Blue gauges and HVAC

[JKmotorsports]

Guess I'll start the Interior topic off.
Here are some pics of my recent blue LED mod:

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd269/jkmotorsports/DSC_2071.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd269/jkmotorsports/DSC_2080.jpg

[05Yukon]

Looks good but are they hard to read some of them look really bright.

[Shaggy]

Yea, hows the look of them at night well you are driving? Is it to much blue?

[PavementPounder]

How did you get the volt meter to light up so well, mines kinda dim and the bulb does'nt fit directly over it like the rest of the guages?

[BurbanMan]

As always Jk Looks great man

[992door]

Looks good as usual man

[oneradride]

How did you get the volt meter to light up so well, mines kinda dim and the bulb does'nt fit directly over it like the rest of the guages?

I did this also.. and was thinking the same thing... ??

[JKmotorsports]

The LEDs aren't as bright as they look in the pictures. I took the pictures in almost complete darkness in my garage. I left the shutter open on my dslr a little longer to take in all the available light to get the pics to come out the way they did.

[jomulk56]

That looks great.

[JKmotorsports]

How did you get the volt meter to light up so well, mines kinda dim and the bulb does'nt fit directly over it like the rest of the guages?

I did this also.. and was thinking the same thing... ??


I didn't have a problem with mine. Seems like mine lights up evenly across the entire cluster. The only dim spots are on the HVAC panel, but I've already got a plan on how I'm going to fix that.

[Timmy]

looks good JK.

[Yuke2K]

Hot damn JK, that looks awesome! Where did you get all of the LEDs? The dimmer and everything still works, right?

[Rivieraracing]

That looks pretty cool!!

[JKmotorsports]

Thanks guys.

Hot damn JK, that looks awesome! Where did you get all of the LEDs? The dimmer and everything still works, right?
I got the LEDs for the gauges from ledlight.com. The LEDs for the HVAC are single units I had laying around and soldered them to the board with 500 ohm resistors.
The stock dimmer won't dim the LEDs. The dimmer adjusts voltage to incadescent bulbs to change to brightness. To dim LEDs, you need to decrease the forward current. The best way to change the intensity of LEDs is by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) and changing the duty cycle of the LED.

[Shaggy]

Thanks guys.


I got the LEDs for the gauges from ledlight.com. The LEDs for the HVAC are single units I had laying around and soldered them to the board with 500 ohm resistors.
The stock dimmer won't dim the LEDs. The dimmer adjusts voltage to incadescent bulbs to change to brightness. To dim LEDs, you need to decrease the forward current.

That sucks. That makes it difficult to use when you want to try to dim them.

[JKmotorsports]

If you don't usually bother with the dimmer control, it's not a big deal. The LEDs aren't bright enough to distract you at night.

[tybardy]

anyone ever put the LEDs in ALL the interior lights? like the overhead lights and stuff? I have seen this done and took a looksy at my head liner and i cant even figure out how the hell to access my bulbs in those things

[JKmotorsports]

anyone ever put the LEDs in ALL the interior lights? like the overhead lights and stuff? I have seen this done and took a looksy at my head liner and i cant even figure out how the hell to access my bulbs in those things

Like this?
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd269/jkmotorsports/InteriorLEDs3.jpg

On the lens there will be a small notch where you can use a flathead screwdriver to pry the lens off. Once off, you'll have access to the bulbs and you can just pop em right out. I replaced all the bulbs in the interior (doors, footwells, etc) and the puddle lamps. I also wired the interior domes so that all three bulbs come on, not just the one in the middle. I added a dome light assembly to the liftgate also:
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd269/jkmotorsports/InteriorLEDs5.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd269/jkmotorsports/InteriorLEDs6.jpg

[Rivieraracing]

That's pretty sweet, especially the lift gate light!! What type of light did you use for the lift gate light?

[JKmotorsports]

That's pretty sweet, especially the lift gate light!! What type of light did you use for the lift gate light?

It's a stock assembly from another truck. I had a few of these laying around leftover from overhead monitor installs.

[tybardy]

how did you do the LED's? did you buy a direct plug in LED for each replacement (does someone make such a thing?) or did you buy the standard two wire LED and fab up some shit yourself?

[JKmotorsports]

Check out www.ledlight.com. They're direct replacements. No mods needed.

[munks06denali]

That does look pimp. I may do that to my overhead lights. Real nice man.

