2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Led dash lights

[RKraft]

I just installed some LED lights into my instrument cluster from Chris Epp (CEpp). What a difference I would recommend them. They light up nice and bright easy on your eyes and just plain looks good. My kids think they look cool. Just wanted to post a good reveiw for Chris and his product and let everyone know what I thought about the performance of the LED's.

 

[JCyrbok]

What are u using the LED's for? Got any pics or link to Chris's site (if he has one)?



J-

 

[ttbird]

I also have LED"s in ip from Chris also. Have both blue and green. I like the blue the best but in order to match all the panel lights and Alpine radio lights I've changed back to green. Now I have uniform color over entire dash. Nice product and handles bussiness well. If you like the led's check out the needle kits here: www.ImportIntelligence.com. They say you will need lexan needles which dodge's have. Takes alittle work to remove red paint from backside of needles but is worth the effort. Real impressive at night.

 

[CEpp]

hey guys... . heres the link. .

Link

 

[RKraft]

The pictures don't do these lights justice. They look better in real life. Chris is great to deal with. Good product and excellent service.



Randy

 

[BDR]

I have the Blue LEDs from Chris. I really like them and they look great. Like Randy said, Chris is a great guy to deal with.



Hey Chris~

Any news on some LEDs for the heating and headlight controls?

 

[GAmes]

Have any of you guys turned the lights real dim to see if the headlight switch gets hot? $70 is a lot of money for a few bulbs, but if it will keep the headlight switch from self destructing they would be worth it.

 

[CEpp]

why would the headlamp switch get hot? theres hardly a draw. . u can dim the dash lights down as far as they will go and u still cant get them to go out.

headlamp switch and hvac panel are in the works... just trying to make it a plug in product without extreme modification. once 2nd gens are done. . ill be starting on 3rd gens. just really busy with work. but will happen soon.



randys right the pics dont do them justice. everyone that has bought them has said that!

 

[GAmes]

why would the headlamp switch get hot?

That is what I'm asking. With the stock bulbs and the dash lights dimmed the switch gets hot from the variable resister, that's why a lot of guys drive with the dash lights on bright... ... ... ... ..... not the best thing for night driving. Assumption says that leds won't do that, but I'm asking for someone to verify it. I can do without the WA.

 

[CEpp]

wa? there is so little resistance drop u cant make the bulbs go out, but just dim. i can tell u this, theres less resistance then if u had regular incandlesence bulbs in there and thats the whole idea.

 

[GAmes]

The heat, from what I understand, is not from the draw of the dash lights, but the resistance of the dimmer switch. i. e. dimmer lights draw less power, but the light switch gets hot. Get my drift? So does the switch get hot when the lights are dimmed or not?

 

[McLaughlin]

My understanding is the current for the 2nd gen headlights typically is routed through the headlight switch which causes some additional heat. Seems the combination of headlight current and dimmer heat combine to shorten the life cycle of the switches. That is why a some have put the summit headlight harness in their trucks.

 

[Holysmokes]

I've used his LED's for about 8-9 months now. Thay look SWEET! I wanted to maintain the stock look in the day time. Also looking for a "plug n play" upgrade. I do a fair share of night driving so I wanted something easy on the eyes. I have NO heat issues at all. Hes GREAT to work with. Product VERY easy to install.

 

[steved]

So, as I read this, you are stuck with a single brightness level since you really have no wayt to dim an LED???



steved

 

[Smokn Bio]

I think what they are saying is that the leds use such little power that they will draw fewer amps from the switch witch will reduce the heat you are talking about (I am having this problem now) I understand that the led using less amps that they will not dim as significantly as a regular bulb because they dont require as much power. the power drop doesn't affect them as much, for instance.



regular bulb=



full on = 100% light

full dim = 20% light



led bulb =



full on = 100% light

full off = 40-55% light



this is just a guess on trying to under stand what they are saying hope they will correct me if the % are to far off.

 

[steved]

That's what I'm asking, does the dimmer have enough "control" to actually dim the LEDs or are they just "full on" at any point the dimmer switch is set (essentially making the dimmer switch useless... no dimming function, just on or off)??



I understand what is being asked above too... it isn't the load the bulb places on the dimmer switch that is causing the heat issue, it is the RESISTOR IN THE DIMMER SWITCH that is causing the heat issue... so in short, the resistor will be making the same amount of heat regardless of the bulb/led that is used.





steved

 

[GAmes]

I understand what is being asked above too... it isn't the load the bulb places on the dimmer switch that is causing the heat issue, it is the RESISTOR IN THE DIMMER SWITCH that is causing the heat issue... so in short, the resistor will be making the same amount of heat regardless of the bulb/led that is used.

steved

Exactly what I was trying to convey. So, what is the answer form those of you who have them?

 

[steved]

Exactly what I stated... the resistor is used to vary the voltage to the bulbs... that creates heat. The LEDs use less wattage, but the resistor is still changing the voltage, hence you will still have heat... maybe not as much since the LEDs don't draw as much current, but you will still have some.



steved

 

[CEpp]

steved is correct... sure there is going to be heat. but it takes a lot less voltage to light a led thus resulting in a lot less heat in the resistor to dim them. its a substansial reduction.

 

[GAmes]

steved is correct... sure there is going to be heat. but it takes a lot less voltage to light a led thus resulting in a lot less heat in the resistor to dim them. its a substansial reduction.

That doesn't make any sense to me. It would seem that the heat is caused by the voltage (or is it amperage?) reduction BEFORE the lights get power, not what the lights use. There is no heat (hot on top of the dash above the switch) when the bulbs are on full bright and drawing full power, but the dimmer the lights are set, the hotter it gets-at least in my truck. Is a simple yes or no answer from a user, not the kit seller, available?