-
Hi Guest!
You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
There are some perks with a member upgrade!**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Question on instrument light bulbs
- Thread starter PAUL161
- Start date
Share this page
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Yes, it gives it more of a blue cast instead of the orange/yellow. Not good if you want original looks.
kennypinkerton
Yoda
Offline
Mine are plenty bright since the saturn alternator swap. All of them light up bright enough to see them at a glance - without blinding you when you look back up at the road at night. I say clean the wiring connectors, and get a good alternator. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Rob's problem is dirty glass. BTW Rob, I noticed you have a lecarra steering wheel. I just bought the same wheel except mine is polished and doesn't say lecarra. I really like it, it is very comfortable.
kennypinkerton
Yoda
Offline
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Mine look orange and are not that bright. I did paint the inside of the cans white, which is why I have no real tint I guess. But then again, I'm not sure about the late model gauges in the B's. They may have a different light diffusing system. But I have bypassed my rheostat, cleaned and painted the inside of my gauges, cleaned all of my connections leading to the lights, have my headlights on a relay circuit, and I'm still not happy with the brightness of my dials. Of course, I also have night vision issues.
Here is what the 8 watt bulbs look like, and they do not need any modification to install. If interested, contact me at dmagee@ij.net
Attachments
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Jeesh, I've got to get a better camera.
Nunyas
Yoda
Offline
[ QUOTE ]
Rob's problem is dirty glass. BTW Rob, I noticed you have a lecarra steering wheel. I just bought the same wheel except mine is polished and doesn't say lecarra. I really like it, it is very comfortable.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, I can't help but chuckle at that steering wheel comment. It's not really the same wheel after all now is it? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I have to agree though, it IS a comfortable wheel. It has a nice meaty grip to it that fits my grip just right. The only thing I can complain about is I think it's too big. I've been considering changing to a 14" wheel.
I agree the glass on my guages could use the cleaning, but I see my guages just fine at night. I'll have to go snap a pic here in a few. My guages are more than bright enough since I changed out my alternater for a Ford Fiesta Bosche unit.
Rob's problem is dirty glass. BTW Rob, I noticed you have a lecarra steering wheel. I just bought the same wheel except mine is polished and doesn't say lecarra. I really like it, it is very comfortable.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sorry, I can't help but chuckle at that steering wheel comment. It's not really the same wheel after all now is it? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I have to agree though, it IS a comfortable wheel. It has a nice meaty grip to it that fits my grip just right. The only thing I can complain about is I think it's too big. I've been considering changing to a 14" wheel.
I agree the glass on my guages could use the cleaning, but I see my guages just fine at night. I'll have to go snap a pic here in a few. My guages are more than bright enough since I changed out my alternater for a Ford Fiesta Bosche unit.
OP
Online
Re: Instrument light bulbs. Problem Solved !!
I solved the problem! I bought two very small candle holders and mounted them in front of the instruments. I keep a box of birthday candles in the glove box. It works well with the top up, But with it down, I have a hard time keeping them lit. Thier good for about ten miles. Need bigger candles. Got to watch the dripping wax though! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif PJ
I solved the problem! I bought two very small candle holders and mounted them in front of the instruments. I keep a box of birthday candles in the glove box. It works well with the top up, But with it down, I have a hard time keeping them lit. Thier good for about ten miles. Need bigger candles. Got to watch the dripping wax though! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif PJ
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Re: Instrument light bulbs. Problem Solved !!
oh dear... more humor. I'd use the candle trick, but my car doesn't have a glovebox.
Rob, I meant the exact same style. I tried a 13" steering wheel on my car, but it didn't feel right and blocked too much view of the dash and my wife said it was too hard to turn. So I went with this wheel that is about 14 and 1/4 inches. They seem to be good quality wheels and are a whole lot cheaper than motolita and mountney. Plus, they are made here in USA by a small company in Tennessee.
I'm probably going to order some more LED's today. Something about the color light they emit makes it easier for me to see. My night vision is getting so bad that I may not be driving much at night anymore anyway.
oh dear... more humor. I'd use the candle trick, but my car doesn't have a glovebox.
Rob, I meant the exact same style. I tried a 13" steering wheel on my car, but it didn't feel right and blocked too much view of the dash and my wife said it was too hard to turn. So I went with this wheel that is about 14 and 1/4 inches. They seem to be good quality wheels and are a whole lot cheaper than motolita and mountney. Plus, they are made here in USA by a small company in Tennessee.
I'm probably going to order some more LED's today. Something about the color light they emit makes it easier for me to see. My night vision is getting so bad that I may not be driving much at night anymore anyway.
