$20 Disco Dashlights

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Johnny Atomic

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Little Rock AR
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Johnny
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
Sierra Classic 1500
Engine Size
350
Thought I'd show off one of the projects I've been working on for the last month or so. I was having problems with my dash lights not working. Turns out it was that the footwell light bulb was burned out and caused all kind of weirdness to ensue. I didn't figure that out until AFTER i had the dash completely disassemble and all the dash bulbs tested and replace with different LED bulbs. I almost never go to Walmart but happened to be there a couple weeks ago and saw these lights and thougt it might be a good way to make the dash lights even brighter than just switching out the old style bulbs for LEDs.

I bought this Bro-dozer starter light kit from Wallyworld for $20. Link Here:
Bro-Dozer Light Deluxe Starter Kit Link

I cut off the cigarette lighter power supply thingy and striped back the red and black wires.

I took the red and black wires and soldered them to the base of one of the LED bulbs. I put a zip tie around it to hold the wires in place and not be held in place by the solder joint.

I did this so that when you plug the bulb back in it will be the power source for the light kit. So it goes on and off with the gauge bulbs. All of the current LED replacement bulbs plus the LED light strip kit should pull less current than the old incandescent bulbs.

I then drilled and hole and put a grommet in the cluster housing.

I ran the cables from the light kit through this hole. This leave the controller box outside the cluster. I just left it hanging down under the dash for now temporarily until I decide on which setting I will use.

I then stuck the sticky back LED strips inside the cluster housing. (I re-configured the 2 LED strips end to end instead of with two separate wiring leads).
 

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Johnny Atomic

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2019
Posts
132
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288
Location
Little Rock AR
First Name
Johnny
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
Sierra Classic 1500
Engine Size
350
more pics
 

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Johnny Atomic

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2019
Posts
132
Reaction score
288
Location
Little Rock AR
First Name
Johnny
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
Sierra Classic 1500
Engine Size
350
more photos
 

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Johnny Atomic

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2019
Posts
132
Reaction score
288
Location
Little Rock AR
First Name
Johnny
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
Sierra Classic 1500
Engine Size
350
Videos. The brightness and the effect can be dialed up or down. I have it where it slowly and soothingly changes colors.

Please hold as Old Dude trys to outsmart technology and place MP4 movie files here


Video 1



Dashlight Video 2
 

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Last edited:

Johnny Atomic

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2019
Posts
132
Reaction score
288
Location
Little Rock AR
First Name
Johnny
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
Sierra Classic 1500
Engine Size
350
I've got about almost 1,000 miles on it since installing with no issues.
 

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