Dash bulb advice
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 341
Likes: 2
From: Elderslie, Scotland
Dash bulb advice
Hi Guys,
Working on the auld girl the noo...
Slowly putting the interior back together and looking for advice on what bulbs to use for the interior dash etc.
As I am in Scotland I want to make sure I use the right ones.
I have sourced Bosch ones which are 4 Watt,they fit in the holders and the bulb head is a fair bit smaller. None of the original bulbs have any readable details.
All help is appreciated from you people of knowledge
Working on the auld girl the noo...
Slowly putting the interior back together and looking for advice on what bulbs to use for the interior dash etc.
As I am in Scotland I want to make sure I use the right ones.
I have sourced Bosch ones which are 4 Watt,they fit in the holders and the bulb head is a fair bit smaller. None of the original bulbs have any readable details.
All help is appreciated from you people of knowledge
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,197
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi bb,
I don't know if the 4 watt bulb will be twice as bright or 1/2 bright as the 2 watt.
I guess first you need to verify what the originals are.
It should be listed in your Owner's Manual.
Regards,
Alan
I don't know if the 4 watt bulb will be twice as bright or 1/2 bright as the 2 watt.
I guess first you need to verify what the originals are.
It should be listed in your Owner's Manual.
Regards,
Alan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
The watts are a measure of the power they consume, not necessarily the brightness, although generally the higher the wattage the brighter the bulb. If you have a lot of 4 watt bulbs in place of 2 watt bulbs, you may overload the circuit and blow the fuse. It's best to use the same wattage bulb.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 300
Likes: 3
From: kempton park Gauteng
Hi Young Bill,
I too live outside the States , so generally have to import the spares i need for my corvette's .
I have just replaced all the various bulbs in a 1980 and got the complete set from Ecklers . It was a comprehensive set that covered all areas with the exception of the headlamp units , which i was not worried about because i have retrofitted Halogen type units to the vehicle with Hella headlamps .
The packet is small and i am sure if you contacted them it would be parceled and protected properly for you , cant be that much in the way of money either with your exchange to the $
John
I too live outside the States , so generally have to import the spares i need for my corvette's .
I have just replaced all the various bulbs in a 1980 and got the complete set from Ecklers . It was a comprehensive set that covered all areas with the exception of the headlamp units , which i was not worried about because i have retrofitted Halogen type units to the vehicle with Hella headlamps .
The packet is small and i am sure if you contacted them it would be parceled and protected properly for you , cant be that much in the way of money either with your exchange to the $
John
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
I would be concerned with using the bulbs you mention for a number of reasons:
If you change out all those bulbs to 4 watt items, there will be twice as much current required to run them. That will be a strain on the feeder wiring and the fuse. Not sure what the long-term effect would be. It will also double the amount of heat produced by each bulb. How will that affect the area around that indicator lamp? Lastly, if the bulb you have is double the wattage and also has a smaller bulb head, doesn't that concentrate the heating in that bulb? Will it survive very long with that extra heat (being in a 'trapped' housing)?
Just some thoughts.
P.S. The best way to correct C3 dash lighting that has become dim is to clean/repair/correct the chassis 'grounding' issues on those circuits and/or repair the rheostat on the light switch...not just "up the amps" on the dash bulbs.
If you change out all those bulbs to 4 watt items, there will be twice as much current required to run them. That will be a strain on the feeder wiring and the fuse. Not sure what the long-term effect would be. It will also double the amount of heat produced by each bulb. How will that affect the area around that indicator lamp? Lastly, if the bulb you have is double the wattage and also has a smaller bulb head, doesn't that concentrate the heating in that bulb? Will it survive very long with that extra heat (being in a 'trapped' housing)?
Just some thoughts.
P.S. The best way to correct C3 dash lighting that has become dim is to clean/repair/correct the chassis 'grounding' issues on those circuits and/or repair the rheostat on the light switch...not just "up the amps" on the dash bulbs.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 341
Likes: 2
From: Elderslie, Scotland
Thanks guys, that has cleared that up for me. I get the theory on the higher wattage/double the draw on power arguement, don't want the old yin to go up in a puff of smoke
Thanks for the wee label as well, great information.
I think it will be an Ecklers or Willcox enquiry to get the right bulb kit. Mate of mine has a parts company and can get mostly anything so will let him see the list above to see if he can supply as well.
I have removed everything and cleaned every conceivable connection
Fingers crossed
Thanks for the wee label as well, great information.
I think it will be an Ecklers or Willcox enquiry to get the right bulb kit. Mate of mine has a parts company and can get mostly anything so will let him see the list above to see if he can supply as well.
I have removed everything and cleaned every conceivable connection
Fingers crossed
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 844
Likes: 6
From: Fort Wayne, IN
Hey Bill, I have 11 of the 1895 lights that all worked when I pulled them.
I swapped from a 77 dash to a 78+ dash, so the bulbs are different and i don't need the old ones.
PM your address and I can send them to you....if you'd like.
I swapped from a 77 dash to a 78+ dash, so the bulbs are different and i don't need the old ones.
PM your address and I can send them to you....if you'd like.
For the cost of new bulbs, why take that chance?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 300
Likes: 3
From: kempton park Gauteng
Isnt it offers like this that make the forum and the guys on it just fantastic ????
In my opinion thats an awesome offer , it still takes time and money to do that for another person who you have never met , nor likely too .
You sir are a gentleman and a credit to a great forum , i salute you
Regards ,
John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Unless you're going for NCRS you might want to consider LED's so you don't have to go back in there again.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
Not to burn your money, but I'm considering the LED route as well. They are considerably "whiter" than the original bulbs, but in my opinion that gives the old guages a "modern" feel without looking cheesy.
I'm completely re-doing my engine now and will be nearly $6k into that endevour before it's done. Next winter (or maybe the winter after that...depends on funding) will be a complete re-do of the interior. My dash will come apart ONCE and I DO NOT want to tear into the thing again to replace a stupid bulb.
LED's for me.
I'm completely re-doing my engine now and will be nearly $6k into that endevour before it's done. Next winter (or maybe the winter after that...depends on funding) will be a complete re-do of the interior. My dash will come apart ONCE and I DO NOT want to tear into the thing again to replace a stupid bulb.
LED's for me.