Howdy,

I tried doing some homework on the miniature halogen dash bulbs I remembered you mentioning and incured a bit of sticker shock.
The #17830 (correct item?) shows $7.11, and that looks to be for one.
The green sleeves I'd like (#GCAPH4 ?) show what looks to be $8.25 for one.

Are these prices possibly for sets (I was unable to ascertain this) or is my first impression painfully right?

Hoping I'm just wrong,

_________________
Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

I don't use or recommend 17830 in dashboard applications. Remind me what year/model you're trying to upgrade?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Yeah, I guess I could've mentioned that.

'62 wagon, original pc board presently using original bulbs.
I changed over to white on black gauges from a Lancer and converted the turn signal indicator bulb to an extra dash light (have another set-up for turn signals). Gives me a bit more dash light.

I'd like to have a greenish light rather than the blue and remembered your mention of small bulbs with colored sleeves.

Guess I didn't get my homework right?

_________________
Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

Well, the originals in '62 were #57 bulbs, which produce 2 candlepower from 4 watts. You can put in T4W bulbs, which produce 3 candlepower (a 50% increase) from 4 watts. P/N 17131 on the CPI site's numerical list. Or, you can put in 3886x bulbs, which produce 6.8 candlepower from 6 watts. You'd never want to have the dash rheostat turned all the way bright with these, though, because the dash would be lit WAY too brightly. Remember, as dash brightness increases, the negative impact on your night vision also increases.

For color on these low-wattage bulbs, just buy a broad-tip green permanent magic marker and color the glass after installation in the holders. Remove the plastic balloons that are screwed on over the bulbs in the '62 dash.

You could use 70715 if you want it to be an ultra-long time before you ever have to replace them. They are costly, though!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Excellent,

That certainly should get me there.

Thanks, once again.

A small portion of my reasoning for green was indeed my memory of the green displays in early "Starlight" scopes we used and it's aid in maintaining night vision.
The rest is more primal; it's the color theme of the car.

_________________
Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

The instrumentation of submarines used to be lit in red because red does not affect your night vision. Green is used in Military night vision equipment because the human eye can distinguish more shades of it and people using it are not depending on natural night vision. Still, green or blue looks better IMO.

_________________
David Kight
'62 Valiant Signet, White
'98 Dodge Dakota
'06 Jeep Liberty

Growing older is unavoidable but growing up is strictly optional.

Interesting,

Their reason was definition. I've harbored that erroneous assumption for rather awhile. Thanks for correcting it, better to have the right info.

Still going with green of course, for the theme reasons. That, and I like it.
Ordered the 17131s as I've deleted the dash light potentiometer set-up in favor of a toggle and will add a power resistor if desired. Will shop for a green marker.

When I get'er all pretty I'll post a couple pictures of the dash work.

_________________
Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link

Red/red-orange or blue dash illumination has been trendy lately (VW, Audi...). Having driven with it, I must say I definitely don't like either colour. Blue is highly destructive to night vision because of the difficulty the human visual system has with blue light, and red is the danger/warning/pay-attention colour, so using it all over the dash is constantly distracting. Green to yellow-green is a good choice, because that's close to the human eye's peak sensitivity. That means you can get good legibility of the gauges with lower light levels than you'd need with other colours.

Toggle switch instead of rheostat: Don't think I'd like it, but it's your car!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Good point on the lower light level needed for the green. I'll bear that in mind as I diddle the system.

My wifes Elantra's blue lit. She likes it and I don't care that much for it, and I actually dislike my sons Charger (sort of purplish/red lit). Of course he loves it (perhaps partially because I don't? ). I believe his is adjustable for color.

"Guilty as charged" as a toggle switch addict. I like their single functionality, the crispness of their action and their visual status reference. Most folks indeed don't care for'em.
I'll also offer that once most people set their dash light level they leave it there anyway.

_________________
Sex, drags, and rock & roll.
Dick, 225% crazy.
Hobby (cars, that is) Photos link