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Mylar, dash lighting
https://forums.tipec.net/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=10598		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  t3rra [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Mylar, dash lighting
We all know about tin foll trick, I personally used inside off a crips packet as it was more reflective. However my dash lights are still quite dim and was wondering if anyone had used Mylar? 95% refective?

Or if anyone knows what or were I can get the mirror backing film from.

Thanks
Author:  Carrera RSR [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mylar, dash lighting
Which flavour? Salt n vinegar are not a good as cheese n onion!!
Author:  J.J. [ Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mylar, dash lighting
Doesn't matter what you cover them in. The perspex degrades. If new brighter LEDs arn't bright enough the only solution is to remove the old widgets & replace them either with some LED light string or theres a guy making new ones with LEDs inside them. Work pretty well. Got mine from Ebay. Wasn't expensive.
Author:  poprock [ Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mylar, dash lighting
J.J. wrote:
Doesn't matter what you cover them in. The perspex degrades.


Yep. That’s exactly right.

Best bet is to remove the prisms completely and fit LEDs shining directly up onto the instruments. If you want to diffuse the light a little, a strip of something along the top should do the trick.

The prisms were there mainly because traditional bulbs were too big to fit straight on in the dash. LEDs are smaller.
Author:  Pastry [ Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mylar, dash lighting
you read this?;

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/9 ... iteup.html

the tried and tested foil method but uses 2 LEDs for each bulb location, you could probably fit more in if space allows to get them brighter still. he wires them in series i'd probably wire them in parallel with the appropriate resistor for each, or you can get LEDs with resistors already built in to run at 12v.
Author:  DaveM [ Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mylar, dash lighting
I used a strip of 5 or 6 of these from Maplin.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/dc-12-v-led-strip-218015

They fit in the channel where the reflectors are infront of the gauges and they have an adhesive backing so just stick to the front of the reflectors. I actually removed the middle reflector and wired it into the bulb holder. They are a bit too bright to be honest and reflect on the windscreen at times, but they do dim with the dash light dimmer so I guess another resistor in line will sort that.
Author:  David924S [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mylar, dash lighting
I used mirror foil from a local hobby shop the stuff dolls house makers make little mirrors from, very shiny does not crinkle, sticks easily with spray adhesive and if you remove the prisms it can be fixed inside to overcome the plastic prism fogging issue, then I used wide angle LEDs in the three lamp holders so the light spreads better. Think the foil was around £4 for a big roll so cheap and loads of spare.
Author:  t3rra [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Mylar, dash lighting
Sounds good, just one thing? MIT be just my understand but u fitted 2 out side off the prism ? Yes???? As if u fit in inside then the prism won't carry the light along till it hits the 45deg reflection aiming the light at the clocks?
Author:  David924S [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Mylar, dash lighting
Sorry yes on the outside of the prism what I meant was it can easily be folded and cut around the prism to cover every piece it is very flexible and sticks easily with photo spray adhesive, I then covered the outside of the foil with black tape to seal in the light. Works much better than aluminium foil or silver paint.
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