How to remove / solder a PLCC LED for gauge / hvac work PICS
Originally Posted by sinningxlove
alright so how much would it cost to have the gage clusters done? do you also do the heat controls too?
http://www.garage1217.com/album1_015.htm
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 28
From: Vilnius, Lithuania
id like to do this to my tc, however im a little frightened. im in Lithuania and its hard to find a tc, not to mention how hard it is to find a tc led swapper.
i have a little experience in solding, so its not that new to me.
therefore ive got a few quetions:
1) do you swap oem orange leds with white ones and paint the back of the cluster in desired color? if so, what paint do you use? or you use light filter (dont know how its called in english. a transparent sheet in whatever color?)
2) if the method i described above is good the one that can be used, can i buy only the leds from u or another swapper?
thanks for your time,
luv ur work :D
i have a little experience in solding, so its not that new to me.
therefore ive got a few quetions:
1) do you swap oem orange leds with white ones and paint the back of the cluster in desired color? if so, what paint do you use? or you use light filter (dont know how its called in english. a transparent sheet in whatever color?)
2) if the method i described above is good the one that can be used, can i buy only the leds from u or another swapper?
thanks for your time,
luv ur work :D
Senior Member
Scikotics
SL Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 9,731
From: Minneapolis, MN
If you want he gauge faces all the same colors (lines and numbers the same) then you just use the color led you want. So if you wanted blue, you would just use blue leds.
I will add though that if you want pink or purple, dont use pink or purple leds. There is no such thing as a true pink led.. so they add a phosphourescent coating to make the color.. which has been proven to fade over time. Purple is the same and is many times created by using UV leds, which are bad for your eyes.
So, for the above, or if you want to create multitone look on the faces (like blue numbers, white lines for example) then you use white leds and order a colored translucent film to apply to the backs where you want the other colors. If you do the two tone look using the colored film, I recommend doing the resistor swap on the gauges as well to make them a bit brighter. (Just to clarify, you ALWAYS need the resistor and regulator swap on the HVAC unless you are using red leds)
For warning lights, turn signals and the HVAC buttons you can just buy the correct color leds for each one since they are all lit by individual leds.
Any of us that do the swaps can sell you the colored film, leds, resistors, etc that you need.
I will add though that if you want pink or purple, dont use pink or purple leds. There is no such thing as a true pink led.. so they add a phosphourescent coating to make the color.. which has been proven to fade over time. Purple is the same and is many times created by using UV leds, which are bad for your eyes.
So, for the above, or if you want to create multitone look on the faces (like blue numbers, white lines for example) then you use white leds and order a colored translucent film to apply to the backs where you want the other colors. If you do the two tone look using the colored film, I recommend doing the resistor swap on the gauges as well to make them a bit brighter. (Just to clarify, you ALWAYS need the resistor and regulator swap on the HVAC unless you are using red leds)
For warning lights, turn signals and the HVAC buttons you can just buy the correct color leds for each one since they are all lit by individual leds.
Any of us that do the swaps can sell you the colored film, leds, resistors, etc that you need.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 283
im glad this topic is still active. i have a few questions. i have a little experience with soldering but never small leds and stuff. how would you rate this conversion in difficulty? and about how long does it take from disassembly to reassembly? if i was to send it to you about how long is the turnover time? thanks.
Turn arouns is super fast. I perform the work the day I get the items and ship the next via express mail 1-2 day shipping which is included in the price of any of my gauge cluster + hvac swaps. Difficulty depends totally on your soldering experience. If you have soldered any basic SMD devices, you should be fine.
Senior Member
SL Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 283
it seems pretty straight forward. i think i might take it on. i was thinking about going to a pull and save and rippin out a gauge cluster to try it out on. this way if i mess it up permanently im only out the few bucks it cost at the junk yard.
