News:

It appears that the upgrade forces a login and many, many of you have forgotten your passwords and didn't set up any reminders. Contact me directly through helpmelogin@dodgecharger.com and I'll help sort it out.

Main Menu

complete (near) LED conversion

Started by aifilaw, December 01, 2017, 11:43:11 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

aifilaw

Partially because I like things that are easy to see, and less current draw, partially because I had to replace a lot of light bulbs already and/or was troubleshooting other electrical problems, I've been slowly switching to all LED's. Learned a lot along the way. The Flashers had to be replaced with LED types and new ground wire had to be added. Specific LED bulbs are better than others. Size and shape of bulbs makes some not fit and others fit fine.
Brightness has increased dramatically where it matters, interior dome is double what it was, no risk of blowing fuses. Dash Illumination lamps work and Dim just fine with the standard mechanism which is a huge plus.
I did all this without removing the dash, its a little tricky to pull them out from under the dash, but once you get the hang of it, it was only about an hours worth of work. Removing the ash-tray to get the last 1-2 illumination lamps by the fuel/oil gauges helps a lot.

I still plan on changing the last ones (headlight and brights headlight) to LED's, but that should be a straightforward process and not worth mentioning.

So far I've converted on my 1972:
The side markers
All rear lights
Dome Light
All Interior Dash Indicator, Warning, Dummy, and Illumination Lamps
Turn Signal Indicators

The Wiring diagram for a 73 is not the same year, but was INVALUABLE to finding, and troubleshooting wiring in the console that the standard wiring diagrams don't show. Underdash is found inside this thread that Nacho posted:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=23315.0
standard diagrams:
http://www.mymopar.com/72to76_wiring.htm

Dash Turn Indicator and Dummy Lights: (brighter than the others just below)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MEFGAAI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Illumination lights:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KW3RKT4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Turn Indicator Flasher (same for Hazard Flasher)
I had to use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the connectors from the housing and switch the wires so I could use the same connector with the connections in the proper place on this flasher module as well as hooking up the ground wire.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXLH7CG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Front Turn signal lights: (grounding is done through one of the screws that hold the housing on to the valance, make sure its a good ground)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071FB824J/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dome Light:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BNTZGOC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Side Marker Lights:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017VORB7M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Reverse Light:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IL0ZQLE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Backup Light: (I know it doesn't need to be RED since it's thru a lens, but they look good)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P2D415K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


'72 B5 Metallic Blue Hardtop
426" Wedge - Hydraulic Roller Stealth heads

alfaitalia

This thread is worthless without pictures!
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you !!

aifilaw

Quote from: alfaitalia on December 01, 2017, 12:53:41 PM
This thread is worthless without pictures!

I disagree :)

I'm not willing to pull all the LED's out and take comparison pictures from with incandescent vs LED. But I'll take some pictures for you tonight...
'72 B5 Metallic Blue Hardtop
426" Wedge - Hydraulic Roller Stealth heads

aifilaw

In order of (hopefully it shows them)

These were all taken with a Galaxy S7 phone (the good camera) in my shop with the doors closed and lights off (you can't see well enough to walk around with the lights out)

Exterior
Gauges with Illumination lamps turned all the way up
Gauges with Illumination lamps turned almost all the way down
Gauges with Right turn signal on
Interior with Dome Light on


There, happy?
'72 B5 Metallic Blue Hardtop
426" Wedge - Hydraulic Roller Stealth heads

Bob


alfaitalia

Yeah...like it. I'm going to go a similar way i think!
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you !!

M5Ivan

Nice work  :cheers:

I changed most of mine to LEDs too. The only issue I had was with mine is that I needed to reverse the wires (polarity) on the 2 center console floor lights for them to work.

72Charger72


oldcarnut

Do the LEDs put out more heat?  I wondered about the dome light if left on how it would affect the plastic cover

alfaitalia

Generally they give out rather less heat....and if you go for a near stock level of light (not like Blackpool illuminations like some on here) they will put out hardly any heat at all in comparison to s stock tungsten bulbs. Big ones (like LED headlight bulbs do put out some heat....most having metal heat sinks on the back to help disperse it.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you !!