Dashboard Switch Lights LED Conversion DIY...

[tblo760]

Thank You Dave,

I am pinning this one in the repair database. How did you figure out the polarity when socketing the LEDS? Was it just trial and error since the sockets will work either way?

...Lee

To check polarity of a 2.7 volt led,set your multimeter to continuity,this will supply approx 3 volts to the led which is a diode and will only pass current one way.Also new leds will allways have the positive wire longer than the negative one.If you dont have a multimeter two 1.5v batteries will do,or connect a 480 ohm resistor in series to your 12v supply.Connecting the led the wrong way will not harm it,it just will not light up.Also for the older type switches with the removable bulb you can connect the resistor into the supply wire.You can allways connect leds in series without a resistor,eg; five 2,7v leds in series would light up ok from you car's supply.LEDs can last for years and if you don't over load them,they'll last forever.Good luck,Terry.

[jmmxc]

Hi all:
Here is another source for your inside lighting with LEDs projects.
http://store.ledoption.com/

If it is not a big deal please add some pictures along to help get a feel for the difference.
Thanks.

Good Luck
jmmxc

[mobiledan]

Can you please post some photos of the dash at night?

The holder is a T1? can we use a T1 or T1.5?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... ument.html

[seb21051]

Hi, I'm very new to this neck of the woods (getting my 98 XC AWD on Thursday), but when I saw this thread it occurred to me that this tutorial of mine might be of interest (its for a 1985 Suzuki Madura 700 instrument cluster) LED conversion from incandescent bulbs. 12V electrical systems are basically the same:

http://baartman.us/images/home/Baartman ... od%201.doc

[peacock]

This is a great how-to!

PS: Can you tell me if the parking light position on the headlight switch is lit? Mine isn't and it seems like it should be.

yes it should be!

[sakiduz]

Great guide! But how make for buttons, where bulbs are 2times shorter than theese? Where solder resistor ?

[sakiduz]

anyone?

[Dizio]

I know that it's been April 12th since the last post but, I am finally attempting to do this DIY on the bulbs and for some reason did not work for me. I used a T1 size low intensity 3 volt red LED with a 470 Ohm resistor (I couldn't find a 470 Ohm res.) Is there something that you guys might think of that I am missing? I even sketched the blue print to make sure I double checked my work.
P.S. Some pics of the actual result would be greatly appreciated.

[Dizio]

Just wanted to post a correction. I was only able to get a 480 Ohm resistor to solder on to the leg. I couldn't find any 470 Ohm res.

[Dizio]

Looks like I didn't turn the led all the way inside the socket. They look great! Thanks for having posted this cool upgrade!