M. Requin

I mentioned a while ago that I was working on some DIY electroluminescent gauge faces. I had previously installed a set of Speedhut faces, but I had to adapt them to the AT indicator lights which was a very unsatisfactory compromise, and the tach scale was also incorrect. The other problem was that I had chosen a dark (red) face with illuminated numerals. This resulted in almost invisible needles at night.

Since I couldn't find what I wanted I made my own. Chief ingredients were scans of the original faces, reworked in an image manipulation program (GIMP), and a drawing program (Open Office Draw), printed on Papilio self-adhesive clear vinyl and covered (for protection) with Papilio matte over-laminate, then in turn placed on EL panels from Karlson Robotics and fitted to the original faces (there was a lot to that "fitted"...). I think the end result is just what I wanted. I'll be glad to post more info on construction if anyone is interested.

The previous Speedhut setup:



The new faces:

rnixon

Very nice.

chris0626

WOW

gcthree

WOW, indeed!

Nice...resourceful work, Martin!

Bob

Mrmerlin

thats some fine detailed work there , very nice job.
I hope it works as you planned.

NoVector

Wow - that opens up a lot of new possibilities for backlighting the dash, center console, etc. Good work!

Glen McCartney

Very impressive Martin. Hope to see them in person on the way down to SITM this year.

The Fixer

Martin very nice job. I think i'd always have those lit! I'd like to see more of your 928.

Ed Scherer

Very nicely done.

Martin, does it dim with the rheostat? The reason I ask is because EL devices are one thing I haven't tried with the dimmer module I developed (motivated by wanting to use the original factory dimmer after converting all instrumentation backlighting from incandescent bulbs to LEDs).

M. Requin

Gentlemen, thanks! Stan, I hope it works out, too, I have a few year's experience with the Speedhut's and was very pleased with most aspects of their product - good fit and finish, reliable, no RFI. And that also goes to Ed's question about dimming: Ed, I am using the Speedhut inverter that came with the EL faces I replaced, which has its own dimmer circuit. It works very well and gives a good range of dimming (full bright is in the photo). Is it enough? IMHO to be comfortable on a long nighttime trip the instruments need to be VERY dimly illuminated, and I'll just have to wait and see. Maybe early next month on an 8 hour to Ithaca NY and back...

Also, Ed, I did replace the instrumentation backlighting with LED's following your great writeup, and I plan on using your dimmer if I need to. Two notes on that, the LED's I used are B8.5D's, and I had (am having) a heck of a time determining polarity for a couple of the bulbs (the "!" and turn signal bulbs are two, there are one or two others), and I'll post a "map" showing what I found to help others dealing with the 85-86 circuit board.

Ed Scherer

I really wish I had a pre-'89 instrument cluster to mess with, as it would be great if I could update that document (which I happen to be updating now anyway) with information for the pre-'89 MYs.

I'm pretty damn picky on finding the best LEDs for every 928 application, so I like to see all the alternatives myself if at all possible.

A polarity map for those pre-'89 clusters, though, would be of great use by itself. I keep thinking that someone has posted one of those already, but then I search for it and can't find it.

Fogey1

Yes, please.

I was going to ask about dimming, too, but see you've answered already. Looking forward to your report after a night drive.

M. Requin

Matt, you'll see more- next thread is about flocking the dash...

Ed, I also thought that info about polarity was somewhere on the list but couldn't find it.

Will, will do...

Imo000

I had a setup like that in my truck and it was nice except when out of the city it had to be dimmed to almost zero, otherwise it was too bright in the dark and would blind the driver. Hopefully you won't have this problem.

pcar928fan

OH MY...that is BAD A$$!!!! SO MUCH cool stuff happening for 928's (and probably other cars too) these days! I have said it before (like as far back as 10 years ago) and will say it again, there has NEVER been a better time to own a 928 than RIGHT NOW!!!