.... well - I thought I would brighten up the dash with some nice new LEDs ...... but the charging circuit wouldn't charge and after some reseach I realised that the old bulb in there was there for a purpose - the current flows both ways and an LED is essentially a 1 way valve, so that had to come out; then the indicators - all worked a treat until I put the hazards on and then no flash at the dash - again the 2 way problem; the one I put in the headlight beam indicator was too bright and too blue - it dazzelled at night. So after all that faffing about I am back to the standard bulbs. Just thought I'd dhare that with anyone who had a similar 'bright' idea.
I found really good inexpensive LEDs that work. This link will take you to the description with a link to the catalog. http://thelatebay.com/index.php?topic=919.0
Thanks for the info BayWatcher. For the dash warning lights I've gone for 284's which are the same as the standard 286 fitment but 2.3w (286's are 1.2w) so they are brighter. I have changed the backround lighting by removing the 2 green globes and replacing the white 286 bulbs with blue 4 way LED's. These give a really even spread of blue which is great as my van is also blue - all very blue really.
I'm glad you got it all resolved. The LEDs I put in are far brighter than the original bulbs but I wouldn't mind going even a bit brighter. I stated in the thread that they were bright, and they are. I've just always liked my dash to light up like a Christmas tree for some reason. : If Curiosity could spot my speedometer from Mars, I probably would not complain. Are yours super bright? Where did you get them?
The background lights are not super bright - I don't like being distracted by the dash at night. But they give a good light to see everything on the dials OK - better than the two little dim bulbs encased in the green globes that were stuck in there. I got them from UltaLEDs - I think they still do them - I did the dash light conversion 18 months ago. The only reason I had the dash out again was because fuse no.11 kept blowing and it turned out that the bit of the dash backplate that has the ignition feed to the alternator warning light was touching the rest ofthe backplate and running straight to earth!! While I had the dash out I thought I'd try and LED in the indicator lamp but it needs to be 2-way (like the alternator warning lamp).
Its this website - they must have changed their name. http://www.ultimatemods.co.uk/led-car-bulbs.html Look for the 286 LEDs code 286-3 .... they have 3 LEDs giving a spread. They go stright into the 286 bulb carriers, you have to remove the green plastic globes on the dash backplate. I chose blue LEDs but they come in other colours too. And they are only £2 each!!!
The charge light needs resistance to excite the windings in the alternator the bulb provides this so if you replacing it a LED you just need to fit a resistor in line to get it to work
Matty, thanks for the tech update, your fix is very similar to what Speedy Jim said to me over on VZi. Must admit - now it's all back in and working I think I'll leave well alone.
