LED Dash Lights

[furrhead]

Has anybody changed the dash green lights to another colour? Any idea who does this sort of thing in Sydney?
Thanks a lot

[bdcmedia]

I havent done it yet, but it is my next project. I have seen how to remove the dash cluster and I believe they are LED's so it should not be too hard to do this!!

Brett

[Phreddy]

Indeed they are LEDs, but not the "normal" ones you might get from Dick Smith or Jaycar or whatever.

(I took the trouble of stripping down the dash and having a squiz)

They're "surface mount" types, and pretty damned hard to get! (at decent pricing, anyway) There are 13 in the instrument cluster, I think 15 in the stereo, plus the ones behind the heater controls and headlight switch. (haven't counted those ones yet) If you have surface mount soldering skills it shouldn't be too difficult, but you DEFINITELY couldn't use the normal "through-hole" type devices, without extensive - and potentially destructive - modifications.

You also need to be certain that the types of LEDs you use are relatively high brightness, as blue LEDs take a little more voltage than the green ones and will pull a bit less current. (I'm assuming you're referring to blue here - that's the thoughts I've had)

I've found a source for the LEDs at half decent pricing, but I have to buy a full reel of 1,500 of them!! Otherwise the best I've found is around $4 each. hmy: (I reckon there would be about 36 LEDs in total, so it adds up!)

Hey Furrhead - I'm in Sydney, and I'm thinking about the reel of LEDs. If I can get enough people interested I could order them through work and pay for them over a couple of months. I'm also able to do the work for those who don't feel confident working with surface mount components. Anyone who is interested can get in touch with me.

[VZSV6]

i have been interested in this for ages but i need some1 that knows how to solder, does any1 know some1

[Phreddy]

Hey VZSV6.

(yeah, I have one too - love it!)

That's what I'm saying - I'm a qualified electronics tech, I have reasonably good soldering skills. (I'm being modest here!)

I'm trying to source blue LEDs at a reasonable price - that is, the RIGHT kind of LEDs. (anyone can get blue LEDs from Jaycar - but good luck trying to make them fit!!) These are surface mount types, and won't be found in the usual places.

The LEDs I found are EXACTLY the right type - except for the colour, nobody would be able to pick them from the original factory items. The great thing about LEDs is that they virtually never burn out, but the down side is that in the VY-VZ instrument panels they're soldered to the circuit board, not the "wedge" type globes that have been used since the Flintstone's days.

As I said in my last post - if there are enough people interested I will buy a reel of LEDs. That's fifteen hundred of the suckers! I'm also prepared to do the work for people in the local area (Sydney) for a small fee. (I've spent the last 20 odd years of my life in the electronics industry, and whilst I like to help people out it's nice to help myself a bit too)

Guys, let me know. I have a vCard with my contact details, or you can PM me. I have a good relationship with my employer (an electronic design company) and can get some help from them to initially buy the devices. I'm capable of doing the work if required, or even to supply the LEDs to those who want to tackle the job themselves. I have found the LEDs in smaller quantitites, but the bastards charge a fortune for them! (like about $4 each x 36 or so)

Anyways, here I am. I'm serious, how many others are??

Cheerz!!

[sting ls2]

not to keen on the ford blue,but red would be cool look on the instrument cluster.

[VZSV6]

Hey VZSV6.

(yeah, I have one too - love it!)

That's what I'm saying - I'm a qualified electronics tech, I have reasonably good soldering skills. (I'm being modest here!)

I'm trying to source blue LEDs at a reasonable price - that is, the RIGHT kind of LEDs. (anyone can get blue LEDs from Jaycar - but good luck trying to make them fit!!) These are surface mount types, and won't be found in the usual places.

The LEDs I found are EXACTLY the right type - except for the colour, nobody would be able to pick them from the original factory items. The great thing about LEDs is that they virtually never burn out, but the down side is that in the VY-VZ instrument panels they're soldered to the circuit board, not the "wedge" type globes that have been used since the Flintstone's days.

