Dads928

I'm trying to find a write up on changing out the lights in the control head to LEDS. I have Eds great write up for the pod and his list of bulbs for the HVAC head unit but no description for that part of the job. I'm competent with a soldering iron but a little light on my electronics theory and I think a couple of these need resistors and diodes. I have my console out for diaphragm repairs so I thought I would do this now...I'm also going to change the relay since I'm at it and have it apart. Can anyone aim me at a link

Petza914

If I recall, in mine there were just 1 or 2 bulb sockets and then the fiber optic lines that carry the light from those sockets to the sliders.

Dads928

Thanks, I've found some info but some guys used discreet LEDs to get better light through the fibre and those need resistors and diodes. I was hoping someone had written that up

davek9

There is only one Bulb in the HVAC head unit, it is plug and play using the correct LED.

All modern LED's for automotive 12v usage have all the diode(that is the led) and resister built in.

note: in order for the Fiber optics to work correctly you will need a bright LED that has a wide (not narrow) beam.
There are some mods to get the Fan **** to light up too, just required adding more LED's

Petza914

Jager also has a write-up on how to drill the slider buttons a little deeper to make them brighter and have more of a pinpoint light effect in them from the fiber optic lines.

Dads928

Thanks guys

MainePorsche

I didn't have a thread, but posted in another's (with replies from Alan). I tried to find but didn't have the time at present.
What I did was replace the old multi-strand fiber optic cable with appropriately sized single filament fiber optic cable (measurements and link to fiber optic cable site were in the post(s) ). I then used and LED for each fiber optic cable. I carefully drilled into the LED polymer so the fiber optic cable would fit like a peg - a little adhesive on the OUTSIDE to hold, and the painstakingly covered all with shrink wrap. Still is working well.

soontobered84

I drilled out the Slider **** a little bit and installed a 3mm LED in each slider and replaced the fiber optic with small gauge wire. Sliders are nice and bright now.

MainePorsche

In hindsight now, I should've done that for the sliders. Much cleaner.

merchauser

I just replaced my hvac bulb with one of ed scherer's recommended side firing LED bulbs. the numbers display great, but while I see light emitting from the fiber optic, when I insert into the slider I don't see any light.

can you elaborate on what you did? how do those 3mm bulbs get power, and can I get those bulbs local?

mkhargrove

i drilled out the sliders as well. no more problems with fiber optics, and better lighting. i didn't do anything for dimming....the amount of light they give without any dimming was exactly what i wanted.
.
i also put a strip of led tape lights under the shifter indicator in the console. super easy.

i plan to connect a strip of weatherproof tape strips at the bottom of both doors (literally under the bottom of the door...the plane facing the ground, not visible unless you bend down)
to illuminate the ground when open.....shouldn't take long...

mkhargrove

i ordered bulbs for my sliders on ebay.
you might find them at a local electronics store....i don't know.

mkhargrove

also, its been a year, but i seem to recall popping the front off, disassembling the sliders (remember orientation of the metal inside)....bore out the holes a tiny bit, (just big enough to sort of force the leds into the holes) then i ran the pigtails on the leds to the top left corner where i cut a little slot for them to feed into the main part of the controller, then soldered to the wires that previously powered the wiring for the bulb that lit up the fiber optics

Eplebnista

Using these is much simpler than messing with new fiber optics: https://lighthouseleds.com/pre-wired...v-12v-18v.html