drdoom Posted April 26, 2021 Report Share Posted April 26, 2021 Hello, What has been the result in switching to LED bulbs for the Smiths gauges? Yea or nay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fridge Posted April 26, 2021 Report Share Posted April 26, 2021 (edited) I've seen the results from using them in the S1's Veglia instrumentation cluster and they're an improvement in clarity. Though, being a stickler in the light department (part of my job), I'd say they can be a bit too blue/white (daylight balanced). Personally, I'd seek out cream/yellow ones. I've film lighting which has dialable LEDs. They mix daylight and tungsten orientated arrays together to change the overall colour temperature. I'm sure a less white LED "bulb" is available in the sizes required, but I haven't looked. Edited April 26, 2021 by Fridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebartman Posted April 26, 2021 Report Share Posted April 26, 2021 1 hour ago, drdoom said: Hello, What has been the result in switching to LED bulbs for the Smiths gauges? Yea or nay? on my '85 TE .... Smiths guages - certainly an improvement - but not enough to recommend - the guages are the limitation; not the light source. Trying to get the light out of the "tube" and into the "dial surround" must require an enormous amount of extra lumens. Now I've done it - would not do it again - just stick to std bulbs and it will (also) reduce any LED inteference possibilities. IMHO. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowrx Posted April 27, 2021 Report Share Posted April 27, 2021 Happy with mine, but I made my own screw base bulbs with warm white 5730 LED's. Noticeably brighter than the Lucas candles provided. Hopefully by now off-the-shelf bulbs are available with high lumens. https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/brighter-bulbs-for-g-car-smiths-speedo-tach.356705/#post-4679697 As noted the smaller gauges have deep bulb tubes that require a long skinny bulb to get properly into the cavity, and the speedo or tach has a color dome just inside the light socket that limits the bulb size a bit. Proper dimming requires a cheap PWM module and re-wiring the gauge lamp grounds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Vern Posted April 27, 2021 Report Share Posted April 27, 2021 I changed mine to LED's. Before, i could barely see the instruments at night, after was a massive difference. I also took the dials apart and put reflective tape around the insides. Im not sure it made a big difference in that respect but overall it was so much better! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drdoom Posted April 27, 2021 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2021 Any experience with coloured LED's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian43 Posted April 29, 2021 Report Share Posted April 29, 2021 I have green LEDs in my 84 S3. They are much better for night driving, if anything a little on the bright side but I prefer it that way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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