LED HU mount, would it be overkill?

**rotwiler** · 03-28-2006, 07:38 AM

Here is my setup at night in my 02 Z28... Would like opinions on the HU mounts with the LED's. I was thinking about getting one with blue led's, but not sure if it would be overkill at night. opinions..?

**ScrapMaker** · 04-06-2006, 11:01 AM

do your LEDs vary with the dimmer switch, or do they just flicker off at a certain position of the knob?

there are ways to make it work, but it involves a microcontroller.

**MikeSomething** · 04-06-2006, 12:26 PM

I'm gettin the kit from humount.com and I think it would look pretty kick ass w/ your setup... Even if you threw in a GTech it still wouldn't be overkill!

**rotwiler** · 04-06-2006, 10:01 PM

I was thinking a Z06 style Z28 emblem on the Humount kit in blue leds or possibly 35th "bowtie". Right now my dash is a reverse glow, so is easy to turn down the intesity, but I wanted the LED's on the Humount to be more subtle.

**ScrapMaker** · 04-06-2006, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by rotwiler

Right now my dash is a reverse glow, so is easy to turn down the intesity, but I wanted the LED's on the Humount to be more subtle.

reverse-glow? what is that? not LEDs?

**rotwiler** · 04-07-2006, 02:43 PM

No leds, is like the indiglo watches etc...

**ScrapMaker** · 04-07-2006, 05:20 PM

so it's some special dash LED kit? because if it's actually just LEDs wired with resistors into the stock bulb locations, then you really can't dim them, they just turn off once you get below their minimum operating voltage.

**ScrapMaker** · 04-07-2006, 05:21 PM

oh nm you meant it's not LEDs... so what kind of light source is 'indiglo'?

**rotwiler** · 04-08-2006, 01:45 PM

Reverse glow uses some type of thin film thing to light up....The one I have looks almost the same as stock, but depending on the trasformer used can be different colors. Most of the time, things using this are a glowing green.. I think it is the same setup in a sense that Chrysler uses on factory gauges in the 300m, LHS, some Jeeps etc...It doesn't require any bulbs.. I did use leds for a long time, but wasn't happy with uneven light and dark areas. I don't like the all green glowing ricer type gauges, so I bought these since they are so much like stock and have a even blue and red.

**ScrapMaker** · 04-08-2006, 04:29 PM

nice, where'd you find them, and is the kit expensive?

**rotwiler** · 04-09-2006, 09:20 PM

It is a complete overlay made simular to the stock one, mine is silver. They can be found on ebay all the time, come with the overlay and a converter. Main thing is finding the one that looks like stock, some do, but then have a stupid glowing green center that blinds you at night. I have been really happy with this one and is perfect. For some reason the companies that made them, didn't make them for the 00+ models, so there is a difference where the high beam spot would be, otherwise it is the same. they cost under $50 shipped.

**ScrapMaker** · 04-09-2006, 10:40 PM

I think I'd probably go with a DIY LED/micro-controller setup... for $50 I could make a color-changing dash, just like the new mustangs

**rotwiler** · 04-10-2006, 08:45 AM

I spent alot of time putting in LED's...even had a how to guide on here before the site went down... found using gel covers the light from the LED's spread better, but still wasn't really satisfied and blue leds and the red needles didn't get bright enough. Then I had 1 LED go bad, so replaced it and a few weeks later one started to flicker on and off...was irritating and gave up on the Led's...Trying to get the lighter and darker spots even was a pain...I must have took out the gauges 20+ in the start to get them as perfect as possible. The overlays have a thin film that puts out the light and is even and bright.

**ScrapMaker** · 04-10-2006, 01:14 PM

sounds awesome

and you can even change the brightness?

**graphicsgod** · 04-10-2006, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by ScrapMaker

nice, where'd you find them, and is the kit expensive?

They are rediculiously cheap!! I paid like twenty bucks with shipping. It's a nice alternative to LEDs. Some are adjustable. Mine is either on or off. Don't need anything more than that IMHO. But the install is a bit a pain in the ass, but if your up for it... go here. Ebay is cheaper, go here for ebays items.

Rob

**rotwiler** · 04-10-2006, 08:50 PM

I had that one and the glowing green center drove me crazy, so pulled it out and put this one in. I can turn down the dimmer and it does dim and intensity can be changed with the knob on the converter that comes with it, so have 6 color converters. I only have green or blue. One of my bulbs burned out on the MPH needle so is why it is dimmer than the others.

**ScrapMaker** · 04-11-2006, 03:09 PM

oh, so this doesn't replace the bulbs behind the needles, just the background lighting?

**graphicsgod** · 04-11-2006, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by ScrapMaker

oh, so this doesn't replace the bulbs behind the needles, just the background lighting?

Nope, just renders most of them useless

. Since it has it's own light, and needs a power source to make it work.

Rob

**rotwiler** · 04-11-2006, 07:42 PM

I don't have traction control, but I have the plug behind dash, so I checked when installing the reverse glow gauges and found the plug had power. So I used the power from the traction control plug, so the dimmer works with the reverse glow gauges. So far after a year it still works great and never had a problem.