DIY - Gauge Cluster LED swap

[Acree]

Originally Posted by sshole

I've been getting by with crappy throw-away $10 RadioShack soldering irons for the past 10+ years. I've seen no need to upgrade to the $50+ units from the "Snap-On" brands.

I would be very careful using the cheap irons. There's no way for you to know how hot the tip temperature is unless you directly measure it, and temperature is what kills components during removal and installation.

[sshole]

Originally Posted by Acree

I would be very careful using the super irons. There's no way for you to know how hot the tip temperature is unless you directly measure it, and temperature is what kills components during removal and installation.

I've noticed on the current soldering iron I've got from RadioShack that the tip is melting.

Yup. It's making too much heat for the tip to handle.

[Acree]

Originally Posted by sshole

I've noticed on the current soldering iron I've got from RadioShack that the tip is melting.



Yup. It's making too much heat for the tip to handle.

I've had my tips burn up on my analog Weller station even, and fairly regularly. That's why I recommend a temperature controller station.

[Mooseknuckle44]

Originally Posted by Acree

I've had my tips burn up on my analog Weller station even, and fairly regularly. That's why I recommend a temperature controller station.

I just noticed the pic in your sig of the gauge cluster.

Is that yours, and your handiwork? Cause that's dead sexy.

[Acree]

Originally Posted by Mooseknuckle44

I just noticed the pic in your sig of the gauge cluster.

Is that yours, and your handiwork? Cause that's dead sexy.

Thank you! There's a link to my build thread in my signature.

[Pwolf]

Originally Posted by Acree

Thank you! There's a link to my build thread in my signature.

I just did my HVAC last weekend and am planning on doing something similar to what you have with gauge cluster (white numbers, blue bars, red rev limit, etc). If you don't mind, I may end up shooting you a PM with some questions.

[sshole]

all this talk about ebay quality caused my fuel gauge LED to die on the way back home.

[Mooseknuckle44]

That sux. But you do know how to fix it, sooooo. There is that.


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[sshole]

Yup, fixed it in 10 minutes (got distracted by wife being sick).

[Pwolf]

Just finished my conversion this morning



Thanks guys.

[Mooseknuckle44]

I've found blue in the daytime on the clock is nearly impossible to see. Looks awesome at night, but l rarely drive in the dark.


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[sirisvirus]

@Pwolf I'm looking to do this was it a hard mod to do? What LEDs did you use?


Sent from my BRZ limited using plastic cup 2.0

[Top-Secret]

Originally Posted by Pwolf

Just finished my conversion this morning



Thanks guys.

i need this, what LEDs did you use??
thats my delema right now

[Pwolf]

Originally Posted by Top-Secret

i need this, what LEDs did you use??
thats my delema right now

@sirisvirus as well (sorry for the late response)

Cool White for the gauges from:
http://www.oznium.com/plcc-2

and then Blue for the LCD displays from:
http://lighthouseleds.com/plcc-2-121...-1000-mcd.html

(Probably doesn't matter but the blue ones from Oznium didn't seem bright enough earlier in my LED conversion process so I bought a bunch from Lighthouse LEDs to do finish the interior.)

For the gauges I bought some transparent blue vinyl from Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Transparent-...-/370298539724

Had to cut out and stick it to the backside of the insert. That was the hardest part and took the most time.

@Mooseknuckle44, probably depends on what LEDS you're using. I have no problem seeing the clock or the LCDs on my gauge cluster during the day or night. Definitely looks better in the dark though :P