Speedo Gauge Idea(s)

[volvogeek]

I don't particularly like the way the 240 speedo/tach/temp/fuel gauges are lit. Making the faces (http://www.volvogeek.org/whiteface2.html) white helps some, but the problem remains that they're still front-lit. I had an idea though - make a thin plexiglass-type sheet that mounts to the front of the gauge and drill a hole halfway through in which to glue a white LED into. Then (somehow) create a face that allows the light to shine through the back. A needle might have to be fabricated so that it glows as well, but since this is totally custom - why not?

The stopping point is pretty much the transparent faces. Dave Barton has made some (http://www.linkline.com/personal/dbarton/WhiteFaceGauges.html) for the 700's, with mixed results. An alternative might be Electroluminescent Panels (http://www.e-clec-tech.com/el.html), but creating the faces from these might be on the tricky side to print, cut and install... At least, from a non-professional point of view.

I'm thinking that finding a good way to create backlightable faces would be more prudent, however. They'd work with my original idea, AND help the 700/900 crowd get some new faces as well. The only thing that really comes to mind might be transparencies on a good-quality photo printer, but they would probably bleed through to much. Then again, if one were going for a white face, the bleed might not be too bad.

Any ideas?

[pisco]

I've been thinking about this for some time. I had a similar idea using plexiglass lit with an LED. The problem is that the light will not illuminate much but the sides of the plexiglass because it travels until it hits an edge. A very thin sheet of plexiglass with a light etched or sanded finish on the back may work and then you can place the white gauge face in front of that and it would be illuminated from behind. If this works you could feasably install a different colored LED (blue for example) and switch the colors for day or night time driving.

[93240]

If you guys can figure this out I would buy one off ya...but I cant really help much in production. Sounds like a cool idea.







Group buy anyone....

[pisco]

I keep forgetting to get a gauge cluster from the junkyard to try stuff out on. I think it can be done it just means getting thin enough plastic that you can still put an led into. The best would be a whole sheet to do all the gauges at once.

[BRUNOP39]

did somebody ever had the chance to work with this?Let me know please.
Bruno

[CaptainWhoosh]

Ive always wondered if just cleaning up the black ones and installing a blacklight would look cool?

[Forg]

It might look cool, but it'd be hell on the eyes after 10 minutes.

[CaptainWhoosh]

It might look cool, but it'd be hell on the eyes after 10 minutes.


true...but I'm pretty young my eyes can take it for a little while :cool: I may be trying the blacklight idea this weekend if they show up...I'll post pics:badboy:

[pisco]

true...but I'm pretty young my eyes can take it for a little while :cool: I may be trying the blacklight idea this weekend if they show up...I'll post pics:badboy:

Agreed Forg. I certainly wouldn't put anything florescent in a car. Any fluctuations in power or an aging ballast and you've got a strobe light. There are filters or gels that you could probably put on with stock bulbs instead. Check with a stage and lighting shop, most gels are made to allow the best possible light to shine through and you can cut them to fit.