Using LED panel lights

["Mark Hershey" <dmcinfo@xxxx>]

I converted my dash panel lamps over to LEDs two years ago. Installation is
completely reversable. Made a tin plate that exactly matches the outline of
the back of the Plexiglas panel, punched big holes to clear the headlight
and emergency switches and various small holes to clear switch shafts, etc,
and punched about 20 1/4 inch holes to mount LEDs scattered about for even
lighting. Used a ring of red ones around part of the A/C temp dial, blue
ones around the dial's blue part, and white scattered around elsewhere. Used
560 ohm series resistors (I think) to drop voltage and a Radio Shack 5V
regulator IC (drops 12-14 VDC to constant 5VDC) to feed the LEDs. Just
removed and saved the original lamps.

Effect is striking...
Now I'm thinking a good winter project is to add 1/8" diameter flourescent
light in the gauge cluster (above the upper light "vents" for more white
light on the gauge faces. These are the same 6-9" or so long lamps used to
backlight laptop computer screens. Requires an inverter module; cost about
$5 for the lamp and $8-12 for the inverter.



//Mark