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LED backlighting in EA-ED trip computer 

 

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 Post subject: LED backlighting in EA-ED trip computer
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:12 pm 
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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

 

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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:22 pm 
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very nice mate well done i say

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

 

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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:32 pm 
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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!

 

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 Post subject: Yeh i know,
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:51 pm 
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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.

 

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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 10:48 am 
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how did you get it to be so bright. Voxace did it to his and it only lights up in the middle ???
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:43 am 
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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.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:09 pm 
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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.

 

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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:21 pm 
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so this involves no resistors?
how did you know what voltage or whatever to get?
i definatly wanna try this one out
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:13 pm 
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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...

 

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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:27 pm 
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Looks good Jose. Some nice work there!

 

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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:35 pm 
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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,

 

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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:02 pm 
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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

 

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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:27 pm 
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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
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:48 pm 
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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 :)

 

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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 2:31 am 
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another question, does ur dimmer work on them? is that voltage the voltage when dimmer is set to full brightness?
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