Few Interior Lighting Questions - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

RedPhoenix · 05-27-2005, 01:29 AM

Read through most of the threads that delt with this topic. Although I didnt see much on replacing with LEDS.

I have A LOT of blue 3.3v LEDS. Im trying to use them all up. Now my question is.... On the gauge cluster, replacing the green bubls with blue, entrely possible? What voltage do those gauges run at? What resistor would I need if I tried to run my leds in their place?

Another question is... I bought my glow gauges, well its a little dim for my liking and I cant brighten it. Also my needles are hard to see. Any suggestions on what to do? I read something on the needles, although couldnt find it at this time.

PRND21 bulbs are a bitch to find, I tried, toyota wanted an ass load for a bulb. I dont want to keep the stock color, so what voltage do these run off of and would replacing it with an LED work?

Thanks. I know these have been answered before, I just didnt see it in the 20 or so threads I read.

Now since its 2:30 am, I will go to bed, and wake up and hope to see answers for my questions

Thanks

chronoti · 05-27-2005, 01:34 AM

the PRND21 lights are a bitch and run at 12v led wount work because of the beam patter you need it be damn near hard to line it all up right. also you cant change the colour easy because the thing that makes the colour is the plastic part up front. for your back lighting you can try to dril some holes and glue in the more leds where you dont see any traces running. voltage back there is 12v +hot. no idea on resitance you can google up some calcuators for that

88 LE · 05-27-2005, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedPhoenix

I have A LOT of blue 3.3v LEDS. Im trying to use them all up. Now my question is.... On the gauge cluster, replacing the green bubls with blue, entrely possible? What voltage do those gauges run at? What resistor would I need if I tried to run my leds in their place?

The bulbs on the guages run at 12V, just like everything else in the car.

LEDs draw about 20mA (milli-amps) each. And you said the forward voltage of your leds is 3.3V.

(Supply voltage - led voltage) / .020 (20mA) = resistor value.

12V - 3.3V = 8.7V / .020 = 435 ohms.

13V - 3.3V = 9.7V / .020 = 485 ohms.

14V - 3.3V = 10.7V / .020 = 535 ohms.

Use 1/2W resistors.

Wire a resistor in series to the anode lead (+) of each LED.

http://lsdiodes.com/tutorial

Quote:

PRND21 bulbs are a bitch to find, I tried, toyota wanted an ass load for a bulb. I dont want to keep the stock color, so what voltage do these run off of and would replacing it with an LED work?

Runs off of 12V.

dna59 · 05-27-2005, 07:37 AM

You could always ake the needles light up using an led. I'll try to find the page with the DIY.

RedPhoenix · 05-27-2005, 08:02 AM

Thanks 88 LE.

DNA, if you could find that, that would be awesome. That will make my gauges a little eaier to read.

Well, I guess I am going to take it apart again.

Looks cool, just cant see the needles unless I turn up the lighting... looks bad because of green! Ah! wish me luck!

RedPhoenix · 05-27-2005, 01:30 PM

Thanks. Just a little update. Dont mess with all the wires... I disarmed my airbag accidently. Little fix I got it, thanks to TN search function

Anyways, I looked at the 4 green lights behind the cluster. It has a green sleeve over it. Took it off, took a blue sharpie on the bulb now its blueish/white behind it.

Changed my clock to blue... thats all for today, thanks.