Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Bigron on 28 April 2016, 15:55:51

Title: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 28 April 2016, 15:55:51
A fairly trivial problem, gents, and one which may be more in my perception than real, but said display is becoming hard to read in daylight and impossible when the sun is out. I am SURE - in my head, at least - that it was brighter once! Is it possible that the bulbs dim with age; they are tungsten, yes? Would it be a simple job for a simple bloke to replace them?

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: tunnie on 28 April 2016, 16:01:27
Bulbs could have gone, mine has been operating on 2 bulbs for years, still easily read in normal light but bright light can be an issue.

They have 4 bulbs in there, so worth putting 4 new in  :y
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Stargazer57N on 28 April 2016, 16:56:09
I have the same problem was looking through the forum and came across this link which show how to remove the MID /TID display and it shows where the bulbs are. http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90666.0 (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90666.0)
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: joff on 28 April 2016, 18:41:01
Turn it up on the adjuster by the light switch maybe  ::)or new bulbs :y
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Andy B on 28 April 2016, 18:43:24
Turn it up on the adjuster by the light switch maybe  ::)or new bulbs :y

OP said it was difficult to read in daylight so I suggest the lights were off and the adjuster won't make any difference
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: RobG on 28 April 2016, 18:48:27
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90644.0
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90618.0
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 28 April 2016, 19:05:17
Thank you, gents. At least it's possibly not madness on my part and the display really is less bright now!
When I am brave enough I'll go for it. Some time ago I seem to recall a topic on here regarding substituting LEDs for the tungsten bulbs - is it worth considering?

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: frostbite on 28 April 2016, 20:06:57
I found the Range  sell the grain of wheat bulbs for cheap.

Worth a thought
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Stargazer57N on 28 April 2016, 20:43:59
Does anyone know the type of bulbs are fitted, part number etc.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: frostbite on 28 April 2016, 21:25:20
Ebay item No. 321942346180

3.99 for 10
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Stargazer57N on 29 April 2016, 22:30:19
Thanks frostbite
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: beefyecosse on 30 April 2016, 08:51:13
i replaced mine with  t5 led
bulbs much brighter also replaced the bulbs in the clocks with t10 501 led bulbs at the same time
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 30 April 2016, 09:15:17
"beefyecosse", I'm tempted to do just that myself, but I'm getting confused - an easy thing to do! Some say the bulbs are T1, others reckon they are T5  ???
On ebay, the LED lamps are offered in white and a range of colours; to preserve the standard appearance, should I choose white or amber?
TIA.

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: beefyecosse on 30 April 2016, 15:18:10
i used white led bulbs all round all my interior lights are led aswell www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-12V-0-2W-T5-1-LED-5050-SMD-Instrument-Panel-Bulb-White-Holder-/311374434568?hash=item487f5cd108 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-12V-0-2W-T5-1-LED-5050-SMD-Instrument-Panel-Bulb-White-Holder-/311374434568?hash=item487f5cd108) these are the ones i used in the info display
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 30 April 2016, 15:35:23
Thanks for that - a very good price at 10 for £1.99 inc. delivery!
The usual Hong Kong delay, but I'm in no hurry.

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: berserkerboy on 30 April 2016, 21:49:38
I thought I had this problem. But was simply the brightness adjuster by the fog lamp switches I had moved by accident. Worth just checking it's up to maximum.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 30 April 2016, 22:13:29
Yep, I checked! Does that control work on daylight running anyway?
Thanks for the thought though; I've ordered those LED lamps and will have a go at fitting them when they eventually get here.

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: TheBoy on 01 May 2016, 09:06:18
Can anybody else smell the disappointment already?

On the upside, its only about 5 mins work to replace them again.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 01 May 2016, 12:41:00
Ah, I know those 5 minute jobs, TB; shouldn't take more than an hour or two, then?   ;)

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: TheBoy on 01 May 2016, 15:38:18
Ah, I know those 5 minute jobs, TB; shouldn't take more than an hour or two, then?   ;)

Ron.
6 screws, that's all ;)
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 01 May 2016, 16:13:35
I did look at the guides and it does seem as simple as you say, so when the LEDs make it all the way from Hong Kong I'll go for it!
I have a minor additional problem in that the left hand speedo illumination disappears, remedied in the traditional engineering way of clouting the glass with my knuckle; would I get access to the relevant bulb easily, too?

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: beefyecosse on 01 May 2016, 22:48:10
when you take the instrument cluster out look for the larger bulb holders these are for the backlight bulbs i used some t10 501 ledwww.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-SIDE-LIGHT-BULBS-CANBUS-ERROR-FREE-T10-501W5W-8-SMD-LED-XENON-ICE-BLUE-WHITE-/301908128523?var=&hash=item464b20730b:m:msfXXnQKXRvRNg0NlVcEEZg these are much brighter and draw less power than the standard 3w bulb
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 01 May 2016, 23:12:30
Thanks, I've just ordered them - 10 for a fiver!

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: TheBoy on 02 May 2016, 10:49:14
Thanks, I've just ordered them - 10 for a fiver!

Ron.
Oh dear. Still, its easy enough to change them back to proper bulbs once you realise that LEDs simply do not work satisfactorily in Omega dashboards ;)
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 02 May 2016, 12:54:53
Why, what's the problem, TB? Not a huge cost if I have to throw them away, but don't they fit, or dim properly?

Ron.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: raywilb on 02 May 2016, 13:15:33
I went to europarts as they have them starting at 29p +vat each. i just had £2 in change & the guy gave me 6. have not put them in yet. i thought i may have been pulled over no restraint light as it was an advisory last year, but it was not mentioned for this years.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Andy B on 02 May 2016, 13:19:41
.....
 i thought i may have been pulled over no restraint light as it was an advisory last year, but it was not mentioned for this years.

Que?  ???
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Andy B on 02 May 2016, 13:21:23
Why, what's the problem, TB? Not a huge cost if I have to throw them away, but don't they fit, or dim properly?

Ron.

the dash was designed for normal filament bulbs that have a wide spread of light. led's give a comaparitve narrow spread of light
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: baggers on 02 May 2016, 19:39:56
Why, what's the problem, TB? Not a huge cost if I have to throw them away, but don't they fit, or dim properly?

Ron.

the dash was designed for normal filament bulbs that have a wide spread of light. led's give a comaparitve narrow spread of light

I changed to LED on a Corsa (heater controls) and was very disappointed  the correct bulb gave much better light.
Title: Re: Information disply brightness.
Post by: Bigron on 02 May 2016, 21:49:39
Even these, Andy -  Ebay item No. 301908128523?
They have 8 SM LEDs to give all-round coverage, reportedly.

Ron.