Author Topic: cluster illumination (Read 869 times)

wthhunter · « **on:** January 05, 2012, 01:36:49 PM »

i know there was a thread on cluster illumination but i didnt want to jack it with my own problems...

checked out a forum http://gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204447 showing doing cluster led's on an 05 gm cluster... would this work the same way on my 04 cluster? and if soo..... where do i solder the resistors hes talking about?

project black out · « **Reply #1 on:** January 05, 2012, 01:55:19 PM »

Hahaha look at the new guy solving issues already!!!! That's awesome this is the thread I was looking for! Hang tight I'm gonna snoop around and see why I find out.

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

Zora Arkus-Duntov · « **Reply #2 on:** January 05, 2012, 01:55:51 PM »

Quote

where do i solder the resistors hes talking about?

Nice topic,....send him a pm @ http://gmfullsize.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204447

project black out · « **Reply #3 on:** January 05, 2012, 01:59:43 PM »

Ok the 02 had replaceable bulbs that twisted in. And the 03 and on had bulbs that soldered in.. this will only work for 03 to 06.. give me a couple days to check into it and ill have some more info.

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

project black out · « **Reply #4 on:** January 05, 2012, 02:02:10 PM »

And to answer your question you will have to attach the resistor to the (+)positive lead of the led but the resistor are directional ex. They only work one way.

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #5 on:** January 05, 2012, 03:57:28 PM »

Quote from: project black out on January 05, 2012, 02:02:10 PM

And to answer your question you will have to attach the resistor to the (+)positive lead of the led but the resistor are directional ex. They only work one way.

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

I'm pretty sure resistors are non directional. I know LEDS are polarity sensitive.

Sent by my Atrix 4G

project black out · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2012, 04:43:01 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 05, 2012, 03:57:28 PM

I'm pretty sure resistors are non directional. I know LEDS are polarity sensitive.

Sent by my Atrix 4G

oupse.. Lol I know what wanted to say in my head but my fingers decided to make me look like a short bus rider lol

wthhunter · « **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2012, 05:07:20 PM »

Ironically i was goin to post this topic on that other thread but i wasnt sure what year the other avy was that was in that tread soo i didnt wanna look dumb if i posted the wrong thing XD

Butttt if that cluster is identical to mine im buying the leds off that website they mention and doing it myself! Buttt will it mess somthing up if i get the polarity wrong on the leds?? And would it say/have a way of telling on the led which side is - and which is +????

wthhunter · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2012, 05:11:42 PM »

everytime i make a thread i hope either blackout or bellboy responds to them, because you 2 always make my day/project go by that my easier.

project black out · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:16:37 PM »

Quote from: wthhunter on January 05, 2012, 05:07:20 PM

Ironically i was goin to post this topic on that other thread but i wasnt sure what year the other avy was that was in that tread soo i didnt wanna look dumb if i posted the wrong thing XD

Butttt if that cluster is identical to mine im buying the leds off that website they mention and doing it myself! Buttt will it mess somthing up if i get the polarity wrong on the leds?? And would it say/have a way of telling on the led which side is - and which is +????

I might be wrong but I believe the longer lead of the led is the positive (+).. I honestly don't think it will harm the board if it is wired backwards it just won't illuminate.... Worst case it would burn the led or blow the resistor. I'm going to RadioShack tomorrow and get the LEDs and the resistors and then I'll pull my dash and start this little project.. I'll document it and post a tech article write up. If all goes well I'll have something posted by Sunday.. Monday the latest.

project black out · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2012, 06:19:33 PM »

Quote from: wthhunter on January 05, 2012, 05:11:42 PM

everytime i make a thread i hope either blackout or bellboy responds to them, because you 2 always make my day/project go by that my easier.

Lol you can't say that we all contribute to this forum. Just the questions you ask are something both of us have already dealt with or sometimes we just get to it before others. Either way we all can add to the forum... Even you!! Before you know it you're gonna be posting answers.

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:25:31 PM »

You can also check polarity with a small battery (AAA) and touch the ends to the nodes of the battery and see how it lights up.

project black out · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:30:56 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 05, 2012, 07:25:31 PM

You can also check polarity with a small battery (AAA) and touch the ends to the nodes of the battery and see how it lights up.

Thanks OBB that will take some guess work out of it... Now the hard part is gonna be finding the polarity on the board. I just took it out to correct some of the needles and I looked at the board and didn't see any labels or markings regarding polarity.. anything I can look for or should I just test it out?

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:34:14 PM »

Quote from: project black out on January 05, 2012, 07:30:56 PM

Thanks OBB that will take some guess work out of it... Now the hard part is gonna be finding the polarity on the board. I just took it out to correct some of the needles and I looked at the board and didn't see any labels or markings regarding polarity.. anything I can look for or should I just test it out?

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

With the lens off and an easy to access bulb taken out, reinstall the cluster and touch the ends of an led to the "open socket " where you took the bulb out. See if you can get it to light up without soldering it in.

project black out · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2012, 07:49:19 PM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 05, 2012, 07:34:14 PM

With the lens off and an easy to access bulb taken out, reinstall the cluster and touch the ends of an led to the "open socket " where you took the bulb out. See if you can get it to light up without soldering it in.

