LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cleszkie · 01-20-2016, 08:59 PM

I'm wanting to light up my instrument cluster a bit better. Has anyone replaced their stock instrument cluster light bulbs with LEDs? If so, do you have any part numbers for the direct replacement bulbs? Thanks.

dirish · 01-20-2016, 10:33 PM

I put green led's in my Blazer. I think I just typed in 194 bulb led.
I did my ac heater control bulbs led as well. It's kind cool, and pretty cheap.

hemi43 · 01-21-2016, 12:05 AM

Yup, 194s.
I'm using them for my side markers

AnotherWs6 · 07-11-2016, 03:10 PM

Can we get a little more in depth than just a 194? Are there go to brands, colors etc? Who has some pics that they can share. There is a surprisingly little amount of info on this forum, I have been searching. Also, what about just using the higher watt version of a 194? I believe it is an 18xx or something. Let's get this set once and for all and then make a sticky out of it!

I'm not looking for anything crazy, just to be able to reasonably readmy gauges at night. Thanks!

ochre1971 · 07-12-2016, 02:11 PM

I recently changed mine to LED's. I used these off of Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Worked fine, a big improvement for visibility. They dim a bit with the dimmer control, but not a huge range. There may be better options out there for dimming, not sure.

The high beam indicator and turn signals I just left in regular incandescent bulbs, the LED's didn't add any benefit in those locations.

AnotherWs6 · 07-12-2016, 02:35 PM

How is the color? Would like something with a greenish tint.

ochre1971 · 07-12-2016, 02:48 PM

These are very white. I would think you'd be able to find simliar green ones online.

dennis7222 · 07-12-2016, 03:15 PM

Go to superbrightleds.com They have 10 different kinds of the 194 bulbs.

AnotherWs6 · 07-12-2016, 04:29 PM

Yeah, 6 bucks a piece though. Ouch, gotta pass on that.

mcmlxix · 07-13-2016, 03:08 AM

On my old cluster setup I used red LEDs but I also disassembled the cluster and painted the inside gloss white to cover the mint green factory color.
I used ebay LEDs that had multiple diodes pointing in different directions to disperse the light in all directions....

C10_ustacould · 07-13-2016, 05:58 AM

If you do this mod will the lights dim with the rheostat?

mcmlxix · 07-13-2016, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C10_ustacould

If you do this mod will the lights dim with the rheostat?

No. It's either on or off with the LEDs.
You can add a PWM (Pulse Width Modulator) to dim the LEDs but opted not to.

AnotherWs6 · 07-13-2016, 09:32 AM

ochre1971 said that his dimmed somewhat. My understanding is that they need to be equipped with some type of diode - some are and some aren't. Could be wrong. A lot of the adds are straight from China and mention that they have a diode vs cheaper ones that do not.

I ordered two sets....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Green and yellow. I'll let you know how things turn out.

ochre1971 · 07-13-2016, 10:03 AM

To add to mcmlxix's comment about the PWM, this seems to be what you need in order to make them "fully" dimmable. It's a stand alone dimmer specifically for this application, so you'd have to mount it somewhere accessible.

https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Meter-91.../dp/B000N8GIYG

JJH Jimmy · 07-13-2016, 06:22 PM

Why not just put 168 bulbs in? They are 3 watt and the 194's are 2 watt. This is what I did and my cluster is bright enough.��

AnotherWs6 · 07-14-2016, 04:10 PM

Thanks - that may end up happening. I was hoping that we would get some good, specific info on dash lighting. All I could find was a guy used leds from somehwere, another from another place he cant rememeber, some used bigger bulbs. We need a FAQ about this.

Ewr101 · 07-14-2016, 06:23 PM

They're dash light bulbs! There's 2 kinds, incandescents 168 and 194 or LED. LED's can't dim without a special LED dimmer. They come in different colors. A vendor was given- Super brightness.com and the rest can be had at Amazon or your local auto parts store. What more do you need to know?

AnotherWs6 · 07-15-2016, 11:26 AM

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM..... which ones - specifically - people have had good luck with.

01-20-2016, 08:59 PM	#1
cleszkie Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Santa Ana, CA Posts: 2,191	LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs I'm wanting to light up my instrument cluster a bit better. Has anyone replaced their stock instrument cluster light bulbs with LEDs? If so, do you have any part numbers for the direct replacement bulbs? Thanks.

01-20-2016, 10:33 PM	#2
dirish Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Heart of Tennessee Posts: 1,120	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs I put green led's in my Blazer. I think I just typed in 194 bulb led. I did my ac heater control bulbs led as well. It's kind cool, and pretty cheap.

