-
Dim gauges in daytime
Had to have my dash gauges replaced, so I keep the old one and disassembled it. Plexiglas piece that covers gauges is held on with double sided tap. Carefully used a putty knife to separate Plexiglas from gauge housing. As can be seen from the attached pictures there is an approx 3/16 to 4/16 edge around the gauges behind the Plexiglas. I am thinking a small strip of LED lighting could be attached to this edge behind the Plexiglas and connected to a dash switch to be used in the daytime to illuminate the gauges.
I am thinking they would be to bright for night driving and would need to be switched off, using just the factory dash lighting at night.
Seeing I have a sacrificial gauge unit to play with, does anyone have additional thoughts/input on this adventure.
Chuck
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
8 Replies
-
Do it! This is a great project that you can do on a TV tray while watching your favorite show.
-
Mike:
Only problem is I don’t like TV dinners. LOL
You are pretty good with electrical and electronics. I can only use up to 4mm wide LED strip lighting. I have found 4mm strip lighting available in 12 & 24 VDC, all sold with 120 V to 12 or 24 volt dc converters. I am assuming I can connect these directly to the 12 or 24 VDC on the bus. I am I thinking correctly?
Chuck
-
Possibly, sometimes these lights are wired in an odd way, Like for example the ground is woven like a coax cable instead of a dedicated wire. if they are cheap enough, buy one and try it. The other thing to keep an eye out for is the spacing on these LED light strips. if the spacing is too far and the light is close to what you see, that could show up, dark to light spots.
Something like this you can cut to length and solder every inch, there might be a finer resolution avail. These cut to length you can solder on the 2 wires.
-
My thoughts. I like the look of the gauges with them “back-lit”. I often run in the daytime with my headlights on, just to get the added lighting on the gauges. Maybe look to add the LED’s so they add to the back-light of the gauge and not try to illuminate the gauges from the front? An easier solution may be to simply wire the dash lights to come on when the coach is running and not only when the lights are on?
I’ll continue to monitor, as I like the idea…….
-
Marshall:
I do drive with the dash lights/head lights on in the day time, still not really good day time lighting, hence the mission to add LED’s.
Took the back of the gauge assembly off, not really conducive to adding LED behind the gauges although I agree it would be better.
Chuck
-
I’m interested in your solution. Please post when you get it finished……..Safe travels.
-
Need a reader survey
Should I be buying the warm white (yellowish color) or cool white (Bluish white color) LED strip lights.
What do you think would brighten the dash in the daylight without overwhelming it?
Chuck
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
Has anyone looked into or try to swap out the OEM Prevost gauges for the new LED gauges? They seem to come in variety of configurations with analog and digital presentation on the same gauge, some are programmable to give you colors if the ready is too low or too high. And I would think they would be completely readable in even the brightest sunlight.
Anyone now if the sending units will support LED gauges or if its much more than plug and play?
Log in to reply.