Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Custom Indiglow power supply w/red LED's

bump...

can you get indiglow gauges for acontour any where other than GBs. couldnt find any earlier

id still like to know the answer to this please... " how many led's per bulb socket do u use? and how many bulb sockets are u using? all or just ones for the needles? im going to get BI-Color -red/blue led's. and hook em to a switch "

I'm using 5mm LEDs with resistors...1 LED per socket.

I'm just replacing the ones for the needles...not any of the warning lights.

I used 5 or 6 5mm LEDs per socket. All were 10,000mcd. I'll post the exact setup with pictures as soon as I get my parent's camera.

Ok guys, here's the schematic...



Here's a higher resolution version...

http://home.wi.rr.com/buttonpuncher/Contour/EL_Power_Supply.jpg

I'm still working on a parts list. BTW, the 70V transformers are pretty hard to find. They don't have them online and the the regular stores are running out. I had to check five stores before I found the two that I needed.

Also, as stated in the schematic, the transistors MUST be isolated and mounted to a large heatsink. You need to use something like this from RadioShack. If you don't, there will be no brightness control between the Guages and the HVAC output. The HVAC will be EXTREMELY bright but the Guages will be dim.

Let the soldering begin!

Later,
Ben

For those of you who don't want to mess with your inverter you can just buy more. I was using 1 inverter to run all 3 gauges (both speedometer gauges and then the HVAC). I decided to buy 2 more inverters from the guy on ebay that sells indiglo gauges and then just ran one gauge on each inverter. The gauges went from a dim blue-green to a very bright blue.

Here's the parts list. It's 2:30 am, so there is probably somethimg missing. I added the 70V transformers from Parts Express if the Radio Shack ones can't be found. They are larger but have better specs. The 15W one goes to 20kHz which may put out some cool purpleish blue. I'm thinking of trying it out.

BTW, it is a much better deal to order the parts from Jameco than go to Radio Shack.


Also, when you build the circuit, the wires that connect to your +12V/Ground lines that go to the transistors and transformers need to be 18 Guage or better. I had 24 guage and I was getting some weird oscillations (flickering).

Later,
Ben