Fordmods Logo

LED backlighting in EA-ED trip computer 

 

Page 1 of 2 [ 29 posts ] Go to page 1, 2  Next

 
 Post subject: LED backlighting in EA-ED trip computer
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:12 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 38

Posts: 2832

Joined: 7th Nov 2004

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: Lincoln LS, MKII Escort, ED

Location: geelong
VIC, Australia

Got my trip comp in the other day (thanks chicken) and i decided i hated the original backlighting, $25 worth of Blue LED's and an afternoon later and its much improved, i took lost of pics, so one day i might write a doco on how to do it. See link for finished pics http://mikejose.tripod.com/Tripcomp.htm

 

_________________

Because i can.

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:22 pm 
Fordmods Junkie
Offline
User avatar

Age: 45

Posts: 1000493

Joined: 6th Nov 2004

Gallery: 2 images

Ride: AUXR6 HP With Ducati SupA Bike!

Location: Perth
WA, Australia

very nice mate well done i say

but why the $25 worth of blue leds? how many u need

 

_________________

RIP SCOTT

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:32 pm 
Technical Contributor
Offline
User avatar

Age: 38

Posts: 3097

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Gallery: 29 images

Ride: VU SS

Location: Ivanhoe
NSW, Australia

Yeah $25, wtf?
Where did you get the LEDs from?

I got about 40 LEDs and 40 Resistors + some heatshrink tubing for about $30. 8000mcd LEDs too!

 

_________________

EF Fairmont now Sold!
Guides: Polishing|Modifications |Manual Conversion

Top
 Profile  
 
 
 Post subject: Yeh i know,
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:51 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 38

Posts: 2832

Joined: 7th Nov 2004

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: Lincoln LS, MKII Escort, ED

Location: geelong
VIC, Australia

There are no (that i know of) cheap electronics stores round here, so i had a choice $8.50 for 8000mCD Blue LED's from d**k smith electronics or $3.95 each for the same ones at Jaycar (i chose jaycar - dunno why DSE charges $4.55 for the little bag and info sheet). i used 4: 5mm 8000mCD and 4: 3mm 700mCD, to get a good even strong glow, for both the screen and the buttons, i coulda got away with it with less LED's but i couldnt be bothered having to add more later, plus each string of 4 gets 14.2 odd volts, thats 3.55 each, so they arent overdriven. Next will be the instrument cluster, i will probably use some Electroluminescent wire, or a couple of CCFL's to get that job done.

 

_________________

Because i can.

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:48 am 
Fordmods Newbie
Offline

Age: 39

Posts: 15

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Ride: EBII 2

Location: NSW
NSW, Australia

how did you get it to be so bright. Voxace did it to his and it only lights up in the middle ???
Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:43 am 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 49

Posts: 732

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Gallery: 1 images

Ride: LTDHO

Location: South eastern
VIC, Australia

The premade ones are expencive. The are a straight swap over from the standard globe. But it saves you soldering, etc

I used them in my digital dash. I have a bag of ultra bright 5mm and 10mm LED's here with LED's. Just need to put them together.
Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:09 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 38

Posts: 2832

Joined: 7th Nov 2004

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: Lincoln LS, MKII Escort, ED

Location: geelong
VIC, Australia

Jimmy wrote:
how did you get it to be so bright. Voxace did it to his and it only lights up in the middle ???



there are 3 5mm ultrabrights (with the tops filed off to create a more even light, and a wider beam angle) about 15mm behind the LCD screen, and i made a reflector assembly out of aluminum foil glued to cardboard behind there too. i had to remove the three plastic light carrier thingo's that light up the buttons to fit this though, hence the 3mm LED's to light the buttons.

 

_________________

Because i can.

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:21 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline

Posts: 728

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Ride: ba falcon

Location: perth
WA, Australia

so this involves no resistors?
how did you know what voltage or whatever to get?
i definatly wanna try this one out
Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:13 pm 
Technical Contributor
Offline
User avatar

Age: 38

Posts: 3097

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Gallery: 29 images

Ride: VU SS

Location: Ivanhoe
NSW, Australia

Jimmy remember all I have used so far is a crappy supercheap wedge globe LED.
Shall be bright when it gets a few 'proper' LEDs in...

 

_________________

EF Fairmont now Sold!
Guides: Polishing|Modifications |Manual Conversion

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:27 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 42

Posts: 8655

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Gallery: 37 images

Ride: V8 EF Futura

Location: Adelaide CBD
SA, Australia

Looks good Jose. Some nice work there!

 

_________________

I promise..... I will never die.

Fordmods Administration Group MINOR PUNKED

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:35 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline
User avatar

Age: 38

Posts: 2832

Joined: 7th Nov 2004

Gallery: 4 images

Ride: Lincoln LS, MKII Escort, ED

Location: geelong
VIC, Australia

na2fairlane wrote:
so this involves no resistors?
how did you know what voltage or whatever to get?
i definatly wanna try this one out


i measured the potential difference (voltage) across where the normal filament globe plugs in, i got 14.2 volts, i used 8 LED's in two series circuits 4 in each, therefore each lot of four had a 14.2V volt drop across them, divide this by 4 and you get 3.55V drop across each LED, design spec says nominal is 3.5V 0.05V overdriven isnt gonna reduce their life span by any great amount so its all OK, and just drew the power for them from where the filament lamp goes,

 

_________________

Because i can.

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:02 pm 
Parts Gopher
Offline
User avatar

Age: 61

Posts: 95

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Gallery: 5 images

Ride: EA Fairmont Giha

Location: Redcliffe
QLD, Australia

Well done Jose. I have been playing with constructing some wedges, fingers are just to big. Have been playing with the same idea as you have done. Now I know that the wedges are just not up to the job.

The rest of the dash should be a bigger challenge but you have proven that implanting the leds in this manner is the way to go.

Thanx's

 

_________________

Weapon - EA Fairmont Ghia - Pedders lows, Neothane,

From another biker - Scott, you rode hard, lived hard, loved hard, Thanx's for your advice and RIP

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:27 pm 
Getting Side Ways
Offline

Posts: 728

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Ride: ba falcon

Location: perth
WA, Australia

so does it still dim with the dash lights and the stereo? i wouldnt want to lose that feature, nothing worce than being blidned when driving at night
Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:48 pm 
Parts Gopher
Offline
User avatar

Age: 61

Posts: 95

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Gallery: 5 images

Ride: EA Fairmont Giha

Location: Redcliffe
QLD, Australia

na2fairlane wrote:
so does it still dim with the dash lights


Yep

jose wrote:
and just drew the power for them from where the filament lamp goes[\quote]

Power from the same source.

na2fairlane wrote:
and the stereo? i wouldnt want to lose that feature, nothing worce than being blidned when driving at night


Bugger, missed that wire. Shall have to think about what I can do with that wire :)

 

_________________

Weapon - EA Fairmont Ghia - Pedders lows, Neothane,

From another biker - Scott, you rode hard, lived hard, loved hard, Thanx's for your advice and RIP

Top
 Profile  
 
 
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 2:31 am 
Getting Side Ways
Offline

Posts: 728

Joined: 5th Nov 2004

Ride: ba falcon

Location: perth
WA, Australia

another question, does ur dimmer work on them? is that voltage the voltage when dimmer is set to full brightness?
Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:
Sort by  
 Page 1 of 2  [ 29 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

 

 

It is currently Sat Apr 20, 2024 3:18 pm All times are UTC + 11 hours

 

 

(c)2014 Total Web Solutions Australia - Australian Web Hosting and Domain Names