Nunyas
Yoda
Offline
Re: Instrument light bulbs. Problem Solved !!
ah I get what you meant Trevor... it was just a little ribbing on my part. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I agree though the style of the wheel is nice and the grip has a nice feel in the hand. I believe mine is leather wrapped. I thought the leather was starting to crack on the wheel when I first got the car, until I drove it in the rain for the first time. That's when I had a ton of black nastiness come off the wheel and on my hands :spew: Shortly there after, I was inside my car with warm soapy water and a 'green scratchie' scrubbing all surfaces that my hands touch. Since then I've had no PO nastiness get left on my hands while driving.
Back to the lights, apparently I have the worst camera out of all you guys. I just reviewed the pics I made lastnight of my dash in the dark with the lights on and .... well... my camera only made black pictures... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif However, my night dash is like magaoidh's with just a slight yellowish tinge and not as bright.
ah I get what you meant Trevor... it was just a little ribbing on my part. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I agree though the style of the wheel is nice and the grip has a nice feel in the hand. I believe mine is leather wrapped. I thought the leather was starting to crack on the wheel when I first got the car, until I drove it in the rain for the first time. That's when I had a ton of black nastiness come off the wheel and on my hands :spew: Shortly there after, I was inside my car with warm soapy water and a 'green scratchie' scrubbing all surfaces that my hands touch. Since then I've had no PO nastiness get left on my hands while driving.
Back to the lights, apparently I have the worst camera out of all you guys. I just reviewed the pics I made lastnight of my dash in the dark with the lights on and .... well... my camera only made black pictures... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif However, my night dash is like magaoidh's with just a slight yellowish tinge and not as bright.
kennypinkerton
Yoda
Offline
Re: Instrument light bulbs. Problem Solved !!
My wife's point n shoot Kodak digital would have been in focus... That on will focus in NO light at all... I used my Minolta Dimage Z1... Excellent camera, but doesn't focus well in low light. Got it on clearence sale for about $150.. retailed for over $300.
My wife's point n shoot Kodak digital would have been in focus... That on will focus in NO light at all... I used my Minolta Dimage Z1... Excellent camera, but doesn't focus well in low light. Got it on clearence sale for about $150.. retailed for over $300.
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Re: Instrument light bulbs. Problem Solved !!
I have an OLD kodak point and shoot, but there just wasn't enough light no matter which setting a tried. I need to dust off the 35mm pentax, tripod, bulb, etc. .... no, too much work.
I have an OLD kodak point and shoot, but there just wasn't enough light no matter which setting a tried. I need to dust off the 35mm pentax, tripod, bulb, etc. .... no, too much work.
kennypinkerton
Yoda
Offline
Re: Instrument light bulbs. Problem Solved !!
Yeah, after we got our 3rd digital camera, my Pentax ZX-50 35mm went onto the shelf - probably for good. I've learned alot of digital "darkroom" techniques on Photoshop, and haven't looked back. Besides - film and processing has gotten expensive.
My only regret is that I can't use any of the lens filters that I accumulated over the years... But most of them can be replicated in photoshop... I miss my polarizers though.
Yeah, after we got our 3rd digital camera, my Pentax ZX-50 35mm went onto the shelf - probably for good. I've learned alot of digital "darkroom" techniques on Photoshop, and haven't looked back. Besides - film and processing has gotten expensive.
My only regret is that I can't use any of the lens filters that I accumulated over the years... But most of them can be replicated in photoshop... I miss my polarizers though.
Nunyas
Yoda
Offline
Re: Instrument light bulbs. Problem Solved !!
My camera (Sony Cybershot DSC-P31) focused just fine. It uses a little light to set the focus, or I can change it to different focal lengths from 0.5meters to infinity. Problem I seem to have is the dang thing doesn't seem to work well in low light conditions. All pictures of my dash lastnight came out pitch black, and I made a picture using each of the different light settings available. I could have used the flash, but that sort of defeats the purpose of taking pictures of your dash lights, no? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
My camera (Sony Cybershot DSC-P31) focused just fine. It uses a little light to set the focus, or I can change it to different focal lengths from 0.5meters to infinity. Problem I seem to have is the dang thing doesn't seem to work well in low light conditions. All pictures of my dash lastnight came out pitch black, and I made a picture using each of the different light settings available. I could have used the flash, but that sort of defeats the purpose of taking pictures of your dash lights, no? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
kennypinkerton
Yoda
Offline
Re: Instrument light bulbs. Problem Solved !!
Mine has a manual focus feature, but I haven't read up on how to use it yet.
Mine has a manual focus feature, but I haven't read up on how to use it yet.