smithd7
Senior Member
Posts: 500
Loc: Coburg,Oregon,U.S.A.
Reg: 11-07-01
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 03-16-12 06:11 PM - Post#2203576
I would like to increase the brightness of my dash lights. The stock bulb is a 57 what number would I need to go to? This is a 12 volt system.
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 someotherguy
Moderator
Posts: 23394
Age: 43
Loc: Texas
Reg: 08-01-03
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03-17-12 06:09 AM - Post#2203700
In response to smithd7
This is a reference put together by some pinball nuts but I find it pretty useful for some automotive things:
http://www.zaccaria-pinball.com/misc/lamps.html
An 1864 or 1873 should be brighter but it has a slightly different shape, sort of cylindrical instead of a globe. If it will fit without being too long then it would likely be a noticeable improvement.
Of course the variety of 6 volt bulbs in the BA9 base would be really, really bright...for a very short while. 
Richard
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smithd7
Senior Member
Posts: 500
Loc: Coburg,Oregon,U.S.A.
Reg: 11-07-01
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 03-17-12 09:43 AM - Post#2203762
In response to someotherguy
Thanks I give it a try. I only want to replace these once !!
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65_Impala
Very Senior Member
Posts: 1593
Reg: 12-29-02
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03-17-12 12:14 PM - Post#2203804
In response to someotherguy
I doubt 28V light bulbs would be brighter running at 14V.
The only one that seems suitable in that list is the 431 and it's not that much brighter.
Go to bulbtown.com and search for the BA9S base bulbs.
http://www.bulbtown.com/Miniature_Bayonet_Bas e_BA9...
You're looking for bulbs with more than 2 MSCP. Try the 1816, 1414 or Q5T3/CS/12V bulbs. The 1414 would be bright but is low hours. The halogen would also be bright but might be shorter lived if you ran it at full voltage without some dimming. All the brigher bulbs will produce more heat and could melt dash components. The higher current draw might also affect the dimmer - it might get hotter and/or not dim as linearly.
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someotherguy
Moderator
Posts: 23394
Age: 43
Loc: Texas
Reg: 08-01-03
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03-17-12 04:46 PM - Post#2203891
In response to 65_Impala
Crap, sorry, I ran up and down the list and paid attention to the different voltages but missed that those were 28's. Regardless, poke around that list and see what you find in a 12V bulb.
Not enough sleep...
Richard
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 Vaughn
"11th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 13557
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
Reg: 08-08-04
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03-26-12 10:32 AM - Post#2207673
In response to someotherguy
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/interior/d ashlight...
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 technitom
"2nd Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 248
Age: 44
Loc: Near Cincinnati, OH
Reg: 12-01-11
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04-08-12 10:25 AM - Post#2212762
In response to Vaughn
just passing on my solution, FWIW...
since I had to pull the cluster out I decided to clean it up a bit, all the years of dust...
I ended up pulling it completely apart. I masked off the connection points for the bulbs and instruments and repainted the inside of the cluster housing and the back side of the cover (everything that was light blue) with silver plastic paint (fusion)
It provided a better reflective surface for the dash lights to shine against.
IMHO, it brightened up the dash an additional 50-60% and those areas that always seemed dim (shadowy) are lit very well.
It only took about a couple of hours, after the cluster was pulled, 15 minutes to pull it apart, 10 minutes to mask both pieces with painters tape, 10 minutes to paint, about another 45 minutes for it to dry, and about 15 minutes to re-assemble with new bulbs...
Words are a lot like toothpaste... Once its out of the tube,
there's no getting it back in... |
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