dual gauge oil hook up...

[Steve_S]

He bought an early style gauge. I've never seen one with an internal lamp, but anything is possible.

The gel I'm referring to is lighting gel, as used to color lighting for television. It's a thin, heat-resistant plastic film available at any studio supply shop.

 

[Nunyas]

The face of the gauge is "early style" looking (i.e. the markings and what not). However, I put the bulb into a socket in the wiring harness, and then push the bulb+socket into the back of the gauge. In fact, the design of the gauge housing is practically identical to the housing/lighting hook ups for the rest of the stock gauges in my cluster.

Soooooo, now what... I'm left with coloring the bulb with a green "elMarko"?

 

[DrEntropy]

looks like it. Check hobby shops for a tint made for the job.

 

[Steve_S]

There is paint that will do the job but I'm not sure how long it lasts. If you want to open the gauge, you can use gel. Or you can try stuffing some in the back through the bulb hole.

 

[Nunyas]

or a rectangular volt meter or a good ole thermometer

Do they make rectangular Smiths Voltmeters?

There is paint that will do the job but I'm not sure how long it lasts. If you want to open the gauge, you can use gel. Or you can try stuffing some in the back through the bulb hole.

That's a thought.

At any rate, the color of the lighting for that gauge isn't a pressing issue for me. I'll get to it when I get to it. Right now, I'm just happy to have gauges that give me information! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[Nunyas]

OO.. I just had a thought. maybe I can do like the "ricebois" and just wrap the glass in saranawrap! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

 

[dklawson]

Since the bulb pushes into a socket you bought a later type gauge.

I recommended the acrylic glass paint earlier. It may be in hobby shops as the Dr. said, however, I know it is sold at AC Moore.

I also mentioned the colored boots available for VDO and AutoMeter gauges. They can be bought separately. See:
https://www.egauges.com/vdo_acce.asp?Subgroup=Light_Diffusers_Type_D

 

[Nunyas]

hmmm... socks for the bulbs... that will probably do the trick.

While we're on the subject of gauge lighting. Does anyone know if they make a higher wattage version of those itty-bitty bulbs that go into the back of the gauges? Are the LEDs that you can get to fit in there any brighter?

I kind of like the idea of LEDs (less power and potentially brighter) mainly for the lower power requirements, but I'm not so sure I'd convert my gauge cluster to them, just for the simple fact that the incandescent lights ~can~ be dimmed. I'm not so sure that's possible with an LED.

 

[Steve_S]

There are brighter bulbs. Chances are that your current ones aren't performing to their full potential. Next time you see my MGC, check out how bright the lights are with stock bulbs.

 

[Nunyas]

Yer prolly right Steve. I'm still using the bulbs that were in the dash when I got the car, and no telling how old they were by the time I got hold of it! While the gauge lights are "bright enough", I'd like for them to be a bit brighter. Street lights wash them out...

 

[Steve_S]

The wiring is usually the culprit. That and the rheostat. I've never a reason to dim the lights, so there's no reason I can't think of to bypass the rheostat altogether. You can always put an on/off switch in the system in case you do want them off.