Replacing instrument cluster lights

There's one bulb out on my XJ1100 speedo & only one working on the tach side. Before I open it up I'd like to have a plan & parts ready to go.

What kind of bulbs will I need and is there an easy way to convert to these bulbs to LEDs that's already been worked out?

Thanks

 

For my Seca cluster I used the WLED-xHP5 from here (http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/ ... wedge.html) for the main backlights. They work really well. This site also has suitable colored lamps for the indicator lights.

The one recommendation I'd make if you replace the indicator lights, though, would be to lean towards the cheapest and dimmest lamps they have. I went with the four LED colored lamps for neutral, high beam, and warning, and they were all way too bright. I had to put masking tape over the lamps to tone them down a bit.

 

Be sure to get color matched led bulbs (yellow, blue, red, green). Pick your color for guages.

 

To answer your question, all you need to do is replace the existing lamps with LED units with the same base configuration. Simple plug-n-play in this case.

Superbrites are the way to go; I replaced my instrument backlight lamps with the same ones SQL Guy used and the difference is nothing short of amazing. You can actually see the instruments at night.

I have to agree about the indicator lamps though; LEDS were just too bright for me, I just replaced all the bulbs with new ones.

 

KA1J

Please post some before and after pictures of your LED upgrade. I need to do the same thing

MN

 

bringing up an old thread as I sit in the dead of winter looking for a project to work on. I'm only interested in changing the backlights to brighten the gauge faces and I've done some research with these LEDs available from SuperBrite website.

SQL Guy & bigfitz52; you guys used the WLED-xHP5 bulb correct? I found a harley user in a different forum describing to avoid the 5 SMD because

His recommendation was to use the single SMD bulb found here because

Just wondering what your thoughts are?? One thing I did notice is that the single SMD bulb only provides 35 lumens whereas the 5 SMD bulb provides 100 lumens. For those of you with the 5 SMD bulb, do you have any regrets? Anyone else that has changed their backlight bulbs in their gauge cluster please feel free to give your thoughts!

P.S. if I do go with the 5 SMD bulbs do I have to get the wedge base WITH SOCKET with it for our 'canned' clusters?

 

I used The Superbright WLED-CW5 which has 5 of the little round dome-type LEDs and not those big SMD units.

They work great; and the instruments are actually READABLE after dark. They're easily 3X to 5X brighter/more effective than the original bulbs, and they plug right in. You don't need anything but the LED units themselves.

Here's the product link: http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo ... -base/199/ like I said I used the "Cool White" because it has the highest 'temp' rating.

The other really neat thing about them is that now I can actually see the voltmeter and fuel gauge too.

Oh and one more thing: don't use them in the "idiot lights" they're WAY too bright.

It's a real functionality upgrade that I highly recommend. Between this and an H4 headlight, riding at night is fun again.