The Perfect Gauge LEDs - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

skylinepkr11 · 01-24-2009, 12:26 AM

I've looked and looked but i have not found the perfect LEDs that create an even bright lighting for the gauges. I'm even considering doing a cathode mod but i dont know how. I've seen one perfect gauge but i dont remember where

After almost a year of searching i am finally asking here. Yes, i have searched previous threads and no i didnt like any of em! I think i might do a DIY for a cathode but i would need some knowledge of how i would do it first....

What is the best you have seen?

Lets see some links.....

thanks

CrawlingEye · 01-24-2009, 12:34 AM

I'm pleased with my cluster. I may go back in soon and use the aluminum foil trick on my climate control though.

skylinepkr11 · 01-24-2009, 12:37 AM

You have any pics?

CrawlingEye · 01-24-2009, 12:48 AM

a few older pics of my interior:

and the shaky picture of my white clock:

edit: as you can see, the one difficult spot to light effectively is the climate-control area. I haven't toyed with it in a while but I'd like to go back in and play with the foil trick and see if that spreads the light any better. Behind the 3 knobs there's only 1 #74 bulb which with an LED (which doesn't have a huge angle of light), is a bit difficult.

cruisn76 · 01-24-2009, 01:01 AM

My post from another thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisn76

Only the HVAC is soldered LED's, the Cluster can be changed with 194 bulbs.

I desoldered the old green LED's out of the HVAC and replaced it with blue ones. The rest of the HVAC unit can be replaced with LED's also by soldering in 5mm LED's in place of the twist bottoms

Tom 2000 · 01-24-2009, 01:44 AM

Here's my car.

I got the LEDs from Superbrightleds.com I am very pleased with the brightness and the light distribution.

There's some more detail in this old thread. Pics are below

DIY replace bulbs for leds, a/c console etc gen4

I left one Polarg Super-White bulb in the left side (by the temp gauge) for comparison. Notice it still looks yellow compared the to the LEDS.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 01-24-2009, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrawlingEye

a few older pics of my interior:

and the shaky picture of my white clock:

edit: as you can see, the one difficult spot to light effectively is the climate-control area. I haven't toyed with it in a while but I'd like to go back in and play with the foil trick and see if that spreads the light any better. Behind the 3 knobs there's only 1 #74 bulb which with an LED (which doesn't have a huge angle of light), is a bit difficult.

hey, how did you get the clock to be white again? were you the one who used the photo film/color sheets or what not to take away color?

CrawlingEye · 01-24-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eye8Pussies

hey, how did you get the clock to be white again? were you the one who used the photo film/color sheets or what not to take away color?

yup. send me a pm if you need help with it.

ONE_to_HATE · 01-24-2009, 01:20 PM

bastards! now i gotta take my shit apart.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 01-24-2009, 01:21 PM

^ I will soon enough come spring for sure!

nuron · 01-26-2009, 10:11 PM

Guys, I heard that white isn't that good for nigh time driving, which is why BMW and such uses orange--it's easier on the eyes. But, I think white looks the best so I'll go with that. Just looking for the right LEDs right now. Tom, did you use the top LED for the cluster or the second one you posted (the 3D pictures)?

Tom 2000 · 01-27-2009, 08:15 AM

I used the 2nd. Those fit 194 bulb applications. The top ones fit 74 bulb applications like the climate control on the gen4.

Green and Orange are easiest on the eyes (if you are old like me, you probably remember that monochrome computer monitors from the early 1980's usually came in green or amber)

nuron · 01-27-2009, 07:02 PM

How are the contacts on the second set? It looks like it's only on one side for some reason. As opposed to these:

That are more like mines.

Edit: Nevermind, I kinda see how they work. There's one contact on each side, on opposite sides so + and - can touch. Just ordered 4 of them.

Tom 2000 · 01-27-2009, 10:16 PM

There's 5 bulbs used in the instrument cluster.....

These LEDs can also replace the license plate lights. I got the idea driving behind a newer Lexus as those cars are set up like that from the factory. Very subtle but cool effect.

The trunk light can be replaced with the same LED as well.

skylinepkr11 · 01-27-2009, 10:22 PM

How much did you pay for the leds tom?