bmx1lew Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 (edited) Well today I did my first piece of soldering on the car lol however I’ve done guitar pickups in the past so nothing new, But I was unsure as I’ve never soldered on a circuit board so was worried in case I brake anything. I soldered the engine, abs and oil light peace, as it has never worked, which works great now, any way I found that it was really easy and thought any one could do this and I think I did a good job, It looks neat so I figured as this was quite easy, could I do the LED conversion myself? Is the LED conversion hard, With what I have done today in mind would you say I can solder neat enough to do the LED conversion and what else should I take precautions in if doing the conversion. Is it just a case of a steady hand and that’s it?? Here’s what I did tell me if my work looks good enough to do the led conversion also how do I do it lol? Lew Edited May 11, 2008 by bmx1lew (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 LED conversion ah... Tons of tears, blood and sweat My first LED conversion (full one) made me to take off dashboard like 12 times, when resistors was deciding that my soldering skills are crap and was sticking properly Second and third conversion was piece of cake tho, got used to it hehe. If you are brave and VERY patient - go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmx1lew Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 I think I might do it, im willing to risk it for a biscuit has any one got a guide, instructions, and a shop also does any one know what LED's I need. I want to do a white led conversion so it Matches my Head unitand I want my dash to look like a set of defi guages. so when i get my gauges it all matches up, as if it was standard Lew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukApache Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 (edited) HERE you go mate (site is by Heckler) you can get the leds from ebay... but i bought a load recently and over half were duff i would get em from maplin along with the resistors, diode(s) & prototyping board. go for about 5000 - 8000 mcd with the leds Edited May 11, 2008 by ukApache (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmx1lew Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 looks like allot of hard work, will order the bits tomorrow and start prepairing myself for the challenge, I cant make my mind up now after seeing blue i might do that instead but i would rather have it all match.. could get blue guages instead so the only light that will be white would be the Head unit. What do you guys think, all white or blue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Don't do white, cos you'd then be doing the same as I'm doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmx1lew Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 how come your doing white, can you hurry up with it and get pics so i can see what its like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Good skills Lew, I'd be happy with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 (edited) Don't waste your money in maplin, if you want to buy led's, get it from places like this one (white diffused): http://component-shop.co.uk/ Buy resistors in Conrad Direct - http://www.conrad.com - just find 1/4W metal-film resistor using search. Edited May 12, 2008 by Konrad (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 LED conversion is EASY! Takes me about 2 hours You have to be carefull with white LED's, when you put the side lights on, the A/C unit function LED's dim, if you get the wrong value of resistor/Diode the will dim with a green tinge . All the values on my website are based on a blue LED as its the most popular. And yes, different colour LED have different voltage/current requirements for them to work properly. If you have any problems, drop me a line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Also... dont use too much heat, or leave the soldering iron on the PCB too long as it will cause the track to lift off the board (not good) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmx1lew Posted May 12, 2008 Author Share Posted May 12, 2008 (edited) Cheers for the advice, how many led's do i need to do a full blue conversion aswell as red ones for the red line on the rev limmit? Could you send me a list of what i need heckler to do this so i can order it all ? Lew. Edited May 12, 2008 by bmx1lew (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 Cheers for the advice, how many led's do i need to do a full blue conversion aswell as red ones for the red line on the rev limmit? Could you send me a list of what i need heckler to do this so i can order it all ? Lew. Its all listed on my website! here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted May 12, 2008 Share Posted May 12, 2008 how come your doing white, can you hurry up with it and get pics so i can see what its like. I want the clean white lighting across the board (including headlights/sidelights etc) - I think white on black looks very cool Heckler is doing me the aircon control unit - and I will be tackling the rest myself when I figure out which bits I need to do. I have already got my new dials and stuff but currently my car is off the road having some problems sorted before Japfest - then I've got to get the new carpet/stereo etc in..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmx1lew Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 off to get my gear tomorrow bought my tools off to get led's and this bad boy http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34959&criteria=soldering%20iron&doy=23m5 Lew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 I have one of those too, there ace. but to do ( I find) a converion, a mains soldering iron is much better, tip stays at a constant temperature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmx1lew Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 I already have one so i will use that then just its really grubby now. will i be able to get every thing at maplins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 I already have one so i will use that then just its really grubby now. will i be able to get every thing at maplins? as in LED's etc.... yes, but there expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmx1lew Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 oh yeah forgot to ask what type do i need, there is normal blue, high blue and Blue super bright LED? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 oh yeah forgot to ask what type do i need, there is normal blue, high blue and Blue super bright LED? ultra bright, 3mm and 5mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 I use a Metcal Solder station to do all my soldering - fantastic iron that I cannot fault at all. Almost instant heat too That said, I'm still not brave enough to do the full LED conversion myself. Leaving some of it to the pro's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 your instructions always make me think I can do it but im still to nervous to try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmx1lew Posted May 23, 2008 Author Share Posted May 23, 2008 bloody norra your right they are expensive! where is the best place to go to save money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 http://www.component-shop.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 any benefit to these with resistor built in? http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/blue-12000-with-resistor-p-1644.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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