LED super bright dashlights

[Bigmark]

Just a heads up (not sure how successful its going to be) but i have made a super-bright blue led light that fits into the standard bulb holder and even fits nicely into the tube on the back of the gauges.
nice bright blue gauge now that i can even see during the day.
The only problem is that i have to make a little mould to hold the led and correct resistor in place and the same shape as the bulb insert thingy- but my temporary one works great.
I am still trying different colours and also grinding of top of led's to spread the light more.

Anyway let you all know more as i go along and if it turns to nothing then i have only lost a few bucks and 50 hours of farting around.

I just purchased a super bright led interior light (comes in a row of 6) and they are great, especially for people whose eyes are finally giving up and cant read with the horrible yellow light.

[scott oz]

Bigmark,

I've replaced all my lights internal and external with LED's with the exception of the speedo. HID's for main.

The hardest LED's to get in OZ are the 509T's which I eventually got out of the UK.

My vehicle is a 2001 TD5 Defender.

I went the red ones just for a change

All fun

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Just a heads up (not sure how successful its going to be) but i have made a super-bright blue led light that fits into the standard bulb holder and even fits nicely into the tube on the back of the gauges.
nice bright blue gauge now that i can even see during the day.
The only problem is that i have to make a little mould to hold the led and correct resistor in place and the same shape as the bulb insert thingy- but my temporary one works great.
I am still trying different colours and also grinding of top of led's to spread the light more.

Anyway let you all know more as i go along and if it turns to nothing then i have only lost a few bucks and 50 hours of farting around.

I just purchased a super bright led interior light (comes in a row of 6) and they are great, especially for people whose eyes are finally giving up and cant read with the horrible yellow light.

Will do ALL the R&D you need mate!! Just hand em over and I'll try 'em!

Do white ones too. :p:p:p

Put up some piccies etc and do a project on it!

I think Jaycar or maybe RS Components have the plastic wedge bases in 5mm made to take a 6mm LED, same as those used by the sh*t Narva ones that keep blowing.
I have a few bases spare from these.

I wanted to try it with an SMT flux LED but couldnt find one small enough diameter wise to fit in the back of the dash holes.....

Cheers

Andrew

[dullbird]

good work I have blue LED's all through the dsah on my disco and on my gear selector I also have white LED's in the interior light in a row of 6 like your talking about stacked 3up 3down how ever the bottom row has started to flicker so I got to look at that.

[Bigmark]

Yeah just realized that Jaycar sell them( why not re-invent the wheel), but they are white only and a bit small- all you need is the biggest single LED you can get from jaycar and theyll sell you the correct resistor to get the brightest glow- cut 1 leg short(doesnt matter which one) then cut 1 side of the resistor short-solder them together and trim other legs to get even length.
then just bend both into a tight u shape around a small bit of plastic and hot glue all to keep in place- basically look at the globe version and copy the shape.

[blue juice]

Photos would be good !!!!

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Just bought these from the LEDshoponline

Part number is #2400, they are a T5 Wedge Bulb - 3 x 3050 SMD LED

Look for these on this page here (http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm)

These things are incredible!! Only $4 each and come in white, blue, green and red.

Stuck these in my dash after having the usual LED's in there that never really were bright enough or had enough angle to light completely.

These things light the whole dash up with just the std four and give me nice white needles to boot!!

Am now going to do ALL my dash T5's with these and might get a few different colours just to try out!

Cheers

Andrew.

[Reads90]

These are the ones i have in my 90
They are blue led bought off ebay
Make it alot easer to see the dials and match the colour of the car :):)


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/05/440.jpg

[Ranga]

Just bought these from the LEDshoponline

Part number is #2400, they are a T5 Wedge Bulb - 3 x 3050 SMD LED

Look for these on this page here (http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm)

These things are incredible!! Only $4 each and come in white, blue, green and red.

Stuck these in my dash after having the usual LED's in there that never really were bright enough or had enough angle to light completely.

These things light the whole dash up with just the std four and give me nice white needles to boot!!

Am now going to do ALL my dash T5's with these and might get a few different colours just to try out!

Cheers

Andrew.


I need to replace my very dull Defender dash lights - would the ones you got suit, and are they easy to fit?