As I said in my last post - if there are enough people interested I will buy a reel of LEDs. That's fifteen hundred of the suckers! I'm also prepared to do the work for people in the local area (Sydney) for a small fee. (I've spent the last 20 odd years of my life in the electronics industry, and whilst I like to help people out it's nice to help myself a bit too)

Guys, let me know. I have a vCard with my contact details, or you can PM me. I have a good relationship with my employer (an electronic design company) and can get some help from them to initially buy the devices. I'm capable of doing the work if required, or even to supply the LEDs to those who want to tackle the job themselves. I have found the LEDs in smaller quantitites, but the bastards charge a fortune for them! (like about $4 each x 36 or so)

Anyways, here I am. I'm serious, how many others are??

Cheerz!!

how much is a small fee, and when can u do it, which area are u in by the way.pm me with all the details please.

[furrhead]

I am interested.

[Phreddy]

Here's an update folks.

I've managed to find a supplier who will do 50 LEDs for me, but still at a pretty outlandish price. ($1.76 each!) That makes a total of $88 for the 50 pieces.

In any case, I'm gonna go for it so I can change them over in my car and check it out. I have an enquiry in progress with another supplier who can do a minimum quantity of 500 pieces, which would be enough for about 13 full conversions. It would sure work out cheaper for me than having to buy a full reel of 1500 pieces, and as long as the price is significantly lower than what I'm paying for the 50 of them I'll go ahead and order.

(it'd be nice if a few more were interested though!)

So, VZSV6 and Furrhead - I think I'm looking at about $1.10 or so each for the LEDs, I'm still waiting on confirmation of that and delivery lead time. Once I have an idea of that I'll be in touch again.

Oh, BrettSV6 - I could do a red changeover for you if you like. The red LEDs are easier to get, although might still be a little spendy in small quantities. I'd think something around 75-80c each. (bloody crazy really - a conventional "through hole" mount red LED can be had for about 20c!!)

Cheerz all, watch this space!

[Utester]

I am also very keen, unfortunately I am in Perth...

[Phreddy]

G'Day again Utester.

Well, Perth is a little far for me to travel but I could supply the LEDs for you if you can find someone to do the job! (or if you're handy with a soldering iron and can work on surface mount components)

Cheerz!

[GroopA]

G'Day again Utester.

Well, Perth is a little far for me to travel but I could supply the LEDs for you if you can find someone to do the job! (or if you're handy with a soldering iron and can work on surface mount components)

Cheerz!

I'm also from Perth and would love to see the end results of this one. When are you looking to implement? You're gonna have to make sure your digital camera has plenty of spare batteries and make sure you record your progress in a work log for us all to see

[Phreddy]

No Worries!!!!

(my digi cam has rechargables anyway!)

Seriously, for those not in the Sydney area I'm still happy to organise supply of the LEDs. (the reason being that - as mentioned - surface mount LEDs are notoriously difficult to find in small quantities) I'm sure I'm not the only bloke in the country who can solder surface mount!

I should have some results to report in a couple days. I'll be sure to post news as soon as it comes to hand.

Cheerz!

[Phreddy]

OK boys and girls.

As promised, I did get the LEDs today. I got all excited and fitted them to the stereo, the results are ASTOUNDING!!

Attached is a pic to show it off - the display looks in the photo to have lost some contrast, but believe me that's just a trick of the lens. (looking at the real thing there's no problem at all)

Since there's been a moderate amount of interest, I'm going to go ahead with another order of LEDs tomorrow. The supplier still has a partial reel, with almost 300 pcs on it. (better than 1,500!!)

Enjoy! I reckon it looks pretty damned OK, but then I might be a little biased!

Cheerz!

[Ratty]

That looks FANTASIC!! Well done mate!

[Phreddy]

Thanx Ratty - I was pretty stoked actually!

Actually, with a little help from bdcmedia I have another update. I forgot all about the power window switches and the traction control button. Just to make things more complicated, the window switches are conventional "through-hole" rectangular LEDs, and the TC button is a standard incandescent globe!

Being that I haven't yet pulled the trip computer buttons apart, nor the headlight switch, there's a good chance that these aren't surface mount LEDs either - possibly not even LEDs at all!!!

In a way that does make things easier though, as through-hole mount LEDs are MUCH easier to come by in small quantities. I'm still well and truly happy to supply the surface mount LEDs to anyone who would like them, and would be just as happy to include the through-hole LEDs in a "kit", at least they're easy enough to get from the usual hobbyist suppliers, like Dick Smith or Jaycar etc.

Unfortunately my car isn't here at the moment (getting some hail damage fixed), but as soon as I can I'll confirm whether or not the computer buttons and headlight switch are in fact LEDs at all, and if so what type they are.