[tybardy]

hey JK.... whats up with the in dash, not the screen that is on in the picture but the one that is lower and off.... is that a kit or is it completely custom? if its a kit, does it work with the 04 and up model?

[Fyrcaptain]

JKm are you fortunate to have the plug in bulbs on you IP?
I believe mine are soldered in.....boy was that a stupid thing for GM to do!

Looks great by the way!

[JKmotorsports]

hey JK.... whats up with the in dash, not the screen that is on in the picture but the one that is lower and off.... is that a kit or is it completely custom? if its a kit, does it work with the 04 and up model?
Custom. I took a broken overhead monitor apart, fabbed up the housing with fiberglass and mounted the monitor in there.

[JKmotorsports]

JKm are you fortunate to have the plug in bulbs on you IP?
I believe mine are soldered in.....boy was that a stupid thing for GM to do!

Looks great by the way!

Yessir, mine just plug in. 03+ trucks are soldered in, but can still be done. My HVAC controls are soldered. I just desoldered the old bulbs and soldered in new LEDs and resistors.

[Yuke2K]

Are the bulbs hard to access? I'd imagine that you have to remove a large portion of your dash (read: the whole fuggin thing) to get to all of the LEDs....


The end result is amazing looking, I just don't think I'd have the time to do it. My truck usually can't be out of service for more than a couple of days.

[tybardy]

Custom. I took a broken overhead monitor apart, fabbed up the housing with fiberglass and mounted the monitor in there.

its sexy... you have any more of these "broken" monitors laying around? I am running out of fun weekend projects

[tybardy]

how much were all the LED's for the dash and hvac?

[JKmotorsports]

Are the bulbs hard to access? I'd imagine that you have to remove a large portion of your dash (read: the whole fuggin thing) to get to all of the LEDs....


The end result is amazing looking, I just don't think I'd have the time to do it. My truck usually can't be out of service for more than a couple of days.

Took me about 15 mins from start to finish for the gauge cluster. For someone who's never pulled the cluster out, it still shouldn't take anymore than about 30 mins or so. The bezel around the IP/HVAC pulls straight out. Then you have access to four 9/32 screws to remove the IP. Unplug the IP, then you'll see tabs that you pry apart to take the back of the IP apart. Once apart, you twist the old bulbs out (02-under models) and twist in the new ones.

[JKmotorsports]

its sexy... you have any more of these "broken" monitors laying around? I am running out of fun weekend projects

how much were all the LED's for the dash and hvac?

I bought the broken monitor from ebay for $20 shipped. The hinge was broken, the monitor itself was perfect.

LEDs for the gauges were only a couple bucks each. Plus you need the twist lock sockets for the LEDs to mount into. So you need six bulbs and six sockets. I don't remember the exact price, but everything for the gauges together wasn't more than $20 IIRC. I'll find the link to the parts and post em for you.
The HVAC was free since I had a bunch of blue single LEDs and resistors laying around. But you can go to Radio Shack and pick up some LEDs and resistors for under $10.

[PavementPounder]

I was gonna say I did my cluster for about 20 bucks and love it. I can have it out in three minutes if needed.

[HitandRunDriver]

Only thing i see is that theres a couple brighter spots but it still looks good

[JKmotorsports]

Only thing i see is that theres a couple brighter spots but it still looks good
Yea, that does suck. Since the LEDs are directional and don't illuminate all the way around like the original incadescent bulbs, it's a little harder to get a perfectly uniform pattern. But one of these days I will fix that with some plexiglass to distribute the light more evenly.

[JKmotorsports]

The gauge cluster uses 194-type bulbs. You'll need (6) LEDs and (6) twist lock wedge sockets. I used six of the 3-led bulbs from ledlight.com (http://www.ledlight.com/t10-wedge-3-led-light.aspx)and ordered the sockets from bayareaamusements.com. (http://bayareaamusements.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=LB-T3T&Category_Code=LBS&Product_Count=40) These are pretty much plug and play.
The 03+ models are soldered in place if I'm not mistaken, as someone else stated earlier. These are still replaceable if you have decent pcb soldering skills.
The HVAC control bulbs are soldered in place. I used (8) LEDs and 500 ohm resistors on each and soldered them in place of the original bulbs.
You'll lose the ability to adjust the intensity without some sort of PWM controller, but for me, it's not a big deal.

[jpmaniac87]

Do I actually have to get the sockets or can I simply remove the bulbs from original sockets?