[land864]

Are they too bright and distracting at night :confused:

[Bigmark]

Cheers for that, they look great- they dont have the round end which means the light is dispersed not a spot like most LED- when i was making my own the guy said to file the tops flat to spread the light.
Looks like ill be ordering some from that place, CHEERS



Just bought these from the LEDshoponline

Part number is #2400, they are a T5 Wedge Bulb - 3 x 3050 SMD LED

Look for these on this page here (http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm)

These things are incredible!! Only $4 each and come in white, blue, green and red.

Stuck these in my dash after having the usual LED's in there that never really were bright enough or had enough angle to light completely.

These things light the whole dash up with just the std four and give me nice white needles to boot!!

Am now going to do ALL my dash T5's with these and might get a few different colours just to try out!

Cheers

Andrew.

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

I need to replace my very dull Defender dash lights - would the ones you got suit, and are they easy to fit?

As long as they are a T5 wedge socket then they will.

No different to fit other than you need to get polarity correct. If it doesnt work one way, just rotate to whole thing 180 degrees and it should work.

Dont have your lights on when you take them in and out tho as they can suffer from shorting when making contact.

Once in, they're fine.

Cheers

Andrew

[Ranga]

As long as they are a T5 wedge socket then they will.

No different to fit other than you need to get polarity correct. If it doesnt work one way, just rotate to whole thing 180 degrees and it should work.

Dont have your lights on when you take them in and out tho as they can suffer from shorting when making contact.

Once in, they're fine.

Cheers

Andrew

Excuse my ignorance, but I've only owned a Defender for 2 days! I assume there are 4 bulbs to be replaced in a 96 Defender dash? Is it a big job getting to them? And do I also have to buy the T5 sockets?

FWIW, I think red might be cool. In marine environments, red lights are used at night as they make it easier for the eyes to readjust to night vision.

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Excuse my ignorance, but I've only owned a Defender for 2 days! I assume there are 4 bulbs to be replaced in a 96 Defender dash? Is it a big job getting to them? And do I also have to buy the T5 sockets?

FWIW, I think red might be cool. In marine environments, red lights are used at night as they make it easier for the eyes to readjust to night vision.

Should be 4. There's 4 in my Rangie plus I put a few into other dash lights etc.
You dont need to by sockets, your existing globes already use them. Just pull out the filament globe and slip in the new LED.

My dash is easy as its a binnacle type pod dash in the Classic so its just a matter of pulling off the cover.

Not sure on a Fender but if you go to the shop link above, order a copy of the Rave CD from Dave, you will get the workshop manual in pdf. Print off the page you need or just take a laptop into the shed and your set.

Cheers

Andrew

[Ranga]

Should be 4. There's 4 in my Rangie plus I put a few into other dash lights etc.
You dont need to by sockets, your existing globes already use them. Just pull out the filament globe and slip in the new LED.

My dash is easy as its a binnacle type pod dash in the Classic so its just a matter of pulling off the cover.

Not sure on a Fender but if you go to the shop link above, order a copy of the Rave CD from Dave, you will get the workshop manual in pdf. Print off the page you need or just take a laptop into the shed and your set.

Cheers

Andrew

Thanks again. Final question - any idea what LEDs I need to replace the interior lights (both front and rear)? I'd rathe order them all at the same time to save on shipping.

[weeds]

are these the ones

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productResults.asp?FORM=KEYWORD

[scott oz]

Gentleman,

Thanks I took my T5 also known as 509T'S and replaced them with the T5 SMD's a lot brighter.

I haven't done the speedo yet and I assume you just release the plugs and the lights are in there ie part of the spedo wiring plug harness.

Oh and by the way I whent for the red (bit of a change)

I believe that people who change to LED's when selecting them remember that LED's are directional. Normal bulbs put out 360 light. Its therefore important to look at the LED configeration when selecting

just my 2c's

[VladTepes]

OK everyone then tell us what you used and how you find it - happy with it, etc ?

I'm torn between green and blue...
Does anyone know what colour the VDO after market guages are lit in, and are these similarly changeable or not. I want all mine to match eventaully so will buy whatever colour suits now.

Cheers

[scott oz]

VladTepes,

I've done mine in red just to be different. I think the "blue" look good as well and probably provide better visibility

I've got an after market VDO and they use the standard wedge bulb. The difficult ones to get are the T5's. These are the tiny ones LR use in some of their gauges.