Apologies to all those who are interested for the lack of detail right at the moment, but I'll have the right info as soon as I possibly can. Thanks for your patience.

(mebbe I shoulda looked into it a bit more before I started spouting off, huh??)

Cheerz!

[stockVN]

Can this be done on the VN series 1 dash... looking at the same green lights all the time gets pretty boring

[Phreddy]

G'Day StockVN.

Jeez, I don't think so Mate! As far as I know the VN (and right through to VX) has standard incandescent globes for the instument lighting and light up green due to the colouring behind the panel. (in other words, the panel is made of a translucent green plastic material with the numbers and stuff silk-screened in black over the top, with red bits where they need to be) It's only the VY and VZ models that changed over to LED illumination.

It might be worthwhile trying a blue coloured filter material behind that panel, but you might end up with a "blue-green" colour rather than pure blue.

If you do give it a shot though please let us know!

Cheerz!

[Troy711]

dude, that looks farkin awesome! if i were in syd id pay ya to do mine... but im in canberra

let us know how the rest goes, but its looking awesome so far!!!

[Phreddy]

Hey, thanks Troy!

(as a matter of interest, I grew up in Canberra!)

In fact, I was planning to head down there in the near future to catch up with a few friends. There's a posibility that I could bring some equipment along and do the job for you while I'm there. Something to think about??

Cheerz!

[Utester]

OK boys and girls.

As promised, I did get the LEDs today. I got all excited and fitted them to the stereo, the results are ASTOUNDING!!

Attached is a pic to show it off - the display looks in the photo to have lost some contrast, but believe me that's just a trick of the lens. (looking at the real thing there's no problem at all)

Since there's been a moderate amount of interest, I'm going to go ahead with another order of LEDs tomorrow. The supplier still has a partial reel, with almost 300 pcs on it. (better than 1,500!!)

Enjoy! I reckon it looks pretty damned OK, but then I might be a little biased!

Cheerz!

Mate, that looks great!!
One of the few things I miss about the BA XR8 is the blue dash lighting.
I am watching your progress with interest.
I am keen to purchase a kit if you are keen to supply them (pending confirmation of cost to do the entire job ie: dash, stereo, a/c controls, window switches, trip computer controls and headlight switch etc), are you also thinking about providing a "how to" type writeup with pics etc as you do yours so us interstaters can copy your writeup?
Again, great job!

[stockVN]

Hey Phreddy,

Thanks for the follow up, I never thought of something like this till I seen the forum so I had no idea how the instrument cluster was done or not. Bit of a piss off really !!!! The car shoul be off the road next weekend having central locking, remote start alarm, new stereo, custom speaker pods and maybe new splits in it. Ill give something a go and see while its in pieces an get back to you.

Cheers!!!!

[Phreddy]

G'Day All.

OK, hope I haven't made a mistake!

Today I've ordered $600 worth of LEDs - mostly blue, but a quantity of red as well.

I still have a little groundwork to do to work out the finer points of what LEDs go where, but this will happen shortly too. The order of LEDs should be in my hot little hands sometime next week.

OK, so for those who would like a "kit" and instructions, that I can do easily enough. (have to take some more photos and get busy at the keyboard, but...) I would think I'll provide a document in PDF format for this. For others who'd like me to do the job, no worries either.

Please bear with me for a little while longer until I can get the details sorted out, then I'd be happy to provide cost and timing info for all those who are interested. Thanks to all for your patience, I'm certain it'll be worth the wait. (if the results on the stereo are any indication, it will be!)

Cheerz!

[MySV6]

Today I've ordered $600 worth of LEDs - mostly blue, but a quantity of red as well.

Lol

I'd love to see the dash once it has done, but based on the stereo, I'll get it for sure. Once you get the LED's I assume you'll do a full conversion price - I'd probably get you to do it for me as although I am OK at soldering normal stuff, the surface mount LED's frighten me a bit...

MySV6

[Troy711]

Hey, thanks Troy!

(as a matter of interest, I grew up in Canberra!)

In fact, I was planning to head down there in the near future to catch up with a few friends. There's a posibility that I could bring some equipment along and do the job for you while I'm there. Something to think about??

Cheerz!

mmm maybe... ill see how it all turns out and we shall go from there