strips connected together?

[Als914]

In gauges I like bling, that looks good in my opinion. Is that led bulb strips or the wire strips connected together?

The above gauges were all done with LED, flexible strips. The multiple color gauges (top pic) were splice and soldered (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) not easily done and very time consuming.

[Rotary'14]

At night can the gauge lights be turned up brighter than necessary or is the maximum still just barely enough? I know this might be a relative question but I would like to make it brighter than necessary then be able to adjust it down to the desired level. Also I still like the bling of the aftermarket gauges that have changeable colors. Has anyone seen a supplier that has a multicolored strip?

I would think that a few different colored EL wires can be routed behind the bezel and a simple multi-gate switch would be used to switch between them,, then you can have white,, blue,, green,, I would think 3 selectable colors would be cool. In fact if you hook up an RPM switch you can change the gauge colors orange, red when you get near red line like a shift light. (but you can only tell at nite) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

-Robert