As has been pointed out LED's are directional and in the gauges you can see some minor "shadowing". So I would defiantly get the T5 SMD's.

To save a lot of time I'd go to the LEDshop http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm (http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm)

Buy a couple of different colours and see what you think.

[tomalophicon]

Just bought these from the LEDshoponline

Part number is #2400, they are a T5 Wedge Bulb - 3 x 3050 SMD LED

Look for these on this page here (http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm)

These things are incredible!! Only $4 each and come in white, blue, green and red.

Stuck these in my dash after having the usual LED's in there that never really were bright enough or had enough angle to light completely.

These things light the whole dash up with just the std four and give me nice white needles to boot!!

Am now going to do ALL my dash T5's with these and might get a few different colours just to try out!

Cheers

Andrew.


Do these LEDs fit straight in?

[vnx205]

Do these LEDs fit straight in?

Not if you have a 1998 Defender they don't.

I followed the suggestions here and ordered 4 x T5 dashlights. I thought I was being extra careful by asking the supplier when I ordered if I had the right part.

They just arrived and I now know that what I need is probably the T10.

I have contacted the supplier and am waiting for them to ring back.

Maybe it's the Discos and RRs that take T5s. My Defender certainly doesn't.

The interior lights I got for the Trayon camper at the same time appear to be the right ones.

[scott oz]

You do have to be carefull which vehicle and model you are talking about.

This is a common problem. My vehicle is a 2001 Defender TD5 and it has T5's behind the dash and I think one T10.

[Ranga]

So, to avoid any confusion, can any tell me what type of LEDs I need for my 95 Defender dash? I'd also like to know what type (if any) I can use for my map light.

Thanks,
Ranga

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Do these LEDs fit straight in?

As before, if they are the same size as you pull out, then they will fit. As I said, I have mine in a RRC so you need to check what and how many of each you have.

All you need to do is take the std globe out of the base its fitted to and measure how wide it is. T5 is 5mm wide, T10 is 10mm, self explanatory.

Vlad, more than happy :D:D:D:D:D

I can now see ALL of mu dash, not just spots of it as I did with the normal style LED.

Positively recommended to all. See my post previous for link to website where I bought them.

Cheers

Andrew.

[VladTepes]

VladTepes,
I've got an after market VDO and they use the standard wedge bulb.

Yes, but what colour are they? Green or blue ?

[scott oz]

Yes, but what colour are they? Green or blue ?


Red

[sclarke]

Bling
All you need is to sell it and buy a Kenworth and drive up and down the Hume every night.....

[tomalophicon]

So, to avoid any confusion, can any tell me what type of LEDs I need for my 95 Defender dash? I'd also like to know what type (if any) I can use for my map light.

Thanks,
Ranga

My 98 Defender (300tdi) has 5 T10s in the dash. One for each dial and 2 for the speedo. I'm not sure what bulbs are used in the warning lights but 2 screws is all that seperates you from finding out.

[VladTepes]

Re VDO tacho [

QUOTE=scott oz;1031248]Red[/QUOTE]

Seriously ?

How on earth am I gtoing to decide n dash light colour now ?

Can the light colour in the VDO tacho be changed as easily, oes anyone know ?


Anyone done this to a 95 Defender and know what the light bulbs for that are T5's or T10's ?

[tomalophicon]

Vlad, my 98 Defender has T10. I'd say it's the same. If you like the T5 range you can get T5 sockets and change them around.

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Re VDO tacho
Seriously ?

How on earth am I gtoing to decide n dash light colour now ?

Can the light colour in the VDO tacho be changed as easily, oes anyone know ?


Anyone done this to a 95 Defender and know what the light bulbs for that are T5's or T10's ?

You can get little coloured silicone globe that slip over the globe if you still have std globes in there. VDO guages from memory use T10 size. Either that or get the T10 SMD LED's in either white, red, green or blue.

Go to http://media.narva.com.au/books/4.pdf and go to page 103 to get the part #'s for the silicone sleeves.

Cheers

Andrew

[vnx205]

I finally completed the conversion of my 1998 Defender dashlights.

As I mentioned earlier, I mistakenly ordered T5s. I have now fitted the T10 LEDs.

There was one minor problem. The PCB which makes up most of the T10 was about half a millimetre to wide to fit into the green plastic cover that gives the normal bulb its green tinge.

