upgrading the clocks

[vwwvgolf]

was attempting to do the dash clocks with the leds and stuff, biut my clocks are very different to the ones in the how to in the maintenance section.

firstly, the bulbs that light up the whole thing, can they be taken out of there holders and then the 286 leds go in them? or have i got to get a holder for the new leds?

also i cant lift my needles of the face of the clocks, i tried pretty hard but didnt want to break them.
anyone got any ideas?

[sharki786]

The original bulbs twist out and fit with new 1s. Also there is a little green filter in the clocks. Its when you take the clear cover off then you seprate  the black cover from the white cover. The filter will be in the black cover at the top. Remove it and fit a cloudy white 1. I went to staples and got a clear/cloudy folder and cut the shape out, this will level the lighting out abit and stop light spots in places.
To fit the leds in you need either 12v leds (only red come 12v WITHOUT resistor) other colours need a 12v resistor on it, which goes onto the + leg of leg (longer leg)

[vwwvgolf]

where did you get the bulbs from? i cant seem to find any led type twist ones. only standard white bulbs.
the only thing it keep finding is 286 wedge leds, which is what i brought as i thought they then went into the twist- in bulb holder

[sharki786]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=t5+led+b8.5d&LH_PrefLoc=1&_from=R40%7CR40%7CR40&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xt5+smd+b8.5d&_nkw=t5+smd+b8.5d&_sacat=0

You was looking at the wrong ones. Think these are the ones you need buddy. P.s these look simular to the one i have at home.

[vwwvgolf]

cheers mate!

[gasketface]

You can do it a different way if you want to really brighten up the clocks.

I used these,10mm in blue but other colours/sizes are available:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-Pre-Wired-Ultra-Bright-Clear-LED-Various-Colours-and-Sizes-Master-Listing-/110963516764?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&var=410142779093&hash=item19d5f0e55c

You can take the original bulb holders out and bin them.Cut the metal strip right back until about 25mm before you get to the 2 prongs that it connects to.

Enlarge the original bulb holder holes out to 10mm and hotglue/araldite a double section of connector block (15 amp).You can use a cordless (slow) drill or one of these as i did :-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tapered-Hand-Reamer-Deburrer-Hole-Repair-3-to-12mm-Diameter-Engineers-Metal-Work-/381102536020?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item58bb7b3554

and

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Connector-Strip-12-Way-5-15-30-Amp-Choc-Blocks-Terminal-Strips-/221267248019?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Electrical_Fittings_MJ&var=&hash=item33848e4393


 to the back of the clocks,near to the middle hole.Solder 2 wires onto the remaining section of the strip (live and negative and run it to one side of the double connector block,1 wire to each side.Than insert 3 x 10mm 12v led's into the 3 x holes and hotglue/araldite each one,just a dab on each.

Get all 3 lives and all 3 negs from the led's and put the lives to one side of the connector block and the negs to the other.Obviously onto the other side of the block from the wires that you soldered onto the original strip.


Refit clocks and push connector block on back of clocks back in and turn on sidelights.If led's don't light up just swap the wires over from the strip to the connector block as led's only work one way around.

If you can work out which side is which (pos or neg) on the original metal strip then you can get it right first time.I forget which is which at the mo !!!.

Led's will dim when you adjust the rest of the lights with the dimmer on your light switch as they do now.

[vwwvgolf]

only just seen this! useful info man. still havent got round to getting them out again lol

[vwwvgolf]

only got around to doing this yesterday. the temp and petrol gauge is barley lit up tho. guna have to try adding some extra ones in i think