multiple LED light setup

[94kingcbra]

So I've had my autometer cluster for a few months now, and the LEDs I put in are already one by one starting to flash then they are going out. What could cause this? I thought led's were supposed to last forever, or maybe it's because I hard wired all of them together, and then into the dimmer...isn't there a voltage equalizer for led's in cars or something that helps this? Plus I would like the lighting to be a little more bright and vivid, I am using The Autometer Carbon Fiber series...Any input appreciated :notworthy:

Justin

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[blkmcnasty]

Did you wire them in series or parallel? Did you wire them directly at the dimmer switch or some other source?

 

[94kingcbra]

I connected all the lights to one wire then I connected it to the stock headlight dimmer...and I connected all the grounds together and ran one wire to the battery negative...

 

[94-5.0GT]

off topic tho but how did you get your gauge cluster like that texture

 

[94kingcbra]

I layed a sheet of carbon fiber cloth over the empty cluster, and then used a epoxy resin to adhere it to the cluster. Then I cut out the holes with a dremel, and hit it with a clear coat. I need to sand it and hit it with some automotive clear but I don't have a booth or a gun to use...

 

[95 svt cobra]

You should do a write up on this instrument panel conversion, i like that alot and ive contemplated doing it. Didnt want to spend the money though for something that would require alot of time/wiring when i need other stuff

 

[94kingcbra]

Well once I find a fix for the lighting problem I might just do that...

 

[blkmcnasty]

You know its a funny thing you bring this up because i too once had that problem that my blue LED bulbs that i put into my autometer gauges would randomly get dim. They were actual autometer bulbs too so i just sent them back to autometer and got new ones and problem solved. You might just have a bad batch like me.

 

[94kingcbra]

Well I have purchased two different brands, and they are both doing the same thing. How bright are the autometer ones? If I am going to change, I have to buy 1 for each gauge which I have 7, and I don't want to buy any more until I am sure that they will work, these little things can get expensive....
Maybe I should fuse them or something, but I don't know how small of a fuse to get because LED's don't use half the power as a regular bulb. I think I need like a stepdown converter or something, because the 12-14 volts is too much...??? I don't know electrical circuitry very well, so anyone who does I would appreciate an explanation. That way I can learn something and fix my problem. Thanks, Justin

 

[vermilion]

holy autometer. thats alot of gauges. all kinds of light show i bet. id like to see a night shot on lsd with that. (i dont use drugs) just thought it would be psychedelic.

 

[94kingcbra]

and I wanted 2 more on the pillar!

 

[Paul]

Wow. Too much going on there.

 

[94kingcbra]

oh it ain't so bad Paul...At least it's all functional, problem besides my lighting issue...What do you think I should try? :dontknow:

 

[Paul]

It just looks cluttered to me. I love gauges, but it's a car... not an F16. With the GPS and shift lite and radar detector and radio screen thing and switches all over the place it is just too much for my tastes. I'd move the shift lite to the dash, remove one gauge from the dash and both from the clock pod and move them into the 1-din slot beneath your CD player. I'd also move all the switches into one place, maybe in the ashtray. It would help clean everything up a bit. Anyway, sorry for whoring your thread, I'll get to the point...

I couldn't tell you what to try. Have you perhaps tried wiring everything to a constant non-variable source? (not the dimmer circuit) I'm only speculating here as I am definitely NOT an electrical expert, but perhaps the LEDs work best with constant voltage. Have you contacted AutoMeter to see if they have a suggestion as to the cause of the failure?

Paul.

 

[94kingcbra]

I will consider moving the shift light to right in the middle if the cluster, because what I have there right now is a blue led that is replacing my high beam light, but at night, that sucker is bright, so I figured if I put the shift light in front of it, It will block the direct light, but I will still see the blue when the brights are on...Thanks