Dash lamps

[Curtis]

I just built this and it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi0NMGZ2A5M

[S Allen]

That is pretty slick.

S

[S Allen]

Curtis,

What dimmer switch did you use? I found this one on Amazon

12v Dimmer Switch

Steve

[Curtis]

Curtis,

What dimmer switch did you use? I found this one on Amazon

12v Dimmer Switch

Steve

I bought a 10k pot. The one in the link seems to be an already complete one. Doesn't look like the shaft diameter will fit the knob

[S Allen]

k-thanks.

S

[Curtis]

Just found this on ebay. Ordered one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-light-rota ... SwtUpee9V9

[notoptoy]

Both nice solutions Curtis, thanks!

[Linda]

Curtis is the beta tester.... Thx, Curtis
Linda

[Curtis]

Okay, I got it today and tested it on a couple of the led dash bulbs. Works perfect.

It slides right in to the hole for the stock dimmer on the low window dash. High would be a problem since it has the extended shaft. The knob shaft has finer grooves on it then the original. Diameter measures the same almost exactly. So since the shaft on the dimmer is plastic I took some sandpaper and turned it down little by little until it would slide in to the original knob.

IMG_2816.JPG

IMG_2817.JPG

[S Allen]

Excellent solution Curtis.

S

[Curtis]

Well not so fast. I just did some more testing. I have some sockets that have a ground wire on them and those are the ones I used. Most of the stock sockets do not. So the problem is that the sockets have to be insulated from the grounding of the dash or the ground feeds back through the gauges and negates the dimmer. Since my dash is powder coated I just stuck a couple gauges in there, hooked a ground wire to it and it works fine since the powder coat acts as insulation.

This of course raises issues for me or the necessary grounding for the GVR, hi,lo and horn. Looks like I'll have to add some ground wires or scrap off some powder coat. No scraping.

So the dimmer is a solution but not without some work. As to the gauges, what I will probably do is put some electrical tape around them where they contact the dash and where the retainer clip on the back contacts the dash..

[Curtis]

I also found that these bulbs are too tall for some of the gauges.

[Linda]

On my 68 I have most LED bulbs installed, they seem to fit OK. Can’t get to the clock yet....
Linda

[Curtis]

Low window are much different gauges.

[vinechoy]

+1
I had to file down the clear plastic tip on the upper speedometer bulb because it was 3-4 mm too long. Otherwise, a good fit and brighter than LED I had before.