THE ROVER SD1 FORUM

CarlosV8 · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:13 pm Post subject: Dashboard illumination

Evening all

Whilst my dash has been apart I've been experimenting with some coloured dash illumination bulbs. I'd like to have it illuminated blue to match in with the interior and I've tried fitting some cheap blue bulbs behind the coolant gauge and I think it looks quite good. So now I'm going to buy a set of decent LED bulbs to replace all of them but I wondered it anyone had experience of using LED bulbs?

The smaller ones that go behind the temperature/oil pressue/fuel gauges are standard small dash bulbs, but the 4 behind the speedo/rev counter are larger ones. I'm looking at replacing these with a '501 Single LED' bulb - anyone know if this would be sufficient to light the dash up? Or should I be looking at using the 2 or 3 LED versions? I'm hoping the basic 1 LED type will be ok, but if someone knows different before I order them then let me know!!

Cheers

_________________
Carl
---------------
1982 3500SE

Chris P · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Dashboard illumination

CarlosV8 wrote:

Evening all

Whilst my dash has been apart I've been experimenting with some coloured dash illumination bulbs. I'd like to have it illuminated blue to match in with the interior and I've tried fitting some cheap blue bulbs behind the coolant gauge and I think it looks quite good. So now I'm going to buy a set of decent LED bulbs to replace all of them but I wondered it anyone had experience of using LED bulbs?

The smaller ones that go behind the temperature/oil pressue/fuel gauges are standard small dash bulbs, but the 4 behind the speedo/rev counter are larger ones. I'm looking at replacing these with a '501 Single LED' bulb - anyone know if this would be sufficient to light the dash up? Or should I be looking at using the 2 or 3 LED versions? I'm hoping the basic 1 LED type will be ok, but if someone knows different before I order them then let me know!!

Cheers

I looked at replacing the filament bulbs behind the dash with LEDs, mainly to reduce any
possible heat damage (from the bulbs) and to reduce the need to remove the dash-top.

The problem with LEDs is they are a point-source, so the dash illumination became
uneven. I decided the illumination they produced was so poor as to be next to useless,
and changed back to bulbs. Some fiddling with VERY bright LEDs and a diffuser
would probably give a better result, but I just didn't think it was worthwhile doing.
I used 3 or 4 LED 501 things, they were not as bright as the large bulbs used for the
main dash illumination.

I did change the switch illumination bulbs for LEDs though, as the switch legend
diffuses enough so the LED doesn't appear any different to a bulb. This works
quite well.

Lehto · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 3:47 pm Post subject:

There are wide angle leds and it isnt too difficult to make them yourself.

_________________
Owner of 3 Rovers and 1 MG.

CarlosV8 · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:13 pm Post subject:

The one's I'm lookiung at are wide angle LEDs. i've spoken to a few people who have fitted them in other cars with no worries. Might just give them a go anyway - it's only a tenner for enough to replace them all!

_________________
Carl
---------------
1982 3500SE