However I was able to file a whisker off each side of the PCB, so that the T10 could be inserted all the way.

I needed four T10 units; two in the speedo and one each in the fuel and temperature gauges. The one in the analogue clock is a small bayonet style and is a more attractive shade of blue than the original.

My original dashlights were so dim I could barely read the gauges at night. I had thought it was dust on the bulbs reducing their light output, but that wasn't the case.

The LEDs are just the right brightness.

[Kelly928]

Can someone advise how to get to the speedo globes and the clock globe? I dont want to break stuff.

I have RAVE CD but not a lot of detail getting to the speedo and clock globes.

I have 2003 TD5 Fender.

BTW I ordered the T5 SMDs in RED. Hope its bright enough!

Thanks

[Ranga]

Can someone advise how to get to the speedo globes and the clock globe? I dont want to break stuff.

I have RAVE CD but not a lot of detail getting to the speedo and clock globes.

I have 2003 TD5 Fender.

BTW I ordered the T5 SMDs in RED. Hope its bright enough!

Thanks

Good question! Weeds and I were looking at my clock that I removed to fit my tacho in the 300, and couldn't see anywhere obvious to replace the old light. Any ideas?

[p38arover]

Jaycar now sell the T5 and T10 LEDs, some wedge base and some in the correct holders for Land Rovers.

Look up:
ZD-0380 to ZD-0386 (about $2 each)
ZD-0390 to ZD-0396 (about $3.50 each)

[VladTepes]

Ok so I need to know EXACLY what ones (model numbers etc) people have fitted to dash instruments in a Defender TDis.

The only ones I;ve seen seem to have a different connector (like jap 4wd's) which is different to the LR socket arrangement.
I dpn't want to rewire / change all the connectors if I can help it.

there must be an easier way !

[Ranga]

So I've finally managed to fit and test some of the LED lights I've bought from a couple of different places.

The T10 wedge type bulbs like this are the ones that fit: Automotive & Marine dashboard LED Replacement Bulbs (http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm) - I just fitted a #2261 and it worked really well. Much brighter than the standard glass bulbs. Note, that the Defender speedo takes 2 bulbs, 1 on the top and 1 on the bottom. The #2241 keeps blowing fuses, regardless of polarity. I've emailed the supplier for an explanation.

I tried a couple of cheapies from dealextreme.com but they weren't so great.

I'm going to grab a couple of these T10 Wedge Replacement LED QUAD Globe (Red) - Jaycar Electronics (http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ZD0395&keywords=t10&form=KEYWORD) from Jaycar tomorrow and see how well they work.

Also note that the original Defender clock does not take T10 wedge bulbs, but a small 7mm bayonet type bulb (8.5mm including the bayonets).

[Ranga]

I tried the ones from Jaycar today. They fit in the socket and light up fine, but unfortunately they don't fit into the gauge properly.

So far, the best one I've found is the #2261 from here Automotive & Marine dashboard LED Replacement Bulbs (http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm).

Interestingly, there must be a green tint applied in the gauge somewhere, as the original bulbs are clear, yet the light in the gauge looks green. This might be why the green #2261 globe seem to be the best.

[Kelly928]

yea they have a very light green coating on the back of the clock face.

I have 03 fender so my clock had SMD LEDs (surface mount device) which was suprising!

They look like this:

22080 (~3x3mm)

If you want to go to the trouble (or can be bothered) of having the colour of your led minus the slight green tinge you can scape away the back coating using fine sandpaper. The colour shows up much brighter. And if you deceide to go back to the original green colour just use green led.

I removed the original SMDs (x4) using soldering iron and soldered on blue leds. Not hard cause I am no expert but just a bit fiddly.

Kelly

[woody]

I tried the ones from Jaycar today. They fit in the socket and light up fine, but unfortunately they don't fit into the gauge properly.

G'day, I went and got the T10 bulbs from Jaycar ( mine are the ones with 4 little leds ) and found that whilst they do fit the socket they're about 2 mm too long and need to be carfully trimmed to fit properly. By carfully lifting the wire back and filing them suit suit they work a treat.

[malleefowl]

How hard is it to change the globe/s for the warning lights.Is it just a case of undo the 2 screws and they are accessable or is there more involved.My gloworm lighting up the diflock symbol is hardly visible and makes it very difficult to see when Difflock is engaged.
Thanks,
Mary