Chris Bracey Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Hi. My 1500 spitfire doesnt have the heater controls illiminated. I looked at haynes manual but could not find any sign of a bulb on the heater controls. I took centre dash out and it looks like it should have a buld holder inserted into an illumination pod and although the wiring loom looks original there was no holder or wiring looking for a home. I assume it would be a red wire like the other instruments with black earth wire . So i can make up a circuit i can run off a gauge lighting but what colour wires were originally used and where were they routed., does anyone know. I could see a whiite wire with an empty bullet connector hanging in the air on the left side of the dash but havent tested if its live. If you have any pictures of the bulb and holder it would be great. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Yes you neeď to link to a red side lamp wire. ive used a minature holder with a capless 1.2 watt bulb fits inside the unused holder If I find a pic I will add it. pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bracey Posted September 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Thanks . The tube looks quite narrow. I had thought about an led strip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Think you will find there is a prism on the plastic , so needs to shine into it if I remember !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Chris, I've recently done this on my GT6, I don't think UK GT6s were illuminated, but I think some late Spitfires were. Whatever the case, the prism is there on the GT6 and Spitfire plastic. There is a bulb connector and the whole unit, connector and plastic strip, sometimes come up on fleabay, for a price. I used an LED and it wouldn't fit the connector anyway, so I bought an LED connector, put it in a tube over the lens and gorilla glued it all together. The LED has to be tight against the lens the result is well worth the effort, it looks really good! Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted September 10, 2019 Report Share Posted September 10, 2019 (edited) I illuminated my heater controls last year by forming a light box at the back of the dash behind the controller and fitting an led instrument bulb at each end. I think I documented it on my restoration thread. I will check and add the link later. Update. Don't appear to have posted the full upgrade but thumbnail instructions are here.. https://forum.tssc.org.uk/topic/2778-instrument-lighting-vitesse/?tab=comments#comment-27065 Hope it helps a little Edited September 10, 2019 by Badwolf updated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted September 10, 2019 Report Share Posted September 10, 2019 I tried illumination from either end, but got brighter results using the prism in the middle. And half the effort. (if I hadn't tried both ends first, obviously) Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted September 10, 2019 Report Share Posted September 10, 2019 I found that using the ali 'u' extrusion as a light box with a light at each end, all 3 points in the plastic clip in thingy got some light. Using the centre only, the light fell off towards the ends. I will be working on the dash in a couple of weeks so will post some photos then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted September 10, 2019 Report Share Posted September 10, 2019 Yes, mine is dimmer at the ends, but visible. I did think about an LED at either end and one in the middle, but that would've been too much! And think of the drain on the battery! db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted September 11, 2019 Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 20 hours ago, dougbgt6 said: Yes, mine is dimmer at the ends, but visible. I did think about an LED at either end and one in the middle, but that would've been too much! And think of the drain on the battery! db 3 LEDS? Do you want to illuminate the controls or have a reading lamp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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