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LED lights for the dashboard
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Author:  Fourwinns4life [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:03 pm ]
Post subject:  LED lights for the dashboard
Hello, currently new in the topic, Recently Installed led courtesy lights in a Fourwinns Horizon 280 2002. However, been looking to change the dashboard lights to blue LED's as well.

Can anyone give me a hand, of where to buy those lights in order to replace them.

Thanks a lot
Author:  230 Mike [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 11:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
If your helm takes #194 stock bulbs (not sure on that year), I can recommend the ones from http://www.superbrightleds.com. The part number is WLED-X, where X=the color (R=red, B=blue, W-white, G=Green). They are also dimmable if that's a concern for you.
Author:  dopeeboy [ Thu Jul 07, 2011 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
230 Mike, do you have LED lights on your dash? If yes, can you take a photo of it?
Author:  230 Mike [ Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
Yes, when the '04-'05-ish generation of Horizons came out and people started complaining about the helm being too dim, I was one of the original people on the boating forums to experiment with alternatives.

This is a hard thing to photograph. I took these in a darkened storage unit to try and simulate the look at night.

The first photo is normal exposure, with the new red LED's in the left and center gauges and the original blue #194 in the right gauge. The 2nd photo is the same, except that I intentionally overexposed it a bit in order to better illustrate the difference.

Image

Image

I like the blue color of the original, but chose the red LED's because it's more night vision friendly and because it makes all the gauges match the depth finder and the switches.

For reasons that are great and mysterious, it seems most of our boating is done from late afternoon to late at night (so, including dusk). I've been 100% happy with this setup.

Hope that helps.
Author:  ric [ Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
Go for the SMD style bulbs not standard LED, much brighter
Author:  230 Mike [ Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
There's such a thing as too bright, where the helm is concerned. YMMV.

Virtually all currently produced LED's - on some level - are surface mounted. The packaging of the diodes themselves and the way the connections are made differ between intended applications. That leads to the possibility of misleading claims by sellers who say "Our SMD LED's are 35 times brighter," etc. I've seen "SMD" LED's that were no brighter, or even less bright, than "non-SMD" LED's.
Author:  ric [ Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
yup. That's why you only purchase them from companies that tell you the specs of the LED/SMD diodes used
Author:  dopeeboy [ Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
Does anyone know if the H180 are also type #194 as well?
Author:  230 Mike [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
It's easy to find out for sure (I bet they are). Just look up behind your gauges and look for the bulb holders. They look like this:

Image

Give one a quarter turn to the left and pull straight out.
Author:  chrisvs [ Mon Jul 11, 2011 7:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
I know my H180 has the same bulbs, but your 2011 might be different, as they are using the new style gauges. It is super easy to check though.
Author:  dopeeboy [ Sat Jul 16, 2011 3:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
Chris, I just checked and they are the 194. I have (4) 168 and (1) 658. Superbrightleds.com says they are all the same. I'm going to order cool white.

I see WLED-x, -x4 -x5, -x6. What are the differences?
Author:  230 Mike [ Sat Jul 16, 2011 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
Should explain that on the site. I believe the ones with numbers at the end have multiple diodes. But, they really should have an entirely different model number due to the fact that the ones with no number (WLED-X) are a single diode with a conical side-firing lens, while the others (WLED-X2) are multiple diodes all firing forward. IMO, the side-firing ones are much better suited for the indirect lighting needed in a gauge, and you don't have to worry about whether or not they'll fit (the ones with numbers at the end get bigger in diameter as the number of diodes increases).
Author:  dopeeboy [ Sat Jul 16, 2011 4:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
230Mike, I appreciate your input. I agree with your assessment. The WLED-x offers a 90 and 120 degress beam,-x4 (32 and 90 beam), -x5 (220 beam), -6 (35 beam). In your opinion, would the -x5 be most suitable for the dash or do you still feel the 1 LED beam 90 or 120 is the best option?
Author:  230 Mike [ Sat Jul 16, 2011 4:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
I haven't tried any of the -Xx units, so I can't give you an honest opinion. I think Cincy Aquaholic tried those with his FW and they worked but IIRC he had to dremel something out to make them fit.

The real question is, what is the "right" level of brightness? And that can be tricky, because there's such a thing as too bright. And yet, during dusk a bit more brightness is welcome. That period is where the original bulbs really dropped the ball IMO. I can only say that the WLED-X has been perfect for me.

All of them are cheap enough, you could buy them both and try them. Remember, some of your gauges have more than one bulb, so be sure to order the right amount.

It used to be more common for boats to have dimmers. Using more powerful LED's and adding a dimmer is another option, I just haven't felt the need with these units.

I don't recall the WLED-X having more than one beam angle, so that might be new. I'm pretty sure mine are just 90.
Author:  dopeeboy [ Sat Aug 13, 2011 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: LED lights for the dashboard
Alright everyone. I bought 6 SMD Cool White LEDs from superbrightleds.com @ $4.95 each. I originally bought the regular LED and it was very, very dim. No wonder it onyl cost $1.40 each.

My digital camera is ancient. It actually brighter than portrayed.

Image
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