For Those Bored With the Look of the Dash Gauges

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by Buz

I would be in if the speedometer can be re scaled so that it is accurate.

ditto.

[MikeC]

Originally Posted by Buz

I would be in if the speedometer can be re scaled so that it is accurate.

Reprinting a different scale won't help because the speedometers are off by different amounts on different cars.

[Shiftlock]

Originally Posted by MikeC

Reprinting a different scale won't help because the speedometers are off by different amounts on different cars.

I don't think that's true. Why do you think so?

[andykeck]

Originally Posted by Shiftlock

I don't think that's true. Why do you think so?

Yeah, I thought it was almost always between 7 and 8 percent.

[clopi2000]

I finished my mockup today, and printed it on a cheap transparency to check the fit. It works well. I plan to live with it a week or so and check speed accuracy with my Garmin V. I like it so far. I prefer the inverted looks, and the graphics are much crisper than the stock graphic sheet. Too bad I only had my cellphone to take pictures. I'll post new pictures soon.

[clopi2000]

Originally Posted by mrluky

Not Bad. Any way to make the black actualy black? It still lets some orange through.

This mockup was printed on your usual keynote transparency. It is just to test the graphic elements position. I will print the final graphics on lexan with an industrial printer. The black will be opaque.

[goldfive]

very cool! Much nicer than the stock ones...

[darkSol]

It's very nice except you HAVE to do some kind of redesign/cutout around the shift/security light. It's too busy there.

Years ago I doubled up on the transparencies to help with light bleeding on my old Honda delSol - one had dial markings and surrounds, the second just had the surrounds (because it's almost impossible to get them both to stay lined up).

We need to change out the horrific orange electroluminescent plate - and someone has to read all the part numbers/mfg off the 16 pin 16x2 unit. I still think plain old white would be best.

[clopi2000]

Originally Posted by darkSol

It's very nice except you HAVE to do some kind of redesign/cutout around the shift/security light. It's too busy there.

You are right. I think I'll just put a standalone segment inside the ring for the 2nd cam area indicator.

[scottyb]

Why not just take the stock transparency and make a negative of it. That way only the numbers would light up.

You could probably do it easily with a scanner on your computer. Or just go to any dentist or x ray tech and have them expose the stock one to film. That would give a perfect negative of the stock transparency.

[scottyb]

If you want a blue background, can't you just remove that orange sheet behind the stock Transparency and substitute it with any other color? I assume the LED's used are white behind the orange screen.

[clopi2000]

Originally Posted by scottyb

Why not just take the stock transparency and make a negative of it. That way only the numbers would light up.

You could probably do it easily with a scanner on your computer. Or just go to any dentist or x ray tech and have them expose the stock one to film. That would give a perfect negative of the stock transparency.

That would work if the needles were lit. They are not.

[clopi2000]

Originally Posted by scottyb

If you want a blue background, can't you just remove that orange sheet behind the stock Transparency and substitute it with any other color? I assume the LED's used are white behind the orange screen.

The orange sheet is an electroluminescent plate. It has a little connector at the top. It is custom made for the cluster. There are no LED's behind.

[Wimbledon]

Surely there is a way to make a different color plate? Like red?

[goldfive]

I think the way to do it is to have a white EL sheet, then cover that with a red (or color of choice) theatrical gel sheet. This will dim the brightness, but it will give it color. Then print out the dial designs on translucent white or frosted plastic. During the day, the numbers/hash marks can be white for easy reading, then at night, they will turn the color of choice by virtue of the gel and backlighting.

EL sheets do not come in a great variety of colors unfortunately. And in off mode, the white is actually pink. The unlighted-needle issue and the plain-jane LCD display also have to be dealt with. I've found plenty of sources for 16x2 backlit LCDs in a variety of colors, but I have no idea if you can just swap out the factory one for another one.

[Ken Wright]

Another suggestion:

move the numerals closer to the center of the gauges so that they are less likely to be hidden by the steering wheel.

[MyFutureSelfnMe]

Update: I just ordered a Stack instrument cluster out of a 2001 Elise from a scrapyard near Birmingham, UK. I can't hear that well, and I knew there would be problems, so I had my friend Ken make the call. He was having problems himself, and about halfway through the call he started faking a cockney accent. Suddenly the call started going smoothly. The part should be here in a week or two. It cost 200 GBP.

The cluster is frontlit in blue, and the graphic insert is opaque. I am going to reproduce the graphic insert in aluminum, modified to fit the Shurlok cluster, and steal the lighting.

[darkSol]

I received a white electroluminescent sheet in the mail yesterday. It's 5800 Kelvin so it has just a twinge of blue in there.

This upcoming week is when the amber in the cluster goes away!
(The wife is in Florida doing her board recertification - so it's Elise mod time!)

So besides the cluster/LCD has anyone checked out the HVAC illumination and start button?

Hopefully there's are just a couple of amber condoms over mini incandescents and not integrated amber filters. If worse comes to worse I DO have a nice white S2000 start button.

I'll post progress pictures/results as I proceed.

[shay2nak]

cant wait to see your work, david.

[darkSol]

Well it seems that the actual amber color is built into the overlay NOT the Orange EL (ElectroLuminescent) panel.

Here I'm holding the overlay up to one of my kitchen pot lights - which has a pure daylight full spectrum bulb in it:




See! You can't see the color of the EL panel through the overlay (pink, orange or otherwise):





For further reference purposes here is the stock EL panel/overlay as it is seen in the car at full brightness:




Here are both panels illuminated - you can see the shape of the stock one sitting on top of the white EL panel:




Here's the white EL panel with the overlay on top, masked off with some Chipotle napkins. It has a much brighter, cleaner appearance but now seems to be mildy... um... peach colored:




Finally here's the comparison that sells. Left hand side - stock orange EL panel (right hand tucked underneath). Right hand side - new white EL panel:



It may even be brighter once I cut/trim/reduce the size.

To have the pure white/blue light to show through you need to either use LED front illumination or create a custom overlay (as posted earlier in this thread). I'm going to do a 1200dpi hires scan of the overlay/EL tomorrow morning before continuing on this project... stay tuned!

BTW, I purchased the kit (17"x8.5" sheet, hardware, invertor) for $109 from http://www.beingseen.com. The sheet is large enough to make two EL gauge panels, side by side... or just do a panel and place the leftovers somewhere else in the car... plunk a couple strips in the engine bay and light it up like the R8 does... or perhaps a couple strips to assist in entry when the doors open...

EDIT: The sheet is big enough to make FOUR EL panels - the stock one is 7.75" x 3.5"