Brighter instrument illumination

mrtask

Well-Known Member
Does anyone on here know if there are LED bulbs that would increase the brightness of my instruments at night? The standard bulbs are called 'festoon' bulbs, correct?
 
PS. Festoon bulbs are the type used in the interior light.

If you really need to make the instrument illumination brighter you could use the same bulbs as used in the warning lights, as they are of a higher wattage than the illumination bulbs, but are the same type.
 
Does anyone on here know if there are LED bulbs that would increase the brightness of my instruments at night? The standard bulbs are called 'festoon' bulbs, correct?
Do you mean the lights for the light switch,wiper switch? If so these are festoon bulbs. I tried leds they didn't work very well because they don't light up 360 degrees.
 
I meant to post my question in the Electrics section, only just noticed I managed to post in Events and Meetings. Ooops.
The resistor switch dims the instruments from pretty dismal all the way down to pitch black, so I'll have to hazard the guess it still works. I need to take the clear front off the clocks and see if one or more bulbs is dead.
I had forgotten that the switches above the radio are also supposed to light up! The interior light switch glows a faint green, but the headlamp and wiper switches aren't lit up, so I guess a bulb or two in there are also dead.
 
There are two festoon bulbs behind the switches, llRC, one each side so you'd only find one out if you have a glow, the right-hand one presumably. Sounds like two new ones are in order though if it's only dim. Clean contacts & checking the earth may pay dividends too. l often cut the dimmer out of the circuit as l don't use them.
 
Leds will do it but you may need some Phaffing around to get the light spread, I have noticed recently that there seems to be some strip leds available, you will see them used in domestic light bulbs. I wouldn't be putting higher wattage bulbs in the fittings due to heat.
I would be looking further into your existing set up as in normal cars they are quite bright enough.
 
Those are the correct type. As standard the illumination bulbs are 2.2w, so those 3w ones will be a bit brighter.
 
Just remember that if you change them all for LEDs you won't be able to dim them.

Well you can but it would mean changing the variable resistor to a different value, a better solution is to buy a pulse width dimmer module which will give a more linear response to dimming. I have bought a few off the net in the past for only a couple of bucks each.
 

Thanks for that Graham .
Looks like a piece of wee to put in too . But having said that , I like the dash lights on the brightness level they are at the mo.
I had to get a new LED type indicator controller when I went LED on the turn signal lights though.
Ive put LED's in the park ,interior ,boot , number plate and stop lights with no problem . Certainly brings her into the 21stC when driving at night.
I can actually see the inside of the car when I open the door now and check in the boot[trunk]
Thanks for the heads up
Gerald
 
I have owned quite a few classic cars and the dashboard lights on 70s' vehicles are generally quite dim compared to modern cars. HOWEVER I have to say that in my P6, which I believe has standard bulbs, I have been very impressed with the way the dash lights up. I suspect it is your dimmer switch that might be dodgy.
 
Only one bulb was still working in the instrument panel, and one behind the dashboard switches. Dug out some old spares from my slowly dwindling stash of parts from the rust bucket I scrapped. Hey presto! Now I can see all the dials and the writing on the switch panel is all lit up properly again. The switches and wires were really dusty inside the dash!
 
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