Quick UV LED question

[Albannach]

I've re-done my dash needles with flourescent paint and am toying with the idea of fitting some UV LEDs to make them glow a bit at night.

Has anyone done this? If so, how many LEDs and where do I position them?

Or any other ideas on how to illuminate the needles would be appreciated.

[POPEYE]

Some reading matter
http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/sh...ight=dash+leds

[BUSHWHACKER]

I've re-done my dash needles with flourescent paint and am toying with the idea of fitting some UV LEDs to make them glow a bit at night.

Has anyone done this? If so, how many LEDs and where do I position them?

Or any other ideas on how to illuminate the needles would be appreciated.

Idealy they should be fitted out of sight, but still be able to illuminate the needles. Maybe at the top of the cluster, behind the clear plastic cover and pointing down. You could dab a bit of black paint on the side of the LED that faces you so that they are not too obvious.

[POPEYE]

I suppose if he fitted em in some sort of angle poise lamp in miniture type thing he could fit em on the outside of the surround and point em at the needles, might save ripping the dash apart,

[Apache]

Make sure you get LEDs with some output in the visible spectrum just reaching up into the UV band (ie the very low end of the UV spectrum). UV as defined in the EM spectrum isn't visible to the human eye so if you buy leds with UV O/P higher up the spectrum you wont even know they're on!

[POPEYE]

Wont they show up the floresent paint tho,?

I know when i did my dash i had to fit loads of em and they still aint very bright on their own, dam near one led per number on the gauge, bit of a waste of time, should have left em out and just stuck with the other colours

[Apache]

They might, but it does depend on the wavelength of the LED.

[darkdezigns]

I've re-done my dash needles with flourescent paint and am toying with the idea of fitting some UV LEDs to make them glow a bit at night.

Has anyone done this? If so, how many LEDs and where do I position them?

Or any other ideas on how to illuminate the needles would be appreciated.

do the needles look ok?wot did u use??

[MattF]

I know when i did my dash i had to fit loads of em and they still aint very bright on their own

They ain't meant to be. UV LED's aren't used for normal illumination purposes. Some of them, as Apache mentioned, emit visible light, but that's not their purpose per se.

[Albannach]

do the needles look ok?wot did u use??

They look good in daylight and not too bad at night, just a little dim. I used Halfrauds Flourescent Orange spray paint. Cleaned the old needles with acetone first.

I'll try to remember to get a daytime pic, but it'll be Friday before I get a chance.

[BUSHWHACKER]

They look good in daylight and not too bad at night, just a little dim. I used Halfrauds Flourescent Orange spray paint. Cleaned the old needles with acetone first.

I'll try to remember to get a daytime pic, but it'll be Friday before I get a chance.

Did you spray the needles white before you applied the orange? It makes them brighter.

[Albannach]

Did you spray the needles white before you applied the orange? It makes them brighter.

Em, nope. Sprayed them from the back. Was thinking about a white seal coat on top of the orange, but they look fine now and I don't want to mess them up.

[POPEYE]

They ain't meant to be. UV LED's aren't used for normal illumination purposes. Some of them, as Apache mentioned, emit visible light, but that's not their purpose per se.

PER SE!! i see I know what you mean although when they do emit light it's a very nice colour if you know what i mean, UV is wot they used in discos in the seventy's aint it, showed up the dandruff on ya velvet jacket very well,

[Albannach]

Cat's urine glows in UV light...

I just thought I'd share that with you whilst we're on the subject.

[Scorpion]

PER SE!! i see I know what you mean although when they do emit light it's a very nice colour if you know what i mean, UV is wot they used in discos in the seventy's aint it, showed up the dandruff on ya velvet jacket very well,

Ha, that brought back some memories Ian. I used to have a red velvet jacket with white stitching, ala Rod stewart when he sang 'Maggie May'. I thought I was the bees knees until I went to the Three Tuns disco at Whickham, the UV lighting made my jacket look like the lint filter from a tumble drier!