Topic: IC's Interesting LED Gauge Lighting

[Industrial Cafe]

I like that EL sheet, don't forget you have to have an edge to solder wire to when you're done.

if you do it, take lots of pics and post a thread.

[bistromath]

I've been googling and reading up on various options, and one thing that's pretty interesting is flexible, cut-able electoluminescent panels.  They're more $$$ than LED rings, but give even cool lighting, and would look awesome I think.

http://www.luminousfilm.com/el_lamp.htm



ebay link

Search for "EL backlight" and you'll find gobs of info.

I'm still trying to find ready made circular ones, would seem a better option than cutting rectangular pieces.
-K

Hey, give those a shot, that would be a very cool look -- but keep in mind that EL backlighting is generally not very bright, and the gauge dials really do cut the light down pretty good.

[Kframe]

I've been googling and reading up on various options, and one thing that's pretty interesting is flexible, cut-able electoluminescent panels.  They're more $$$ than LED rings, but give even cool lighting, and would look awesome I think.

http://www.luminousfilm.com/el_lamp.htm



ebay link

Search for "EL backlight" and you'll find gobs of info.

I'm still trying to find ready made circular ones, would seem a better option than cutting rectangular pieces.
-K

Hey, give those a shot, that would be a very cool look -- but keep in mind that EL backlighting is generally not very bright, and the gauge dials really do cut the light down pretty good.

They are dimmer than led's, that's certain.
Probably would work best with new gauge faces made from frosted plastic.
-K

[Industrial Cafe]

or possible print the face directly onto the EL sheet.

[Old75_ratafe]

or possible print the face directly onto the EL sheet.

There ya go

[no718.com]

These are amazing. Let's get down to brass tax. I want a pair. What's it gonna cost me to have you make a set???

[Industrial Cafe]

pm me with details of what you want, and I'll see what I can do for you.

[cameron]

So, I just did this mod to my cb550.
Everything went swimmingly, except for my trip odometer reset-knob. It totally interferes.

I am leaving it out for now, since I really want to see these at night. Plus, getting them on and off is easy as pie once I got them loosened!

Thanks IC for a great idea!

[wannabridin]

IC, any updates on the luminous film?  this might be something i'd be interested in adapting

[THE DUDE]

IC  I am waiting on my Halo led's to come from china in the mail.  I will take lots of pics when I do the light job and post em up !  thanks for sharing this and if you got any other cool hacks let us know 

[Industrial Cafe]

I don't have anything on the EL film idea, (no funds) but when I do I'll most likely post a thread.

[Laminar]

The 80mm rings didn't work with my gauges, I went 90mm.





Still waiting on the VF750 tach so I can stuff the guts in my gauge, the Ninja tach didn't work.

[HondanutRider]

Very nice-looking result! 

I'd be interested to know if anyone has found a replacement LED for the original incandescent bulbs that are illuminating the gauges?  Mine don't seem to last very long and are a nuisance to replace.  I'm looking for a strait-forward way of inserting LEDs instead of the incandescent bulbs.

[cameron]

Very nice-looking result! 

I'd be interested to know if anyone has found a replacement LED for the original incandescent bulbs that are illuminating the gauges?  Mine don't seem to last very long and are a nuisance to replace.  I'm looking for a strait-forward way of inserting LEDs instead of the incandescent bulbs.

I am relatively certain that the stock bulbs are 9mm on a single-positive bayonet base. (12v)
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=/BA9S6_specs.htm
Any of these should work.
Order an assortment and get back to us?

[CB750Ken8]

I've replaced the stock bayonet bulbs with LEDs I'll get pics, as for EL foil stuff not that great of stuff you need a power inverter to power them up and Last I checked the cost to get a sheet running was about $30 or more. I'll get some pics of the stock light mod I did.

Ok So I'm uploading images now, time for the explaining The stock bulbs were getting a bit dim and I figured I had some LEDs hanging around so I figured I'd try to make some LED stock bulbs.

Start out taking the stock bulbs burnt out or not, and shatter the glass dome.

