DIY LED clock light (w/ pics)

[thejameshimself]

no, half of the HVAC is lit the other half is dead

LIT = thermostat(red/blue Dial) and the three buttons on the bottom(inside recirc. A/C, rear defroster

Dark = fan speed dial and numbers 1..4, five directional buttons face vents face/floor, floor, floor/windshield, windshield

BTW the green "on" lights at these buttons do work

Sounds like it's just the bulbs. I'd try replacing them first - cheap and easy.

 

[ryan s]

i did end up using the 220ohm resistor...well see how long she lasts

slight thread necro...

i posted the above on 5-27-07...my clock LED died a couple days ago (4-17-09). so with a 220ohm resistor on that radio shack 5mm LED, it lasted almost 2 years. IMO it was the perfect brightness. if i do it again, ill use the same resistor.

in case i dont do it over...what is the "base" type of the stock bulb? might just order one from superbrightleds since ill be getting some stuff from them anyway and i dont know if my clock's circuit board can take anymore soldering...

 

[thejameshimself]

I think it's 3mm. May be 4mm.

http://superbrightleds.com/specs/NEO.htm

 

[ryan s]

ill measure the opening when i go to remove the old one...although the 5mm fit in there perfectly...so the 5mm base should be close...

for $1.29/ea i cant go wrong...especially since ill be ordering a few more things...

 

[dustint209]

I had a 7 color changing led lying around so i decided to pimp out my clock. I had to grind down the led and dremel the thick plastic diffuser but it fits. I got some led strips off ebay for like $7 and put them in the foot wells to, there really bright. Enjoy


Click the picture not this bar \/

 

[Russianred]

Badass!

 

[Johnson]

dude thats awesome. do the color change led to the whole cluster

 

[talontsiawd]

dude thats awesome. do the color change led to the whole cluster

I seriously contemplated this but soo much work. And money too but you have to not only use non stock replacement bulbs, they all have to go back to a controller, pain in the *** for sure.

 

[Toyojake]

Been trying to follow this, just to clarify....is this mod really just as simple as soldering a 470ohm resistor to an LED positive to positive and negative to negative? This is the second time my clock light has gone out in 5 months, and now the HVAC LCD display is out too. Don't want to replace this again in 2 months. This just seems almost TOO simple. LOL

What size LED is best with the 470ohm resistor? I have a 10 pack of green 3mm leds, do I need bigger LED's? Just want to keep the stock green color.

 

[001Stunna]

It's as simple as it sounds. I used a 5mm blue led and it worked fine. 3mm should work too but i only had red in 3mm. If you want more guide look at ledautomotive guide as well on how to do it.