LED Gauge Panel Backlighting Upgrade

[Swamp Donkey]

Since I don't have it apart yet, I would be looking for enough for the 923. How many would that need?

You would need 5 for an M923 but you also mentioned a M35A2, and I don't know how many they use. I'll count when I get home and see how many red bulbs I actually have.

 

[Jakelc15]

M35a2 should only need 2. My last M35 and my 818 is the same dash and only has 2. This should really help with ours since there is only 2 bulbs

 

[therooster2001]

I'm one of those guys that likes Red.

I am doing red as well. $3.55 for 2 on Flea-Bay.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Since I don't have it apart yet, I would be looking for enough for the 923. How many would that need?

The red ones I was thinking about were the high power ones that don't do well. The way ya'll are blowing through my inventory, I'll probably be placing another order at the end of the week. I can get some red in on the next order if ya'll want.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Currently, everything that has been ordered has either shipped or is on the front porch to be picked up Tuesday. I've included a couple extra spacers and screws with each order for the fumble fingers like myself. I lost 7 spacers installing mine. They're in there somewhere. Thank you for the purchases!

If your order is wrong, if the mailman broke your stuff, if a meteor came down and smashed your mailbox...let me know. Everything is new and was inspected before I boxed it. I want you to receive it that way.

My pictures better not be the only ones in here. Post them up when you're done. I don't even know what most of the gauge panels look like that I just supplied kits for. Let me see what you got.

Most importantly, if these kits don't offer better lighting on a particular vehicle, I want to know. I'll make it right.

Reminder: Clean those clear windows on the back of the gauges while you have the panel pulled.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Red bulbs are in the works. Should be placing another order sometime this week.

 

[therooster2001]

Did my upgrade today. Couple of pointers for you peeps. Make sure you screw in the screws tight, they are the ground, if a light doesn't light, I bet it's the screws. The spacers are easy to drop, use a little angle needle nose pliers, it works great. Use the bulb hole to use the pliers to slip the spacer over the screw, it's way easier than doing it behind. I bought extra red, but have options with Donkey green. No pics, as it was still light, and I had a air in the fuel issue to deal with. Make sure you have the gaskets, and while you're in there 303 them to keep them in shape. Thanks Donkey. I'll post the red backlights when I go up next time.

 

[Back2Wyo]

Here is a shot of my Deuce's panel with the light conversion. Most of the bottom gauges aren't getting any light.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Here is a shot of my Deuce's panel with the light conversion. Most of the bottom gauges aren't getting any light.

Did the incandescent bulbs light those dark gauges any better than the LEDs?

 

[Back2Wyo]

I believe they did but it's been over a year since I tried them in the dark. I have a spare dash panel with gauges that I test with in the house.

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I believe they did but it's been over a year since I tried them in the dark. I have a spare dash panel with gauges that I test with in the house.

Sent from my SM-T320 using Tapatalk

I'd be interested in your findings since I no longer have the deuce panel I tested them on. I had good results on that panel and am wondering what the difference is. While some of the gauges were slightly darker than the rest, they were all clearly visible. The dimmer gauges were caused by light placement on the panel as opposed to light distribution from the bulbs themelves. The darker gauges stayed that way, comparitively speaking, whether there were incandescents or LEDs installed. If anybody else has put them in a deuce, I'd also be interested in your feedback as well.

Just to be clear, my kits offer more light where it was already present. They can't make light where there wasn't any to begin with since we're not changing light placement on the panel. For reference, my fuel and battery gauges are still the dimmest gauges, compared to the rest, on the panel in my M923. Those are the bottom gauges at the far left and right on my panel. They are brighter than they were with the incandescents though, and clearly visible now. I'm using the bulbs I chose because they emit light in a true 360° radius, perpendicular to the base, in the same way an incandescent bulb would. So they will create light in the same places an incandescent bulb would, although it will be a brighter light.

As I said, I welcome good and bad feedback. I don't want to be selling something that doesn't work "in the field", even though it tested fine "in the lab". That's not the reputation I'm after.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

The Red bulbs are in and the ad has been updated. Please be sure to specify color when ordering or Green is what will be sent.



Also of note, the bulb manufacturer has changed to colored lenses to meet another customers specification. There is no difference between the colored bulbs and the clear bulbs. It's the exact same bulb. All the Red bulbs I just received are colored. I have plenty of Clear Green for now but once I reorder, the Green will also have colored lenses. The lens that screws into the bulb socket remains unchanged. This is just for the bulbs.

I only mention this because somebody will think that one is better than the other, when this is not the case.

 

[Jakelc15]

I put the red ones in my M818. Got a before and after photo. It is more light with the LED bulbs.
Before

After

 

[Swamp Donkey]

The last kits sold this morning. I will aquire more lenses and start selling the kits again at the beginning of the year. Please hold all orders until I get more in. There will be plenty so no need for backorders.

The pictures are much appreciated Jake, along with the purchases everybody has made.

Have a good Christmas!

 

[grendel]

 

[TechnoWeenie]

I put the red ones in my M818. Got a before and after photo. It is more light with the LED bulbs.
Before

After

Better pics pls.

 

[Jakelc15]

Better pics pls.

Better pics of what?
I purposely took those photos in a dark setting with no flash. The camera was held at the same distance away from the panel for both.
The M44 and M809 series trucks are dark compared to any newer trucks.

 

[jbayer]

View attachment 657636

Hey grendel,
Why is there so much light on the outside of the instrument panel, around each light? Do you not have the rubber grommets on the lenses?

 

[grendel]

Hey grendel,
Why is there so much light on the outside of the instrument panel, around each light? Do you not have the rubber grommets on the lenses?

I asked my son (who did this mod) that question... I probably don't have them...

 

[Wire Fox]

So I gotta be that guy...any update on these for the new year? I thought that this was cool, but unnecessary until I first powered up my dash last night. Very disappointed in the original incandescent lights it has.