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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: Lbxpdx on March 30, 2024, 02:13:52 PM

Title: Instrument lights
Post by: Lbxpdx on March 30, 2024, 02:13:52 PM
Is this bulb acceptable for the instrument cluster?

It looks different from all of the other ones I’ve read people using, but it look like the original bulb.


 [ Invalid Attachment ]

https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehicle-lights/car-boat-light-bulbs/instrument-cluster-gauge/194-led-bulb-cob-led-t3-25-miniature-wedge-base-135-lumens+color-Green+packamt-10-Pack (https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehicle-lights/car-boat-light-bulbs/instrument-cluster-gauge/194-led-bulb-cob-led-t3-25-miniature-wedge-base-135-lumens+color-Green+packamt-10-Pack)
Title: Re: Instrument lights
Post by: Laitch on March 30, 2024, 04:42:59 PM
Maybe your original isn't original.  :laughing4-giggles:
(https://www.motobrick.com/gallery/4/1601-300324163541.png)
(https://www.motobrick.com/gallery/4/1601-300324163401.jpeg)
Title: Re: Instrument lights
Post by: Past-my-Prime on March 31, 2024, 12:26:56 PM
Quote from: Laitch on March 30, 2024, 04:42:59 PM
Maybe your original isn't original.  :laughing4-giggles:
(https://www.motobrick.com/gallery/4/1601-300324163541.png)
(https://www.motobrick.com/gallery/4/1601-300324163401.jpeg)
The bulb has the bright end at the wrong end. As are the electrical connectors. Crazy stuff!

I had a similar problem late one night when I realized my entire motorbike was backwards: the handlebars were behind me and the gear shift was on the wrong side and I had no forward gears but five reverse gears. Also I only had a dim red light in front of me with a very bright back light.

I no longer recall what I might have been smoking.

I decided to get a ride home and the next day it had fixed itself.
Title: Re: Instrument lights
Post by: Laitch on March 31, 2024, 12:38:42 PM
 :laughing1:
Title: Re: Instrument lights
Post by: Scott_ on March 31, 2024, 01:19:36 PM
Back on topic to the OP, best I can say is to try them. As with any LED it will be polarity sensitive. If it doesn't light when you 1st install it, rotate it 180 and re-install to see if it works.
When Drake sets up his light kits he identifies the + connector.
AND the bulbs +/- orientation is not identical for each lamp location of the cluster.
Unless you can read/understand the electrical schematics and follow the board tracings, you will be basically flipping a coin when installing them.
Title: Re: Instrument lights
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on March 31, 2024, 02:33:13 PM
I have been using these LED's in my instrument clusters for 10 years and they work great.  They come in different colors so can match to the color of the bike or just go with the green.  They are also non-polarized so you don't have to worry about getting them reversed.  With 120 degree angle dispersion, they work well for speedo and tach backlighting. 

https://www.superbrightleds.com/led-light-bulbs-universal-finder/miniature-and-subminiature-bulbs/194-led-bulb-1-led-miniature-wedge-base+color-Green+beam-120%C2%B0+packamt-Single

These photos give an ides of what they look like. (The camera makes them look a lot brighter than they really are)


* DSCN3329.JPG (39.71 kB . 768x439 - viewed 269 times)

* DSCN3336.JPG (28.87 kB . 768x422 - viewed 276 times)

If you want to use them for the idiot lights, use the 90 degree version.  They can be a bit too bright and annoying at night in the low fuel and high beam indicator.  For those I put an electrical tape mask with a small hole on the back side of the colored lens in the panel.  I have found that cool white works the best behind the clock.