[JKmotorsports]

New sockets. Too much trouble to tear up the stock ones to make them work, especially when the new ones are as cheap as they are.

[puckhead]

Lookin good as usual JK!! You said you had to use the resistors just on the HVAC part? How come you need them there and not on the dash? Sorry, notthe best with this stuff, took a class back in high school but I would have to get a refresher to remember anything. Thanks!

[JKmotorsports]

The replacement LED bulb assemblies for the gauges, domes, etc, all have resistors built-in. I just used bare single LEDs for the hvac, so you have to add resistors to keep from burning out the diodes.

[puckhead]

The replacement LED bulb assemblies for the gauges, domes, etc, all have resistors built-in. I just used bare single LEDs for the hvac, so you have to add resistors to keep from burning out the diodes.

Gotcha, thanks for the info! Might have to give this a try and see if my soldering skills are still any good

[bwilly20]

i wish you could just pick these up locally, i'm road-tripping back home to NC next week and i doubt they'd be here by the time i leave.

[PavementPounder]

I wish I could solder. I never have and kinda afraid to try. I did the cluster and it looks sweet. Really want all the lights blue and super whites in the domes and overheads.

[str8ballin416]

Check out www.ledlight.com. They're direct replacements. No mods needed.

Did you get the dome lights from the same place? If so which ones did you use? The truck looks sick btw.

[JKmotorsports]

Thanks man. I got the domes from ledlight.com as well. I don't remember the part number, but I used the 41mm 9-led festoons, super white.

[str8ballin416]

Cool. I think I found them. Did you replace all 3 bulbs in each or just the middle one out of the 3? I have 2 swivel lights in the from of mine that have different bulbs in them. Is yours the same or do you have a stationary light there. I'm anxious to get the conversion done and I think it'll look good with my setup.

This is a pic of my screens up front that I think the LED's will compliment nicely. More pics on my profile.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=103&pictureid=718

[JKmotorsports]

I replaced all three in each housing and wired them to all come on. I did the puddle lights, footwells, and all four doors. Pretty much everything except the two swivel map lights.

[titanium02]

I wish I could solder. I never have and kinda afraid to try. I did the cluster and it looks sweet. Really want all the lights blue and super whites in the domes and overheads.


Can you heat a knife and touch a stick of butter? Soldering is not welding remember.. just using a hot ass pen to melt some nickel.. the second you take the pen away, the little pool of nickel hardens.

[withac]

JK pretty much covered the instrument cluster swap, it's not difficult at all, but if you need a little more detail

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1412

[tybardy]

Thanks man. I got the domes from ledlight.com as well. I don't remember the part number, but I used the 41mm 9-led festoons, super white.

holy shit that 9LED festoon is $15 ea... $90 to swap LEDS in is a bit to high for me...

I think I might go with these instead

http://www.ledlight.com/festoon-ultra-bright-led-light-1-3-4-inches-41-mm.aspx

and these for the front two....

http://www.ledlight.com/s25-20-super-flux-led-light.aspx

still not sure how i am going to do the dash and HVAC though, as it will all need to be soldered in place... i suppose im not to scared to do the soldering myself, any recomendations on what type of solder to use though? and will the standard EBAY LEDs and resistors work... AND do i use the 500 ohm resistors for the dash as well?

[brndns_hoe]

[QUOTE=tybardy;34540]holy shit that 9LED festoon is $15 ea... $90 to swap LEDS in is a bit to high for me...

i think you might be looking at the wrong ones, that or the price dropped dramatically

here's a pic of the one's danimalmax used on his

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/album.php?albumid=46&pictureid=301


and here's the link from the same ledlight.com site for that bulb...only 4 bucks

http://www.ledlight.com/festoon-super-bright-led-light-1-3-4-inches-41-mm.aspx

[JKmotorsports]

Yea, I think ur looking at the wrong ones, Ty. Mine were only about three bucks each. Check the link above that brndns posted.

[Yuke2K]

You guys have all used the forward-firing LEDs, but do you think that the multi-directional LED bulbs would put out a smoother fill in the area behind the cluster and eliminate some of the hot spots?

Something like this maybe:

http://www.ledlight.com/t10-wedge-5-ultra-bright-smt-led-light.aspx

Or would that be too bright? I just put red versions of those in the driver's side map light of out new trailblazers at work (for writing tickets and whatnot at night), and they are pretty damn bright...I just don't know how much light gets filtered by the gauges. These are considerably more expensive too, nearly $9/ea.

