Understand that my LED tomfoolery is with salvaged LEDs. Years ago I made some to fit the instrument panel, that was before you could by them with the right base. I have pics of that install on my old neglected website:

http://www.members.shaw.ca/bilbo/LED.html

Ha, how about that, I have pics of Mike Ray's heater light mod there!  My memory must be going, forgot all about that.

Resistor values around 470-500 ohm. I think I made an error in think the dash light power was 10 v, so the res. calc was based on that (and assumes a 1.8V LED), but they worked ok.

Since then I have replaced my homemade ones with "proper" LEDs from Van Cafe. I have to say that they are comparable.

alistair

On 2011-09-26, at 10:34 AM, Steven Johnson wrote:

> Alistair,
> 
> What size resister are you using with the LEDs?    Is one LED enough?   I've
> always felt that the OEM light was a bit anemic (along with
> the OEM radio lights)...
> 
> I would also say, I have a harder time getting the plasic levers back on
> than I do getting them off.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Steven
> 91 Westy
> 
> On Sun, Sep 25, 2011 at 8:26 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> 
>> I've been lucky in finding one or two at the wreckers, but my hoard has run
>> out now. I did futz around with jamming a led and a resistor in the spot,
>> but it really was a hack job.
>> 
>> I hate pulling the heater control face off. It's a crap shoot as to whether
>> I will break anything. A few things learned the hard way:
>> 
>> - bracing your hand when pulling off the heater plastic levers helps to
>> reduce the "sudden release syndrome" which is responsible for most of the
>> broken face plates
>> - a dab of silicone grease on said heater levers makes them less likely to
>> exhibit SRS the next time
>> - don't grip the end knob to pull the plastic levers
>> - the face plate mounting bosses can be stuck in the holes of the dash.
>> Prying gently and patiently with a pallet knife or similar will ease it off.
>> Again, a dab of silicone grease on the bosses makes the next go round
>> easier.
>> - pallet or kitchen knife helps to pry the metal levers into position when
>> re-installing the plastic levers on to them.
>> 
>> 
>> alistair
>> 
>> 
>> On 2011-09-25, at 7:40 AM, J Stewart wrote:
>> 
>>> Yeah, what a pain! I did find them on Van Cafe's web site, I was going to
>> order two, price would be about $15.00, but then when I went to check out,
>> shipping was also $15.00!! I'll just wait til tomorrow and call them.
>> 'Course I could just "accidentally" add one of those heavy duty front
>> bumpers to my order-with deer season starting up again here in Virginia
>> (actually it never STOPS) I sure would like one of those bumpers!  The wife
>> would kill me though....    Jeff
>>> 
>>> Jeff Stewart
>>> 
>>> 
>>> yes, that heater control bulb, as far as I know, comes with bulb
>> holder.
>>> 
>>> annoying eh? It looks like the grain of rice bulb might be removable but
>> as you found out the fine wires are attached to the mount.
>>> 
>>> alistair
>>