I made custom SA22C Gauge faces. Post to show support.
06-22-10, 07:26 PM
#26
Back when I was fiddling around with the mirage's gauges, I was experimenting with LEDs too. What I found best for spreading the light was to do the same as stock: aim them into a piece of transparent plastic from the edges. And if you put red, blue and yellow and vary the current (using a rheostat) to each one, you can get lots of colors for backlighting. That's how the 05-09 Mustang's MyColor system works. Add a white LED in for white lighting too.
For example:
If your LEDs take 20ma each and the red one(s) are all the way on, while the blue ones are at 50% and Yellow and White are off, you'll get a reddish-violet color. For more info, you might head over to the MP3car forums as gauge mods if part of their forte
For example:
If your LEDs take 20ma each and the red one(s) are all the way on, while the blue ones are at 50% and Yellow and White are off, you'll get a reddish-violet color. For more info, you might head over to the MP3car forums as gauge mods if part of their forte
Last edited by Akagis_white_comet; 06-22-10 at 07:31 PM. Reason: extra info
06-22-10, 07:38 PM
#28
Back when I was fiddling around with the mirage's gauges, I was experimenting with LEDs too. What I found best for spreading the light was to do the same as stock: aim them into a piece of transparent plastic from the edges. And if you put red, blue and yellow and vary the current (using a rheostat) to each one, you can get lots of colors for backlighting. That's how the 05-09 Mustang's MyColor system works. Add a white LED in for white lighting too.
For example:
If your LEDs take 20ma each and the red one(s) are all the way on, while the blue ones are at 50% and Yellow and White are off, you'll get a reddish-violet color. For more info, you might head over to the MP3car forums as gauge mods if part of their forte
For example:
If your LEDs take 20ma each and the red one(s) are all the way on, while the blue ones are at 50% and Yellow and White are off, you'll get a reddish-violet color. For more info, you might head over to the MP3car forums as gauge mods if part of their forte
Actually, now you can just use RGB leds. They are also white when you power up the 3 colors
06-23-10, 04:10 PM
#29
It also depends on the viewing angle of the LEDs. You can buy some with 30* then others with 120*. Obviously the 30 will only get a certain point lit up.
Shaving the tips does work in a way if you grind them down, then use wet sand paper to smooth them out to displace the light better. I've been doing that on my LED projects for years. I've made multiple color headlight accents, some with multiple colors and patterns, others with adjustable colors and brightness. Same goes for some cupholders I have done for people. LEDs are a lot of fun.
Shaving the tips does work in a way if you grind them down, then use wet sand paper to smooth them out to displace the light better. I've been doing that on my LED projects for years. I've made multiple color headlight accents, some with multiple colors and patterns, others with adjustable colors and brightness. Same goes for some cupholders I have done for people. LEDs are a lot of fun.
06-23-10, 04:21 PM
#30
It also depends on the viewing angle of the LEDs. You can buy some with 30* then others with 120*. Obviously the 30 will only get a certain point lit up.
Shaving the tips does work in a way if you grind them down, then use wet sand paper to smooth them out to displace the light better. I've been doing that on my LED projects for years. I've made multiple color headlight accents, some with multiple colors and patterns, others with adjustable colors and brightness. Same goes for some cupholders I have done for people. LEDs are a lot of fun.
Shaving the tips does work in a way if you grind them down, then use wet sand paper to smooth them out to displace the light better. I've been doing that on my LED projects for years. I've made multiple color headlight accents, some with multiple colors and patterns, others with adjustable colors and brightness. Same goes for some cupholders I have done for people. LEDs are a lot of fun.
leds are great
I did this in my house
[youtube]8extwQct1j0[/youtube]
06-26-10, 04:33 AM
#36
Terrified.
I think it looks great as far as the tach itself goes; however, the combination of the old school gauges with the new school tach doesn't look entirely right to me. I still think you did an amazing job (as I think everything you've done as far as decals and what have you goes is), but I think I'd have went with a more old school look with the same color scheme. Execution is fantastic though, and as always I am really impressed. 
06-26-10, 08:44 PM
#40
Yes, the illumination is green thanks to those filters. To remove them, use a soldering iron. Melting the white plastic make the removal a 2 seconds deal.
OEM clock. Man... what were they thinking?????
Can you fit another thing there? yes you can. I will either adapt an oil press gauge, or my wideband gauge.
All filters removed
Acrylics in place for tach and speedo.
More pics soon!
Working to power the cluster in my kitchen, so I can take pics of it illuminated
06-27-10, 09:39 PM
#42
OEM illumination with the filters in place
OEM illumination without the filters
A few RGB leds turned YELLOW, randomly placed behind the gauge face. I still need to figure out how to place AND aim them to get rid of the shadow of the gauge mecanics
OEM illumination without the filters
A few RGB leds turned YELLOW, randomly placed behind the gauge face. I still need to figure out how to place AND aim them to get rid of the shadow of the gauge mecanics
11-15-10, 05:30 PM
#44
In Love with a GS
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Any update on this one xlr8planet? I'm going to be doing this myself over the winter, and am interested in the process you used, whether you printed on multiple layers of clear plastic or just one layer with plexiglass covering the faces.
I'm probably going to go with black faces and white numbers, backlit in blue.
I'm probably going to go with black faces and white numbers, backlit in blue.
11-16-10, 01:12 AM
#47
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Hey XLR, why didn't you use the original transparent plastic sheets that came with the gauges? I was taking apart my '84 gauge cluster and the original transparent plastic was still clean and nice looking, I am sure if you aimed some LED's into the entry points it would work just like stock.
11-16-10, 03:35 AM
#48
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to that last question; I had done the same on a different vehicle I did the gauges on and you still end up with bright spots at the entry areas. if you get the wide angle LED's it is less so but still obvious. All I am looking for is a file on the SA gauges so I can modify them 
11-16-10, 04:57 PM
#49
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do a search for custom gauges, i know i saw a file floating around somewhere for the SA gauges the other week, wish i could be more help. If i come across it i'll post it up.
11-16-10, 06:02 PM
#50
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i was doing some poking around and found a website that had offered custom gauges in the past for FB and SA applications. I emailed the owner to see if he'd be interested in making some more. Please check out this link:
http://www.customgaugefaces.com/index.htm
and this old thread:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=gauge+needles
http://www.customgaugefaces.com/index.htm
and this old thread:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=gauge+needles