01-21-2016, 12:05 AM	#3
hemi43 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 1,501	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs Yup, 194s. I'm using them for my side markers

07-11-2016, 03:10 PM	#4
AnotherWs6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 602	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs Can we get a little more in depth than just a 194? Are there go to brands, colors etc? Who has some pics that they can share. There is a surprisingly little amount of info on this forum, I have been searching. Also, what about just using the higher watt version of a 194? I believe it is an 18xx or something. Let's get this set once and for all and then make a sticky out of it! I'm not looking for anything crazy, just to be able to reasonably readmy gauges at night. Thanks! __________________ 1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have.

07-12-2016, 02:11 PM	#5
ochre1971 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 59	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs I recently changed mine to LED's. I used these off of Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Worked fine, a big improvement for visibility. They dim a bit with the dimmer control, but not a huge range. There may be better options out there for dimming, not sure. The high beam indicator and turn signals I just left in regular incandescent bulbs, the LED's didn't add any benefit in those locations.

07-12-2016, 02:35 PM	#6
AnotherWs6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 602	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs How is the color? Would like something with a greenish tint. __________________ 1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have.

07-12-2016, 02:48 PM	#7
ochre1971 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 59	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs These are very white. I would think you'd be able to find simliar green ones online.

07-12-2016, 03:15 PM	#8
dennis7222 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Roachdale IN Posts: 51	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs Go to superbrightleds.com They have 10 different kinds of the 194 bulbs.

07-12-2016, 04:29 PM	#9
AnotherWs6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 602	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs Yeah, 6 bucks a piece though. Ouch, gotta pass on that. __________________ 1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have.

07-13-2016, 03:08 AM	#10
mcmlxix Collector of Projects Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 3,106	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs On my old cluster setup I used red LEDs but I also disassembled the cluster and painted the inside gloss white to cover the mint green factory color. I used ebay LEDs that had multiple diodes pointing in different directions to disperse the light in all directions.... __________________ Rich 1972 K5 Blazer CST Click HERE D60 BIG BRAKE UPGRADE Click HERE

07-13-2016, 05:58 AM	#11
C10_ustacould A day late and $1 short... Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Northwest FL Posts: 3,870	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs If you do this mod will the lights dim with the rheostat? __________________ Buck Instagram: C10_ustacould 1963 SWB Fleet Side 528 Desert Beige Milly 1967 SWB Step Side 506 Medium Blue The Old Girl 1968 SWB Fleet Side 503 Light Green Ellie SOLD 1965 SWB Fleet Side 507 Light Blue Prescription Strength SOLD 1971 SWB Fleet Side 521 White Shiro SOLD 1968 SWB Step Side 503 Light Green My Old Farm Truck SOLD

07-13-2016, 09:32 AM	#13
AnotherWs6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 602	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs ochre1971 said that his dimmed somewhat. My understanding is that they need to be equipped with some type of diode - some are and some aren't. Could be wrong. A lot of the adds are straight from China and mention that they have a diode vs cheaper ones that do not. I ordered two sets.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Green and yellow. I'll let you know how things turn out. __________________ 1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have.

07-13-2016, 10:03 AM	#14
ochre1971 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 59	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs To add to mcmlxix's comment about the PWM, this seems to be what you need in order to make them "fully" dimmable. It's a stand alone dimmer specifically for this application, so you'd have to mount it somewhere accessible. https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Meter-91.../dp/B000N8GIYG

07-13-2016, 06:22 PM	#15
JJH Jimmy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Schoolcraft, Michigan Posts: 927	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs Why not just put 168 bulbs in? They are 3 watt and the 194's are 2 watt. This is what I did and my cluster is bright enough.�� __________________ 1972 GMC Jimmy 4x4 LS Swap 1985 Chevy K20 1994 GMC Yukon 2021 GMC 2500HD Duramax AT4 My "It's a Jimmy Thing" Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=583528 Budget Build 1985 K20 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=801565

07-14-2016, 04:10 PM	#16
AnotherWs6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 602	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs Thanks - that may end up happening. I was hoping that we would get some good, specific info on dash lighting. All I could find was a guy used leds from somehwere, another from another place he cant rememeber, some used bigger bulbs. We need a FAQ about this. __________________ 1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have.



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07-14-2016, 06:23 PM	#17
Ewr101 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Spring, Tx Posts: 244	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs They're dash light bulbs! There's 2 kinds, incandescents 168 and 194 or LED. LED's can't dim without a special LED dimmer. They come in different colors. A vendor was given- Super brightness.com and the rest can be had at Amazon or your local auto parts store. What more do you need to know? __________________ 72 Chevy 2WD Blazer

07-15-2016, 11:26 AM	#18
AnotherWs6 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 602	Re: LED Instrument Cluster Light Bulbs UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM..... which ones - specifically - people have had good luck with. __________________ 1968 C-10 Suburban - Original 396/TH400 2002 Transam WS6 - M6 - Black/Black - Evil Garage Queen 2000 Silverado - DD - Small lift+Body lift+35" Duratracs+4.88's + Eaton TruTrac - Monster Truck 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon Sport - Wife's DD and the only classy car we have.

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