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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - LED instrument globe replacement

FWIW my Tacho speedo fuel gauge etc (1500) instrument lights had all gone "Manky" e.g. cracked, clouded over Globe shroud, result poor lighting. Not repairable to my knowledge.
I have fixed the problem by removing said shroud entirely and fitting a blue LED globe. Works really well. If you can't source these you can make them by grafting a high output LED to a standard globe base including the dropping resistor inside the base.
Advantages are:
-Never replace a hard to get at globe again
-Reduced temperature inside the instrument
-Reduced load on lighting circuit, marginal but every bit helps
-any colour you like including the original green, I just happen to prefer blue to go with the digital gauges now fitted for other things.
Cheers Rod
PS if your interested as to how, send me an email
R W Bowers

Do you have a photo ??

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Hi Prop
No, but basically you take a standard globe then:
1 - desolder the lead from the glass bulb going to the centre of the base
2- break the glass bulb and clean out the resinous stuff holding the glass in
3 - thread the anode connection from your LED, with a dropping resistor for 12v connected in series with it, thru this hole and solder it in place.
4 - check that it works before glueing
5 - Then epoxy resin the LED onto the base. When it all sets, solder the cathode to the side of the base (earth)

Wheewwww sorry lads but it really only takes a few minutes to do this.
The LED should be the 7-8mm high output type in any colour you want (or can get)
BTW white versions are available but $12.00 each. You can do the above for 2-3 bucks. The boys at Radio shack??, can give you the resistor value which you can alter for brightness within certain limits, these devices have a threshold voltage under which they don't work.
Cheers
Rod
R W Bowers

I bought 20 pre-made E10 screw base bulbs from Ebay for about $8, with free shipping, from China.

A search for E10 12v LED should bring up a huge number of results :-)
Growler

I when I.converted to LED dash gauge lights...I got them from radio shack in 12 volt form with housings...then I just wound the housing.in a couple turns and.stuck them in the light bulb holder and pulled all the grounds to one location and used the cars wiring harness for power

They worked great...I used red LEDs

It wasnt much..about $1.99 each...came with the holder housing, tue wires and the led bulb

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Hi Lads I only made my own to get blue "globes", white are easy to get.
Cheers
R W Bowers

Is there an 'off the shelf' white LED bulb for the indicator pilot light - the ones that blink and are a small bayonet fit (BA9 or BA7)?
Daniel Stapleton

Plenty of BA9's on Ebay (search for "BA9 White LED") but no BA7's at present. Plenty of both for sale on the internets in general though.
Growler

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2013 and 24/05/2013

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.