Tattoo Gauges
11-06-2007, 02:16 AM
#24
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What do you got?? Do you got a pictured face already?? I dont expect the pictures to light up at night.. Just the daytime... BUT....... if you want to, you could mount some smal LED "spots" in front of the cluster & face them front TOWARDS your cluster.. I've seen these for sale at K-mart in the auto section. I would buy them & experiement with them. It's a gamble that MAY pay off!!..
Or you could mount single LEDs on the bottom of the cluster facing "UP".. that may work too.....
I've seen threads in the 1st gen xB board where the sell a 'ring of LED's' that go around the outdide diameter INSIDE the gauges to light up the face.. You may want to go that route too..
The good thing is that LED's are very in-expensive... go & buy some & experiment in placing them in different configurations & placements temporarily till you hit on something you can live with that is NOT bogus!.. Good luck, & keep us posted with what you do!.... jh too bad you dont live near St Louis... you could come by & we could try a bunch of different things....
Or you could mount single LEDs on the bottom of the cluster facing "UP".. that may work too.....
I've seen threads in the 1st gen xB board where the sell a 'ring of LED's' that go around the outdide diameter INSIDE the gauges to light up the face.. You may want to go that route too..
The good thing is that LED's are very in-expensive... go & buy some & experiment in placing them in different configurations & placements temporarily till you hit on something you can live with that is NOT bogus!.. Good luck, & keep us posted with what you do!.... jh too bad you dont live near St Louis... you could come by & we could try a bunch of different things....
11-06-2007, 02:45 AM
#25
For sure. I just want something that's more backlit. I wonder if I do some kind of filter with bright cool white LED's...
I kind of want it like all the old school "indiglo" gauges, but I want to see the gauge face I want to do. I already got a hold of the guy that did yours, jimmbomb. Just no money at the moment.
I kind of want it like all the old school "indiglo" gauges, but I want to see the gauge face I want to do. I already got a hold of the guy that did yours, jimmbomb. Just no money at the moment.
11-15-2007, 04:03 PM
#26
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
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Hey xseveredveganx,
You may want to try using EL Foil as your lighting source. It can be cut into virtually any shape. You can even cut out small holes where the led dummy lights are. The Blue EL foil looks exactly like the Indiglo light that you mentioned.
Here's a link to one seller on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/EL-Neon-Cuttable...QQcmdZViewItem
I did it for my first gen xB as a backlight for my Force-made speedo face and it was awesome. I used white so the blue color of the gauge face would remain true.
I just bought my 2nd gen xB last week and am already modding myself. I hope to do at least the AC controls lighting on Saturday.
CC
You may want to try using EL Foil as your lighting source. It can be cut into virtually any shape. You can even cut out small holes where the led dummy lights are. The Blue EL foil looks exactly like the Indiglo light that you mentioned.
Here's a link to one seller on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/EL-Neon-Cuttable...QQcmdZViewItem
I did it for my first gen xB as a backlight for my Force-made speedo face and it was awesome. I used white so the blue color of the gauge face would remain true.
I just bought my 2nd gen xB last week and am already modding myself. I hope to do at least the AC controls lighting on Saturday.
CC
11-15-2007, 11:02 PM
#28
Originally Posted by FlyinLow
Hey xseveredveganx,
You may want to try using EL Foil as your lighting source. It can be cut into virtually any shape. You can even cut out small holes where the led dummy lights are. The Blue EL foil looks exactly like the Indiglo light that you mentioned.
Here's a link to one seller on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/EL-Neon-Cuttable...QQcmdZViewItem
I did it for my first gen xB as a backlight for my Force-made speedo face and it was awesome. I used white so the blue color of the gauge face would remain true.
I just bought my 2nd gen xB last week and am already modding myself. I hope to do at least the AC controls lighting on Saturday.
CC
You may want to try using EL Foil as your lighting source. It can be cut into virtually any shape. You can even cut out small holes where the led dummy lights are. The Blue EL foil looks exactly like the Indiglo light that you mentioned.
