Dashboard is now All LED

[RedShift]

Looks good. 

Did you just pop these LED lights in place of the old bulbs or was there some special wiring gizmo gadget work to be done?

They just pop in -- direct replacement without modification.

[RedShift]

So, the Indicator Lights are currently this model:



and the Gauges are back-lit with these puppies:



Thought comes to mind -- why use 6 LEDs for an indicator bulb when the gauges are back-lit with only 5 LED's, four of which in a peripheral orientation.  Got me...

[werase643]

why use 6 LEDs for an indicator bulb when the gauges are back-lit with only 5 LED's, four of which in a peripheral orientation.  Got me...

drop in...
no modification...
sounds like a good enough reason

[RedShift]

Not to mention it all works without thought -- even the turn indicator.  And the G-L-O-W!!  Man-o-Man, even in daylight the dash glows when any of the lights come on.  No missing any light when on.  Extremely pretty to look at.

[annguyen1981]

Lookin good RedShift!

[Egaeus]

I really like the super-bright oil light.  The neutral flicker is good too, as is mentioned.  I just think that I need a dimmer high-beam indicator.  I guess that's why the original is such a low wattage.

[kimo3825]

i always have my brights on. no one has flashed me at night.  i have had to change the buld once already.

[Cal Amari]

Please keep us posted on this; I really want to know how those things affect your night vision. I have terrible night vision, so good instrument illumination is very important to me... I use a (somewhat less-than-legal) sky-burner headlight bulb, with a normal 55W low-beam, and a 100W high-beam...  Now, I might have to copy your work...

[RedShift]

Folks, I have to confess that a 4-LED bulb may well work just as well -- perhaps even the 1-LED type.  If any of you take the plunge, you're welcome to follow my tracks or parallel me.

But the characteristics of LEDs is what drew me to this project:

• Drop in Replacement
  
• Low Power (wattage) draw
  
• Built-in current limiting resistors
  
• Shock & Vibration Resistant
  
• Long Life (10,000+ hours)
  
• Low Heat Generation
  
• High Intensity (for LEDs)
  
• Instant ON/OFF
  
• Monochromatic (pure) Color (Buy the color of the Lens)

Okay, I sound like a commercial here, but basically I like the NEON-like looks and I don't want to replace any of these bulbs for the rest of my ownership of the bike.  As with Kimo, I've also had to replace the high-beam indicator, but also a gauge bulb.  Not tough to replace, but I really like the look.  

[RedShift]

Please keep us posted on this; I really want to know how those things affect your night vision. I have terrible night vision, so good instrument illumination is very important to me... I use a (somewhat less-than-legal) sky-burner headlight bulb, with a normal 55W low-beam, and a 100W high-beam...  Now, I might have to copy your work...

Cal, I'll do that.  My interest is more on the look of the gauge lights rather than the indicators.  Seems to be fine when I look at it sitting on the driveway, but have to test it on the road to know for sure.

As for the effect of bright indicators on night riding, I'm curious only about the high-beam.  It's the only bulb that could be constantly on, and with the 6-LED light pointing up at ya, it can be as Egaeus suggests -- a distraction.

But I could also be bathing myself in a BLUE light, and my gauges are also BLUE.  To the on-looker, I may look v-e-r-y  c-o-o-l.  And any way that I make myself obvious, especially at night, is a good thing.

[Admiral Crunch]

Curious, though.  Why did you use green for the turn signal?  Do they not make yellow LEDs?

The bulb is for the indictor on the dash, not the the turn signals themselves.

Yes, I understand that.  My question stands.  Wouldn't it be potentially confusing to use the same color for the turn signal indicator as for the neutral light indicator?  If I see green out of the corner of my eye, I'm going to think I'm slipping out of gear.

[Egaeus]

Curious, though.  Why did you use green for the turn signal?  Do they not make yellow LEDs?

The bulb is for the indictor on the dash, not the the turn signals themselves.

Yes, I understand that.  My question stands.  Wouldn't it be potentially confusing to use the same color for the turn signal indicator as for the neutral light indicator?  If I see green out of the corner of my eye, I'm going to think I'm slipping out of gear.

Many of the instrument panels have a green lens for both the neutral indicator and the turn signals.  He was probably just matching colors.  My original had this, while the replacement had an amber lens for the turn signals.

[Thor S Magic Bathtub]

I have single LED's for my idiot lights--they are definatley bright enough for me... the high beem light isn't too bright either. But like I've said before, don't buy a polarized led for the turn signal or it won't work!

[Admiral Crunch]

Many of the instrument panels have a green lens for both the neutral indicator and the turn signals.  He was probably just matching colors.  My original had this, while the replacement had an amber lens for the turn signals.

Ugh.  I'm glad mine is yellow.  That would be annoying.

