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LED meter bulbs? Is this too easy?

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:45 pm
by Engininja
Hi.
Has anyone use anything like these in their equipment VU's?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121115117939

I don't have the 1176 Ref F's in front of me to see if there is room as these look a little wider than the 1829 bulb but it sure would be an easy way do have LED's in there..

I've heard of smashing bulbs to solder in an LED and resister but I'm all about easy.

On the topic. Colours of LED's in meters? Yellow? White?

Ta.

Re: LED meter bulbs? Is this too easy?

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:04 pm
by rob
the difficulty with leds is that often they are too bright and too directional.
you want yellowish light and you want it diffuse

since in an 1176 the lamp shoots across the top of the bezel these might work. If they aimed down across the backscale you'd get a distinct 'beam'

Re: LED meter bulbs? Is this too easy?

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:07 pm
by Engininja
Awesome, thanks Rob. There's only one way to find out I guess.

Re: LED meter bulbs? Is this too easy?

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:28 pm
by rob
yep

Re: LED meter bulbs? Is this too easy?

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:31 pm
by Chinagraf
You can sand the end of the led to make it more diffuse and less of a beam.

Re: LED meter bulbs? Is this too easy?

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 9:37 pm
by Engininja
Just had a look in an old rev G and assuming its similar to the F's, there is a bit of play in the housing so I'll have a crack. Although, this G has working screw types bulbs wedged into the bayonet mounts! I finally know why I need to give the meter a little tap to get the lights on. A nice little note too in pencil that the bulbs have been changed 7/6/81.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/16/the ... 110-years/

great tip on sanding the tip.

Re: LED meter bulbs? Is this too easy?

PostPosted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:05 am
by rob
yes i've sometime cut the tips off standard 5mm leds and then roughened the surface with course grit paper. Or used hot glue to make a diffuser