Now  inside the metal can, there's ceramic stuff and epoxy, I just took a needle nose pliers and pinched all around the can crushing as much of the epoxy and ceramic stuff as I could and dumping it out.

Next cut off the old ground wire for the filament, as for the positive, you'll need a soldering iron since the bottom "pin" is just a solder cap, un-solder it and pull the old positive wire out.

Now that you're left with a metal light can (I used 3 LEDs max I could fit in the can) push the positive lead of 3 LEDs through the bottom of the can and the neg leads hang them over the side.

Turn the whole thing upside down so that it's sitting on the LED's, solder the bottom tab and trim off the extra lead length and trim off just enough of the neg leads so that you have maybe a 1\4" on the can still and solder them down.

The only thing you have left to do is install a resistor inline to the light socket, I thought about installing the resistor in the can but figured it would be too difficult to keep everything straight and aligned.

So Pics are done uploading time to post em!!!!











total cost probably $5 to do all the gauge cluster lights and about 1-2hours of work.

[JAG]

I am really wanting to do this..

Thanks for all the input IC and others..

I was thinking of trying to mount these, ( I suppose using the cheapos from Hong Kong, cause every search for ccfl's returns some expensive stuff ) however I wanted to run something like an Aircraft Toggle Switch. I don't ride that much at night, but when I do I could just flip them on.

I have also purchased some LED Tag bolts for the license plate. I would Also like to have rigged up with an Aircraft or other sort of toggle switch..

Since with you expertise on electronics IC, I was curious if you could help me out in understanding on how to wire them into a toggle switch, and what would be needed.

I still have the two tabs that held up the air box (Located right above the carbs) that I thought would be a good place to mount the switches..

Any advice??

Thanks.

Added::: Or could I wire the two together into one switch?

[Laminar]

I am really wanting to do this..

Thanks for all the input IC and others..

I was thinking of trying to mount these, ( I suppose using the cheapos from Hong Kong, cause every search for ccfl's returns some expensive stuff ) however I wanted to run something like an Aircraft Toggle Switch. I don't ride that much at night, but when I do I could just flip them on.

I have also purchased some LED Tag bolts for the license plate. I would Also like to have rigged up with an Aircraft or other sort of toggle switch..

Since with you expertise on electronics IC, I was curious if you could help me out in understanding on how to wire them into a toggle switch, and what would be needed.

I still have the two tabs that held up the air box (Located right above the carbs) that I thought would be a good place to mount the switches..

Any advice??

Thanks.

Added::: Or could I wire the two together into one switch?

I'm not sure why you want the added complication of a switch and extra wiring when running them during the day doesn't hurt anything.

[JAG]

The was discussion of heat, and the over all quality of the build of the product.

I figured the less wear and tear the better.

Besides doesn't all guys like switches and buttons??!!

Honestly though, I just didn't see the need of them running all the time, thought I would try and get the most out of these lights.

[Industrial Cafe]

you can just run 2 thin wires ( speaker wire  ) from the switch, up to the headlight bucket, and splice the switch into the gauge wiring like an interrupt.
          wiring polarity for the switch is a non issue, since you're just using it kinda like a kill switch.

does that make sense?

[Industrial Cafe]

CB750Ken8- looks good!

[JAG]

you can just run 2 thin wires ( speaker wire  ) from the switch, up to the headlight bucket, and splice the switch into the gauge wiring like an interrupt.
          wiring polarity for the switch is a non issue, since you're just using it kinda like a kill switch.

does that make sense?

so where I will splice the wires on the factory wiring to add the LEDs, I can just add the spliced low voltage wire in with it?

[Industrial Cafe]

yeah,
   the LED rings don't pull a lot of juice.

 if you can find them, you can put a double bullet plug on the ends of the switch wires and just plug the gauges into one side and the other side into the harness.

just a thought.

[JAG]

Sweet, thanks..

I'll get started on it.

[CB750Ken8]

To splice in a switch I'd say either use a double pole single throw (DPST or DPDT) switch and run the brown white wire into the center post of the switch and the positive wire of the halo goes to the on position posts of the switch, if that makes any sense.

[Industrial Cafe]

yep.