Instrument lighting

[swifty]

Count me in Odd, if you do a re-run!

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[saabfast]

Its not the green lenses that melt, its the plastic below the circuit board (ie the part the bulb holder bayonets into). I found that mine had deformed such that the contacts in the holder no longer touched the printed circuit 'board'. I fixed it by putting a small bit of the self adhesive foam strip on the plastic under the circuit contact so it was held in contact with the bulb holder.

I have also fitted LED bulbs as they obviously run much cooler, but I made the mistake of fitting white ones (like the original bulbs) with the green domes and now get a blue dash display (and not too bright). If you want to keep the green backlighting you need green LED's.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC

[rgsSpider]

I just put in some of the ultra bright LEDs (green) in the instrument cluster. They look great! However, there seems to be some light leaking into the blinker arrows, enough that they look like they are on. They do turn on and blink so it's just some leakage from the new LEDs. Any ideas as to what's going on here? I'll open it all back up tomorrow and investigate, but it doesn't seem like this should be happening. I do love the new LEDs though and it's a 200% improvement.

Randy

1980 TR7 <font color="red">Spider!</font id="red">
http://web.me.com/rg_spb/TR7_Spider/Home.html

[manny]

i actually prefer my panel lights off, it does create such an atmosphere at night and totally freaks out passengers!!

Kawasaki ZX636R
Piaggio fly 125

[Bendder]

LED strips in instruments and also above the radio. High intensity bulbs in he stock location for the switch lights.




Mark
1977 TR7 FHC
1978 TR7 FHC
1980 TR7 DHC
1980 Rover SD1 4.0L

[FI Spyder]

I like my plenty bright standard dash. The brighter the dash lights the less you can see out at the extreme edge of headlights. Not so important in town with street lights but necessary when your straining to see that elusive deer just around the corner.



- - - - TR7 Spider - - - - - - - - 1978 Spitfire - - - - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - - Yellow TCT

[rgsSpider]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Bendder</i>

LED strips in instruments and also above the radio. High intensity bulbs in he stock location for the switch lights.




Mark
1977 TR7 FHCI
1978 TR7 FHC
1980 TR7 DHC
1980 Rover SD1 4.0L
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Mark can you show me what your setup over the radio looks like? Also, exactly what kind of bulbs did you use for the switch lights?
Thanks

Randy

1980 TR7 <font color="red">Spider!</font id="red">
http://web.me.com/rg_spb/TR7_Spider/Home.html

[stevie_a]

I do know about Mark but I used led strips under the radio from Maplin

you only need a couple of bulbs or it will be to bright when driving











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<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

http://www.smallbiztranscripts.co.uk

[Bendder]

Randy

I actualy got them at Walmart Both the ones for above the radio and the single bulbs that I used for the switch lights. The switch light needed to have the small 90degree clip removed and I ground the plastic ligh stip straight because the light from the led comed from the end of the bulb and not the side I used some shrink wrap slipped over the end of the plastic light bar andthe bulb to hols them in place. The ones above the radio were the small 4" strips but like Stevie says they are a bit bright and I have since cut them shorter and eliminated some of the lights. Have had them in for two summers so far and mo problems. I also used them in the door lights. I used red led's everywhere for a matched look and it goes well with the red carpet and red check seats.



Mark
1977 TR7 FHC
1978 TR7 FHC
1980 TR7 DHC
1980 Rover SD1 4.0L

[rgsSpider]

I've used the strip lights to make some footwell lights and they work great. So over the radio, did you mount the strip on the underside of the panel, or inside the panel where the original bulbs were?

Randy

1980 TR7 <font color="red">Spider!</font id="red">
http://web.me.com/rg_spb/TR7_Spider/Home.html

[Bendder]

I just stuck them under the panel and I removed the small green lens from the original lights and used the hole to run the wires through. You can not see them unless you are down at the seat cusion level.



Mark
1977 TR7 FHC
1978 TR7 FHC
1980 TR7 DHC
1980 Rover SD1 4.0L

[prlee]

I just bypassed the dimmer switch and cleaned the lamps and lenses, I find the original setup to be good enough. I wear glasses for driving and if the instrument lighting was poor I would not be able to focus on the instruments, so as I can I am happy.

However the Spitfire is a different matter [;)]

Pete
1981 Carmelian Red 2 litre DHC - out for the summer.
Polybush, KYB shocks, electric fan, electric windows and electronic ignition roller bearing struts and anti-dive kit - otherwise standard
1979 Pageant Blue Spitfire 1500 - In hibernation - Engine overhaul needed.

[stevie_a]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Bendder</i>

I just stuck them under the panel and I removed the small green lens from the original lights and used the hole to run the wires through. You can not see them unless you are down at the seat cusion level<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

<font color="teal"><b>Same here</b></font id="teal">

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<font size="4"><font color="green"><i>If it's not broke don't fix it.</i></font id="green"></font id="size4">

http://www.smallbiztranscripts.co.uk

[rgsSpider]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Bendder</i>

I just stuck them under the panel and I removed the small green lens from the original lights and used the hole to run the wires through. You can not see them unless you are down at the seat cusion level.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Cool, I'll give that a try!

Randy

1980 TR7 <font color="red">Spider!</font id="red">
http://web.me.com/rg_spb/TR7_Spider/Home.html

[tya2agt]

ok fellows so how do you actually remove the bulbs from the socket to replace them. I have the heater /radio fascia or shroud removed and there are 3 or 4 lights burned out. I bought 4 new TR6 instrument bulbs but don't see the obvious process for removing these bulbs.

Reg

80 TR-7 Convertible