LED Instrument Lights

Al2O3 · Oct 2, 2017

Bought some of the above as the fuel gauge and temp gauge bulbs had gone. Was pretty dark when I changed them. Loosened the binnacle and pulled one of the speedo bulbs out of the back of the unit. It was glowing orange. Put the new LED unit in and nearly burned my eyes out.

Once they were all in the instrument brightness is much better than standard, but not as good as my scorched eyes had hoped for.

The instrument design doesn't seem to transmit the light very well.

steveyorks · Oct 2, 2017

I fitted LEDs in both my defenders and was amazed at the improvement. Still not as good as a modern car but way way better than a normal set up.

Al2O3 · Oct 2, 2017

steveyorks said:
I fitted LEDs in both my defenders and was amazed at the improvement. Still not as good as a modern car but way way better than a normal set up.

Yeah, they are way better. But the blinding I got with the LED unit out of the speedo didn't translate to the brightness I was then hoping for .

Go on, someone say it..................

NeilB · Oct 2, 2017

I looked into the bulb hole on the back of the instrument. There's a green plastic dome in there. So I drilled it out.....better now.

nobber · Oct 2, 2017

There are green plastic lenses inside the gauges are there not? It's been years since I did mine. Buy a few extra less, in ten years time when one pops you might not be able to find the same ones, also keep in mind if they are too bright at night your face gets lit up in the cab and you look like some cheesy horror movie scene.

raywin · Oct 2, 2017

Al2O3 said:
Bought some of the above as the fuel gauge and temp gauge bulbs had gone. Was pretty dark when I changed them. Loosened the binnacle and pulled one of the speedo bulbs out of the back of the unit. It was glowing orange. Put the new LED unit in and nearly burned my eyes out. Once they were all in the instrument brightness is much better than standard, but not as good as my scorched eyes had hoped for. The instrument design doesn't seem to transmit the light very well.

Where did you get them? Couple of mine are duff may as well do them all.

Al2O3 · Oct 2, 2017

NeilB said:
I looked into the bulb hole on the back of the instrument. There's a green plastic dome in there. So I drilled it out.....better now.

Yeah, they do go green with the green filter in there. Anyone contemplating this you can get green LED's and so could keep the same effect if you drill them out.

nobber said:
There are green plastic lenses inside the gauges are there not? It's been years since I did mine. Buy a few extra less, in ten years time when one pops you might not be able to find the same ones, also keep in mind if they are too bright at night your face gets lit up in the cab and you look like some cheesy horror movie scene.

Wish it was bright enough to light me up.............well, not that bright. It might cause a crash.

raywin said:
Where did you get them? Couple of mine are duff may as well do them all.

Got them off Ebay HERE Have a look around though cos other sellers include the clock LED, but they cost more. This seller is going to sell the full set for £10 once he gets a supplier of the clock LED. Other sellers can already supply them.

nobber · Oct 3, 2017

I put blue ones in mine , I put new Lucas bulb holders in there as well, cant remember if I drilled out the lenses or not but they are plenty bright enough.

Coffeelandy · Oct 3, 2017

Al2O3 said:
Yeah, they do go green with the green filter in there. Anyone contemplating this you can get green LED's and so could keep the same effect if you drill them out.

Wish it was bright enough to light me up.............well, not that bright. It might cause a crash.

Got them off Ebay HERE Have a look around though cos other sellers include the clock LED, but they cost more. This seller is going to sell the full set for £10 once he gets a supplier of the clock LED. Other sellers can already supply them.

Fourby do the whole set and they're top quality too. Just put a set in mine. Very happy with them.

raywin · Oct 3, 2017

Al2O3 said:
Yeah, they do go green with the green filter in there. Anyone contemplating this you can get green LED's and so could keep the same effect if you drill them out.

Wish it was bright enough to light me up.............well, not that bright. It might cause a crash.

Got them off Ebay HERE Have a look around though cos other sellers include the clock LED, but they cost more. This seller is going to sell the full set for £10 once he gets a supplier of the clock LED. Other sellers can already supply them.

Thanks for the link, I looked at the ones there but something made me look a bit deeper, and it seems the TD5 Defender uses a Type 509T bulb, just wondered if anyone has found any decent ones
Looking at these:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-White-...921950?hash=item5b07be161e:g:mOIAAOSw5cNYgiSl

Mcclegend · Oct 5, 2017

Jamscone · Oct 6, 2017

I just wish all my dash lights worked. ****ing handbrake one just flickers and then goes off.

Al2O3 · Oct 7, 2017

The clock on the far right still has the old bulb in.

raywin · Oct 9, 2017

Well Fitted mine today, the speedo ones were fine but the ones I bought for the fuel temp gauges were wrong it seems they are 286 bulbs. The ones I bough were way too big and wont go in the holes.
Back to the drawing board.

Brown · Oct 9, 2017

I did my TD5's instrument lights back in 2013 with LEDs and haven't needed to replace them since. Until I took the dash apart I hadn't realised that the heater and blower controls were supposed to light up too. I did a lot of Googling beforehand and managed to get the correct sizes first time. Can't remember where I bought them - I think it was Ebay. I was so impressed I bought some flat panel LED arrays to go in the interior lights and it is much brighter. I can almost see to read.

Dippypud · Oct 9, 2017

Jamscone said:
I just wish all my dash lights worked. ****ing handbrake one just flickers and then goes off.

Check the routing of the cable ... it can get caught and loose or even wear through and short out ...

If yours is a dual lamp it may flicker with the fluid level too ...

Jamscone · Oct 9, 2017

Dippypud said:
Check the routing of the cable ... it can get caught and loose or even wear through and short out ...

If yours is a dual lamp it may flicker with the fluid level too ...

Looks like I need to get the Haynes manual out to see where the cable goes then.

As for dual lamp and fluid level, eh?

Dippypud · Oct 9, 2017

Jamscone said:
Looks like I need to get the Haynes manual out to see where the cable goes then.

As for dual lamp and fluid level, eh?

The hand brake has a switch to light the light to tell you it's on ....

Some vehicles have a switch in the cap of the fluid reservoir to light and warn of low level ...

Same warning lamp ... different switches ...

headintheclouds · Mar 26, 2018

Early TD5 Defender instrument lights:

Having to change my speedo from KMH to MPH I thought I would upgrade the instrument lights while I was in there.
I ordered a set of LED lights suitable for all Defenders (so it said...)
Kit did not have any for the speedo. I used 2 LEDs for heater controls and 1 each for fuel and temperature gauges.
To my surprise all the other warning lights were LED ex factory.
So, if you are upgrading an early TD5 Defender, and it's like mine, you only need 6 LEDs.

LED Instrument Lights

Al2O3

Well-Known Member

steveyorks

Well-Known Member

Al2O3

Well-Known Member

NeilB

Active Member

nobber

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raywin

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Al2O3

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nobber

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Coffeelandy

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raywin

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Mcclegend

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Jamscone

Active Member

Al2O3

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raywin

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Brown

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Dippypud

Never Knowingly Understood

Jamscone

Active Member

Dippypud

Never Knowingly Understood

headintheclouds

Well-Known Member

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