---------- Post added at 09:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 PM ----------

Ah, I think these would be perfect! I didn't realize that there were several pages worth of these things.

http://www.ledlight.com/t10-wedge-5-led-light.aspx

Not as bright, but still puts out light to the sides. Those might do nicely, what do you think JK?

[tybardy]

http://www.ledlight.com/festoon-ultra-bright-led-light-1-3-4-inches-41-mm.aspx

are these the right size?

[BOSS]

http://www.ledlight.com/festoon-ultra-bright-led-light-1-3-4-inches-41-mm.aspx

are these the right size?

u fix ur shit yet?

B

[tybardy]

truck is still stuck, arm is still busted..... just looking ahead, kinda wanna do red led's inside

[JKmotorsports]

You guys have all used the forward-firing LEDs, but do you think that the multi-directional LED bulbs would put out a smoother fill in the area behind the cluster and eliminate some of the hot spots?



http://www.ledlight.com/t10-wedge-5-led-light.aspx

Not as bright, but still puts out light to the sides. Those might do nicely, what do you think JK?


I tried these in my Caddy and they don't work as well. Not nearly as bright as the forward firing ones.

[JKmotorsports]

http://www.ledlight.com/festoon-ultra-bright-led-light-1-3-4-inches-41-mm.aspx

are these the right size?

Yep.

[zach2011]

The HVAC control bulbs are soldered in place. I used (8) LEDs and 500 ohm resistors on each and soldered them in place of the original bulbs.
You'll lose the ability to adjust the intensity without some sort of PWM controller, but for me, it's not a big deal.

How do you get to those bulbs on the HVAC? And also where do you get the resistors?

I ordered blue LED's for my cluster but I was kinda wanting to put white in the HVAC, do you think it would look to close to factory style lights?


Thanks JK!

[JKmotorsports]

How do you get to those bulbs on the HVAC? And also where do you get the resistors?

I ordered blue LED's for my cluster but I was kinda wanting to put white in the HVAC, do you think it would look to close to factory style lights?


Thanks JK!

You have disassemble the entire HVAC housing to get to the board, then remove the board. You can pick the resistors up at Radio Shack. And I need to edit my post, because I meant 5000 ohm resistors, not 500.
White LEDs would look tits. They will look much whiter and brighter than the stock bulbs.

[HitandRunDriver]

You have disassemble the entire HVAC housing to get to the board, then remove the board. You can pick the resistors up at Radio Shack. And I need to edit my post, because I meant 5000 ohm resistors, not 500.
White LEDs would look tits. They will look much whiter and brighter than the stock bulbs.

I'm going this route but don't have a whole lot of experience with soldering and resistors, how hard of a project is this? Maybe a few hours if i do everything wrong the first time?

[cnatalie]

It looks really good. Question... where can I find an extra dome light ass.? Any help you can give would be great!

[JKmotorsports]

I'm going this route but don't have a whole lot of experience with soldering and resistors, how hard of a project is this? Maybe a few hours if i do everything wrong the first time?
As with any PCB, you have to be careful not to apply too much heat when soldering on the LEDs or you can lift the traces off the circuit board.

It looks really good. Question... where can I find an extra dome light ass.? Any help you can give would be great!

If you want the stock assemblies, you can grab them cheap from your local salvage yard or pick up a new assembly from the dealership.

[brndns_hoe]

i saw some dome light assemblies on ebay just the other day for maybe 12 bucks or so..

[thejstar]

Might I suggest mouser.com (http://www.mouser.com) for resistors and single LEDs. I just bought 100 Bright Red 5mm for $6.

[HitandRunDriver]

You may suggest it, i'll have to check them out later after I do my speedo gauges

[puckhead]

hey JK, or anyone i guess, what kind of resisters are you using? I know the 5000 but the ones i remember using would seem hard to hook up to an LED. any install pics? thanks guys!

[jayblack757]

Trying to do my dash lights like that but have no clue where to get the mods to do so could you help me out on where to start?

[Yuko04]

You have disassemble the entire HVAC housing to get to the board, then remove the board. You can pick the resistors up at Radio Shack. And I need to edit my post, because I meant 5000 ohm resistors, not 500.
White LEDs would look tits. They will look much whiter and brighter than the stock bulbs.

SICK write up JK...... Good,informational and to the point! On my to do list after 3/drop.....Sick WIP by the way. Not a Tahoe fan....but yours has my respect:)