[RedShift]

Yes, I understand that.  My question stands.  Wouldn't it be potentially confusing to use the same color for the turn signal indicator as for the neutral light indicator?  If I see green out of the corner of my eye, I'm going to think I'm slipping out of gear.

Many of the instrument panels have a green lens for both the neutral indicator and the turn signals.  He was probably just matching colors.  My original had this, while the replacement had an amber lens for the turn signals.

Egeaus, I thought a bit about your points. 

Firstly, I bought the same colour as the lens caps to allow for maximum light transmission.  If I choose WHITE I'd loose a bit on every bulb due to absorption.  A RED LED will pass all its light through a RED lens cap -- WHITE would be less bright through a RED lens cap. In hindsight, don't think it really matters.

On your Second point, I've never confused myself with the GREEN Neutral light and the GREEN Turn Signal indicator.  I occassionally hit Neutral rather than 2nd Gear, and now that'll be very easy to spot with a GREEN spotlight targeting me, never had a problem on the downshift when turning.  (I'm almost always in the gear I want to be in before I turn in to an intersection Left or Right.)

So, I'm not motivated to put an AMBER light under the GREEN lense and turn the light, what, YUCK colour?

[Egaeus]

Egeaus, I thought a bit about your points. 

Firstly, I bought the same colour as the lens caps to allow for maximum light transmission.  If I choose WHITE I'd loose a bit on every bulb due to absorption.  A RED LED will pass all its light through a RED lens cap -- WHITE would be less bright through a RED lens cap. In hindsight, don't think it really matters.

On your Second point, I've never confused myself with the GREEN Neutral light and the GREEN Turn Signal indicator.  I occassionally hit Neutral rather than 2nd Gear, and now that'll be very easy to spot with a GREEN spotlight targeting me, never had a problem on the downshift when turning.  (I'm almost always in the gear I want to be in before I turn in to an intersection Left or Right.)

So, I'm not motivated to put an AMBER light under the GREEN lense and turn the light, what, YUCK colour?

I think you're confusing me with Admiral Crunch.  I did the same thing you did (2 greens), just to be surprised by an amber lens in my new meter bracket with no amber LED to put there.  It has a bulb in it right now.

I believe the new color would be either yelleen or gellow. 

[joedude]

While we're on the LED subject and I'm shopping to replace my complete dashboard with 'Superbrightleds.com' LED's... I should probably go ahead and buy some brake light LED replacements too. Anyone know which one to buy? or have any suggestions as to which one to buy?

[RedShift]

While we're on the LED subject and I'm shopping to replace my complete dashboard with 'Superbrightleds.com' LED's... I should probably go ahead and buy some brake light LED replacements too. Anyone know which one to buy? or have any suggestions as to which one to buy?

Joe, I'm still searching for what to do there.  Have a browse through the Taillight LED bulb thread.

The concern I have with the Tail Light going LED is that their emissions are rather directional.  You need a lot of them pointing in all directions.  The bulb annguyen1981 offers might do the trick, but the catch is the need to illuminate the license plate.  Laws exist that require a WHITE light for this, and the spectrum is filtered through the RED lens causing lower intensity put the back.  Need higher lumens out the back, not less.

The standard 1157 incandescents do a pretty good job, and if they go they're damn easy to replace.  But would I replace them with the right LED bulbs -- in a heartbeat.  Just need to find the right one.

[RedShift]

Egeaus, I thought a bit about your points. 

Firstly, I bought the same colour as the lens caps to allow for maximum light transmission.  If I choose WHITE I'd loose a bit on every bulb due to absorption.  A RED LED will pass all its light through a RED lens cap -- WHITE would be less bright through a RED lens cap. In hindsight, don't think it really matters.

On your Second point, I've never confused myself with the GREEN Neutral light and the GREEN Turn Signal indicator.  I occassionally hit Neutral rather than 2nd Gear, and now that'll be very easy to spot with a GREEN spotlight targeting me, never had a problem on the downshift when turning.  (I'm almost always in the gear I want to be in before I turn in to an intersection Left or Right.)

So, I'm not motivated to put an AMBER light under the GREEN lense and turn the light, what, YUCK colour?

I think you're confusing me with Admiral Crunch.  I did the same thing you did (2 greens), just to be surprised by an amber lens in my new meter bracket with no amber LED to put there.  It has a bulb in it right now.

I believe the new color would be either yelleen or gellow. 

Oops. 

[RedShift]

I finally got out after dark to try out the G L O W from my new LED-based Gauges and Indicator lights.

Love it!! -- except it's true -- the High-Beam indicator is definitely like a small BLUE Sun on the lower right.  It doesn't bug me as yet.  I'm sure I'm visible to people as I pass by.    In hindsight it makes sense to get a less bright LED for that position -- perhaps the four-LED (WLED-B4) BLUE would probably be a better choice.

Will I change?  Nope.  But if I were to place another order I'd probably get another bulb.