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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Henrius on May 29, 2014, 10:01:46 AM

Title: Can I dim LED instrument bulbs?
Post by: Henrius on May 29, 2014, 10:01:46 AM

It is such a hassle to change bulbs in the back of the instrument cluster when they burn out. I saw LED replacement for factory bulbs and ordered a bunch of them.


But then I realized I installed a dimmer headlight switch, so that I can dim the instrument light cluster on my 1973 Pinto, which never had this feature. Do LEDs dim with decreased voltage like conventional bulbs?


If not, I can still use LEDs for the warning lights and turn signals, and use conventional incandescents for the illumination lights.

Title: Re: Can I dim LED instrument bulbs?
Post by: oldkayaker on May 29, 2014, 12:38:24 PM

A couple threads on this topic that may help.

http://www.fordpinto.com/general-pinto-talk/instrument-cluster-restore-questions/msg120638/#msg120638

http://www.fordpinto.com/general-help/dash-bulbs/msg145043/#msg145043

Title: Re: Can I dim LED instrument bulbs?
Post by: dianne on May 29, 2014, 01:43:46 PM

Stay with the blubs ;)

One of those threads are mine and I decided to stay with the blubs after all the discussions...

Title: Re: Can I dim LED instrument bulbs?
Post by: amc49 on May 31, 2014, 03:12:26 AM

LEDs do dim but at a different rate than incandescent, they will commonly still be on when the others have gone out since designed to work around 3 volts or so. So, it's all LED or nothing. The normal dimmer may well not dim them to go out, depends on the range of it.