Replace gauge lights with LEDs?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Posts
36
Reaction score
1
Location
Tennessee
First Name
James
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V-10
Engine Size
350 TBI
Anyone done this? If so, does it make the gauges any brighter and how many SMDs did you use?
 

89Suburban

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Posts
24,772
Reaction score
6,635
Location
Southeast PA
First Name
Paw Paw
Truck Year
2007
Truck Model
Chevrolet Tahoe LT
Engine Size
5.3, 4WD
When I was searching that site for info I specifically saw a info box saying the LED's for dash lights can be dimmed.


Posted from mobile...
 

Driver4r

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Posts
3,087
Reaction score
40
Location
Nebraska
First Name
Trevor
Truck Year
76,74
Truck Model
k10,c20
Engine Size
355/th350/np203, 454/th350/ff-rear
Slick, wanna post up a picture of them on to give us an idea?
 

SlickGTP

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Posts
785
Reaction score
112
Location
Houston, TX
First Name
John
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
454
Can't find one of the entire cluster, but this gives an idea... The tach doesn't have and LED on it, so you can ignore it.

You must be registered for see images
 

SlickGTP

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Posts
785
Reaction score
112
Location
Houston, TX
First Name
John
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
454
When I was searching that site for info I specifically saw a info box saying the LED's for dash lights can be dimmed.

Hmmmm, perhaps I bought some from before they made them dimmable?
 

89Suburban

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Posts
24,772
Reaction score
6,635
Location
Southeast PA
First Name
Paw Paw
Truck Year
2007
Truck Model
Chevrolet Tahoe LT
Engine Size
5.3, 4WD
Hmmmm, perhaps I bought some from before they made them dimmable?

Fugger stood out clear as day, not even looking for dash lights, looking for an answer to that turn issue we are discussing, boom, out of nowhere I see this info that the LED bulbs should dim in the dashboard. Of course now that I try and go back and find it I can't....
 
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Posts
36
Reaction score
1
Location
Tennessee
First Name
James
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V-10
Engine Size
350 TBI
Can't find one of the entire cluster, but this gives an idea... The tach doesn't have and LED on it, so you can ignore it.

You must be registered for see images

Yep, I think this is a go for my truck. From the looks of it, the blue LED is brighter than stock bulbs. So clear LEDs should be a little brighter. I just replaced all those darn bulbs, and the dash isn't as bright as I'd like it to be.
 
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Posts
36
Reaction score
1
Location
Tennessee
First Name
James
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V-10
Engine Size
350 TBI
Slick....which bulbs did you use? There are a million and one diffrent choices. I'm looking at the ones with the 4 leds around the sides and one in the center. But I don't know what would work best. there are ones with all the light facing out with no light out the sides. So many diffrent options and choices...
 

skysurfer

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Posts
2,664
Reaction score
2,104
Location
west coast
First Name
John
Truck Year
1989 Suburban
Truck Model
V2500
Engine Size
5.7/TH400/NP241C

guitarfreak235

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Posts
643
Reaction score
38
Location
Spartanburg S.C.
First Name
Andrew
Truck Year
86 86
Truck Model
k10 c20
Engine Size
350 350
LEDs do not dim the same as regular bulbs. Special LEDs with circuits may. But I used cheap eBay lights they are a concave type blue one and don't have a ton of output. Perfect. It's annoying as hell to be blinded at night. The pic doesn't do em justice but they look great .
You must be registered for see images attach

It's more even looking in person.
 

SlickGTP

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Posts
785
Reaction score
112
Location
Houston, TX
First Name
John
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
454
I used the ones with 4 forward facing Leds... I'll see if I can find the link
 

Christian Nelson

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2011
Posts
296
Reaction score
34
Location
Wisconsin
First Name
Christian
Truck Year
77
Truck Model
K15
Engine Size
400
I'd like to do all red, since the red doesn't affect your night vision as much.

Some day maybe.
 
Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Posts
36
Reaction score
1
Location
Tennessee
First Name
James
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V-10
Engine Size
350 TBI
Ordered 10 packs of both of these. Less than $10 a piece off eBay. The ones with the LEDs around the sides I am gonna try in the cluster. The other ones I am gonna use in the side markers, licence plate, 4wd shifter, and the high beam indicator.
 

Attachments

  • 2012-12-14_09-02-56.jpg
    2012-12-14_09-02-56.jpg
    11.6 KB · Views: 159
  • 2012-12-14_09-00-36.jpg
    2012-12-14_09-00-36.jpg
    8.3 KB · Views: 156
Last edited:

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,163
Posts
950,654
Members
36,276
Latest member
2manysquares2care
Top