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LED gauge light conversion


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I swapped in white LED's this past weekend, that was that seems to have been the easy part. Now the gauges lite up blue which is not what I was after. I would prefer the white instead. The LED's I used do not appear to have any hint of blue when on. One company I spoke with said I needed to buy a new metal face from them in order to have white backlighting again since to OE gauge face has a blue tint on the back that cannot be removed. Anyone else had this issue? When I look online at all the vendors that sell these LED's dash conversion kit's I always see white as well as the blues, greens, reds, etc. How do they do it? Any help would be great.

Thanks

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Nope you just installed the wrong colour LED. The GM overlay has a blue filter to filter out the yellow from incandescent bulbs. If you install white LEDs you will get a blue tinge like this.

 

2016-01-30%2013.36.51_zpsudkt1nbr.jpg

 

2017-01-18%2010.44.35_zpsd28ywr0o.jpg

 

But if you install warm white LEDs you will get a close to factory colour.

 

2017-01-17%2011.11.31_zpsnt3inu4v.jpg

 

2017-01-17%2011.25.37_zps3xu4pgni.jpg

 

and of course if you install blue LEDs you will get even bluer background.

 

2017-01-10%2014.11.42_zpsrxweough.jpg

 

2017-01-10%2014.25.02_zpsq58qlsyo.jpg

 

You could go green....lol or red.

 

2017-01-22%2019.18.04_zpsygg0rjzq.jpg

 

2015-05-11%2020.05.54_zpsxx5orc8x.jpg

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More help and info for you do-it-yourself'ers.

 

In order to minimize hotspots grind down the lens a bit and to make them easier to surface mount on the circuit board islands bend the leads at the notches 90° like this.

 

2017-01-29%2010.23.09_zpsj8nhwxlp.jpg

 

End product.

 

2017-01-29%2010.21.50_zpsnodm1srr.jpg

 

To identify + or - after leads are cut you can do this several ways. If your eyes are good you can see the black carbon resistor on top of the (+) anode.

 

2017-01-29%201_zpspet7ajzq.jpg

 

Or you can see that the cathode which has a triangular shape is quite obvious, but not always the case.

 

2017-01-29%202_zpstuurtayj.jpg

 

Or you can always feel the straight edge on the bottom of the LED on the (-) cathode side.

 

2017-01-29%203_zpstnjahszv.jpg

 

This is just extra info, you can actually see the gold wire that goes from the resistor to the LED substrate highlighted in yellow here.

 

2017-01-29%204_zpsrq9lztdt.jpg

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Oh I have a 2001 Tahoe. Nvm. Ive just never torn a cluster apart and been inside of it, so I literally know zip about it lol

I repair those also, what's your issue? display gone dead I bet!!!

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More help and info for you do-it-yourself'ers.

 

In order to minimize hotspots grind down the lens a bit and to make them easier to surface mount on the circuit board islands bend the leads at the notches 90° like this.

 

2017-01-29%2010.23.09_zpsj8nhwxlp.jpg

 

End product.

 

2017-01-29%2010.21.50_zpsnodm1srr.jpg

 

To identify + or - after leads are cut you can do this several ways. If your eyes are good you can see the black carbon resistor on top of the (+) anode.

 

2017-01-29%201_zpspet7ajzq.jpg

 

Or you can see that the cathode which has a triangular shape is quite obvious, but not always the case.

 

2017-01-29%202_zpstuurtayj.jpg

 

Or you can always feel the straight edge on the bottom of the LED on the (-) cathode side.

 

2017-01-29%203_zpstnjahszv.jpg

 

This is just extra info, you can actually see the gold wire that goes from the resistor to the LED substrate highlighted in yellow here.

 

2017-01-29%204_zpsrq9lztdt.jpg

I'm curious ? Do you attempt to polish the ground down area after or leave it dull and rough to diffuse the light ?

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Coby7 is the go to guy for LED Info......He steered me in the right direction :thumbs:

I see you have a Corvette as your avatar, drove these all my life and just recently sold my last one. Had a 59, then a 63 then my favourite a 75 then an 84. Will not get an other one since I'm 60 and just don't get the enjoyment out of them any more. I would really like to get a small convertible for summer cruising but could not justify $43,000 for a FIAT spyder 124. Wish GM made an affordable sportster like the MX5. Don't need power for a Sunday summer cruise.

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Oh come on

 

I see you have a Corvette as your avatar, drove these all my life and just recently sold my last one. Had a 59, then a 63 then my favourite a 75 then an 84. Will not get an other one since I'm 60 and just don't get the enjoyment out of them any more. I would really like to get a small convertible for summer cruising but could not justify $43,000 for a FIAT spyder 124. Wish GM made an affordable sportster like the MX5. Don't need power for a Sunday summer cruise.

........60 is just a number. I'm 57 and still enjoy the hell out of that car. I have had several as well but never anything older the a 78.

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I'm curious ? Do you attempt to polish the ground down area after or leave it dull and rough to diffuse the light ?

Leave it dull, you want the maximum of light to exit the sides into the refractor of the cluster.

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Leave it dull, you want the maximum of light to exit the sides into the refractor of the cluster.

That's what I figured ! Thanks Again my GOOD MAN !

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