I though they sat in there the same way the stepper motor does and just solder it from the back but they actually sit on a lead not an actual socket like the stepper motor slips into. So they have to be soldered in.. I'll just do a couple test taps and see what I can figure out.. I'll label them with a marker and I'll include the polarity of each bulb and location in the write up.

wthhunter · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2012, 10:16:10 PM »

IF I BEAT YOU TO IT I"LL WRITE IT UP ! lol

ALSO side thingy... put some 4157nalls in my drls andd parking lights

guess i dropped one or got a dud cuz when i put my right blinker on my side mirror blinks like crazy and the bulb doesnt blink.... swapped the right bulb to the left and the wiring is all right cuz it worked when i swapped the bulb soo yeah....

but when thats all said and done... is there a way i can reverse the way the parking lights blink... for example my DRLS ambers are bright... but the parking lights are on the dim setting till blinkers are activated can i swap it to make it bright all the time (to match the DRLS brightness) and when the blinker activates it dims and flashes? is there a wire i have to cut and swap :p???? im getting better at this i think...

wthhunter · « **Reply #16 on:** January 06, 2012, 10:54:29 AM »

http://www.oznium.com/led

dirt cheap

project black out · « **Reply #17 on:** January 10, 2012, 04:14:46 PM »

Just to keep this going and updated.I have picked up all the supplies and will be tearing into this 2 nite stand by and I'll let you know what I find

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

wthhunter · « **Reply #18 on:** January 10, 2012, 04:18:27 PM »

Aight my leds get here tomorrow

project black out · « **Reply #19 on:** January 10, 2012, 04:49:41 PM »

Ok so far its an epic fail. The leds won't light up even with the resistors. I'm gonna try a couple more things :/

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

wthhunter · « **Reply #20 on:** January 10, 2012, 05:22:08 PM »

U using 470 resistors??

project black out · « **Reply #21 on:** January 10, 2012, 06:09:05 PM »

Quote from: wthhunter on January 10, 2012, 05:22:08 PM

U using 470 resistors??

Yup. And I'm using just plain old 5mm leds.

SENT FROM MY EVO 4G

wthhunter · « **Reply #22 on:** January 10, 2012, 07:17:40 PM »

crap.... well we'll see what happens when i attempt it now.

wthhunter · « **Reply #23 on:** January 12, 2012, 12:38:55 AM »

GOt the cluster all blue(: first time ever to touch a soldering gun and did it in 4 hours :/ ill post pics later

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #24 on:** January 12, 2012, 05:13:02 AM »

Quote from: wthhunter on January 12, 2012, 12:38:55 AM

GOt the cluster all blue(: first time ever to touch a soldering gun and did it in 4 hours :/ ill post pics later

Nice. 4 hours is a while but with never soldering before, you did the right thing. Took your time.

wthhunter · « **Reply #25 on:** January 12, 2012, 12:02:08 PM »

I bought the soldering gun at wallmart while it was being robbed by 2 skimasked ak47 carrying habeebs. Sad but true. Texas for u. Anyways gfs sick so wheni get free time ill Post pics

wthhunter · « **Reply #26 on:** January 13, 2012, 12:15:49 AM »

allllrighty sooo here we goo... got leds from http://www.oznium.com/led need the 470 resistors. there prices are cheap and shipping is fast.

required tools...

5mm leds with resistors
6 pack
sockets
soldering gun
fork
credit card

longer side is positive which is also where you solder the resistor.

can test it if you dont believe me like so :P

after getting the cluster out becarefull not to break the clips and when getting the needles out i prefer this method...

polarity off a 05 tahoe matches my models cluster

make sure when you're leds are soldered they're on they're on the inside of the white area

close up on my first time ever touching a soldering gun

plug it in with the face off to test it

if everythings done correctly put the face on.

to zero out the needles you need to plug in the cluster turn the truck on wait a couple seconds and turn the truck back off (this zeros out the dials). after that you can put all the needles back in all zero'd out.

end result (:

wheww

oHIobellboy · « **Reply #27 on:** January 13, 2012, 05:14:45 AM »

Looks great and you did a Great job on the write up

Main One · « **Reply #28 on:** January 13, 2012, 07:40:22 AM »

Quote from: oHIobellboy on January 13, 2012, 05:14:45 AM

Looks great and you did a Great job on the write up

Ditto!

One note, it doesn't matter electrically which lead of the LED you attach the resistor to.

It is critical however that you get the positive LED lead on the positive voltage side / vice versa of course for the negative lead.

wthhunter · « **Reply #29 on:** January 13, 2012, 12:50:29 PM »

some one told me it mattered >,<

bluedevil · « **Reply #30 on:** January 13, 2012, 04:00:58 PM »

Thats awesome. Ill add this cool writeup to the articles

wthhunter · « **Reply #31 on:** January 13, 2012, 05:13:30 PM »

I feel spetchul now :P