Here's a link to one seller on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/EL-Neon-Cuttable...QQcmdZViewItem
I did it for my first gen xB as a backlight for my Force-made speedo face and it was awesome. I used white so the blue color of the gauge face would remain true.
I just bought my 2nd gen xB last week and am already modding myself. I hope to do at least the AC controls lighting on Saturday.
CC
11-15-2007, 11:08 PM
#29
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
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No problem. It also comes in white. That's what I bought for my gen 1 xB. It really brings out the true color in your custom gauge face. Here is the exact company that I bought my two white EL foil sheets from:
http://www.cooltronix.com/shop/en-gb/dept_3.html
Good luck!
CC
http://www.cooltronix.com/shop/en-gb/dept_3.html
Good luck!
CC
11-15-2007, 11:11 PM
#30
RAD!!! Thanks, bro!
Now I just have to find someone to do it for me or something. I'd do it myself, but I don't think I'm that handy with a soldering iron. Give me some 1/0 wire, a ring treminal, a propane torch, and some solder and that terminal won't move! But little stuff, I dunno...
Now I just have to find someone to do it for me or something. I'd do it myself, but I don't think I'm that handy with a soldering iron. Give me some 1/0 wire, a ring treminal, a propane torch, and some solder and that terminal won't move! But little stuff, I dunno...
11-15-2007, 11:28 PM
#31
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
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LOL! That's good stuff.
Here's the good news... with the EL Foil, there's no soldering. The kit comes with two contacts pre-seated into the foil, then a 12V transformer. All you have to do is tap into the 12V line that is controlled by the dimmer and connect up the transformer, then connect up your foil and viola! You have perfectly dispersed backlight!
Unfortunately, I don't know the exact wire you need to tap into, but someone on here might.
CC
Here's the good news... with the EL Foil, there's no soldering. The kit comes with two contacts pre-seated into the foil, then a 12V transformer. All you have to do is tap into the 12V line that is controlled by the dimmer and connect up the transformer, then connect up your foil and viola! You have perfectly dispersed backlight!
Unfortunately, I don't know the exact wire you need to tap into, but someone on here might.
CC
11-16-2007, 12:27 AM
#32
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 967
Originally Posted by FlyinLow
LOL! That's good stuff.
Here's the good news... with the EL Foil, there's no soldering. The kit comes with two contacts pre-seated into the foil, then a 12V transformer. All you have to do is tap into the 12V line that is controlled by the dimmer and connect up the transformer, then connect up your foil and viola! You have perfectly dispersed backlight!
Unfortunately, I don't know the exact wire you need to tap into, but someone on here might.
CC
Here's the good news... with the EL Foil, there's no soldering. The kit comes with two contacts pre-seated into the foil, then a 12V transformer. All you have to do is tap into the 12V line that is controlled by the dimmer and connect up the transformer, then connect up your foil and viola! You have perfectly dispersed backlight!
Unfortunately, I don't know the exact wire you need to tap into, but someone on here might.
CC
11-16-2007, 04:14 PM
#33
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 130
Good morning jimmbomb,
I have not decided on the EL Foil or LED yet. It depends on the gauge design that I have done. If I go for the all blue look, I have to go for LED to get the blue that I want. If I go white, then I can go for the EL Foil. I am definitely going to make a light for my center console using the sheet of white EL Foil that have left when I move the ipod socket and aux input into the console. Due to time constraints, that may not happen for a couple of weeks though. I will let you know.
Tomorrow she is getting tint all the way around...
CC
I have not decided on the EL Foil or LED yet. It depends on the gauge design that I have done. If I go for the all blue look, I have to go for LED to get the blue that I want. If I go white, then I can go for the EL Foil. I am definitely going to make a light for my center console using the sheet of white EL Foil that have left when I move the ipod socket and aux input into the console. Due to time constraints, that may not happen for a couple of weeks though. I will let you know.
Tomorrow she is getting tint all the way around...
CC
11-23-2007, 04:06 PM
#37
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 967
Originally Posted by medullaman
Jason just sent me a picture of my custom gauge face and I am so pleased!! 
I will post pics up once I get it installed.
I will post pics up once I get it installed.
