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[Dany]

Anyone here have already done this job? Changing the complete interior lighting with LED's?
(By the complete interior I mean, the aircon panel, the NCDC and the other switchs all arround, steering wheel commands, tacho lamps, power windows commands, headlamps switch, lighter lamp, rear heated seats switches, ......so all!)

I know it's possible but I'm after some "how-to" for all that, I have nothing found about the Facelift Omega.

Here's a pic of an Astra H modified in white-red.
http://www.bluecars.net/product_info.php?cPath=28_91&products_id=553&language=en

I think my Omega would be very nice with a full white interior lighting, in combination with the cream beige leather and the polished wood effect...

Any suggests/helps/opinions? 

[TheBoy]

LEDs aren't suitable for lighting/illuminating Omega dash, as its designed for wide angled bulbs to send light down lightguides, which isn't much good with ultranarrow output LEDs.

Additionally, as whites are ultrabrites, switches become distracting at night, and MID unreadable in the day.



Plenty of previous posts about those stupid, gay blue LEDs, pretty much same applies...

[Dany]

I agree, blue is for gay... But I think white brings more elegance to the car (especially coupled with leather seats)... And for the screen, I have a CID, so I don't mind.

I have found this for example (preface dash, so I assume it's possible for facelift too?), yes it's in blue but I want to do it in white!
They advise to tilt the LED's for 45°, may be precisely to avoid being blinded?

http://www.blauetachos.de/doc/opel/omega-b/aus_und_umbau_fuer_opel_omega_b.htm

[TheBoy]

I agree, blue is for gay... But I think white brings more elegance to the car (especially coupled with leather seats)... And for the screen, I have a CID, so I don't mind.

I have found this for example (preface dash, so I assume it's possible for facelift too?), yes it's in blue but I want to do it in white!

http://www.blauetachos.de/doc/opel/omega-b/aus_und_umbau_fuer_opel_omega_b.htm

My point was about the LEDs, I realised you weren't going for the gay blue ones

But the same applies, LEDs just don't work well unless the case is designed for them. The Omega isn't

[Dany]

Do you mean the LED's doesn't lights up? Or what's the problem with the Omega?

I do not want to contradict you, I simply inform me 

[TheBoy]

Do you mean the LED's doesn't lights up? Or what's the problem with the Omega?

I do not want to contradict you, I simply inform me 

In switches with indicators, they are simply too bright. These LEDs, like the blue ones, are Ultrabrites.

When used for illumination or backlighting, they are too dim due to the narrow angle of the LED's light output being unsuitable for lightguides.

[Dany]

Huummmmmmm ok... I'm still thinking so.

Others opinion are welcome 

[mantahatch]

Personally it would not be my choice. Then again most of my driving is short distance and in day light. So not really worth it for me.

Just my useless opinion 

[Kneepad]

Huummmmmmm ok... I'm still thinking so.

Others opinion are welcome 

Not my taste, but then I'm an old fart and would pay more attention to what The Boy said.
I also wonder what effect the dimmer controls would have on leds.   :-/
I think you have made up your mind. Post some photos when it's done.   

[feeutfo]

Thought the face lift bulbs where white and the stock orange colour comes from the facier the white bulb shines through giving orange lit dash.

If so, will a brighter white light source give the white effect you want? Not sure it will. Plus the info display will be to dim by day, and dash lights too bright by night as said...

[Kevin Wood]

Don't know what's wrong with bulbs, myself. :-/ If it 'aint broke...

But before fitting LEDs, take off the dash, or the climate panel, or whatever, and look at how the light guides to which TheBoy refers actually work.

The all rely on conducting light from the side of the light bulb along a plastic moulding to the decals on the panel.

LEDs throw light out forwards in a narrow beam, and more so the high intensity ones. No light sideways = no light to the panel.

And yes, the orange colour comes from the decals themselves not the bulbs.

Kevin

[Dave DND]

As others keep saying, Coloured LEDS are not really the way to go. However, if you want to change the colour of the dash and switches - and I`m all for that, then this may help you decide how to best do it.

1st) Give up with the LED conversion comments and kits - they are simply not workable in 99% of cars

2) Have a look at the bulbs that currently provide the illumination, if they are coloured bulbs, then simply replace with coloured bulbs of your chosen colour choice - some will talk of painting the bulbs with glass paint - don`t bother, it only lasts a few weeks before it burns off.

3) If you have clear bulbs, then the colour will come from a translucent film that is affixed somewhere near the front edge of whatever you are looking at. Changing the colour is a case of changing the translucent film for a different colour - can be very complex to do, but well worth the effort, and as standard bulbs are still retained, the viewing light level is seldom impaired. With Christmas coming up, don`t be tempted to use the clear film from the Roses sweet wrappers (!) as they wrinkle if placed by a hot bulb - but instead go to a good lighting store or search for coloured lighting filters, comes as a large sheet, a bit like acetate, and simply cut it to size.

Hope this helps.

 

[mr ICE man]

i did mine with the whole set of white ones and wish i never had!makes all the displays very very hard to see.reslly would ot do it again!

[Dany]

Thank you all for your help! I'm really interested to convert all in white but my problems are:

1. Where can I find a complete set of LED conversion for the Facelift?

2. I have taked out a rear heated seat switch and opened it to see how are the bulbs... They looks like soldered in the socket and form one part with the plastic?? How to replace them with the LED's?? Are the others dash switches the same thing?

And for the screen readability, I have a colour CID one, so not a problem for me 

Mr Ice man, do you have some pics of your realisaton? How do you have replaced the switches bulbs? Which type of LED's do you have used?

[Omegafantasy]

I can't agree with LED's looking awful for backlighting stuff in the Omega. I was bored with yellow-ish buttons and displays, some of them even worn out, so I converted the whole lot to LED. All my switch symbols are now red, while switch indicators is yellow. Speedometer and MID warm white. To make this look good I made sure to use diffuse LEDs. Normal clear ones will only light up a smaller area, while the diffuse ones will light up like a bulb. You wouldn't notice the difference apart from the crisp colour.

If you want to save some time with the switches you can buy LEDs with integrated resistors. The switches are a bit of a pain to do though, but all the other bits are really easy.

A good source for the white diffuse 3mm and 5mm LEDs is www.led1.de (where I bought mine).

If I will see if I can dig up some pictures of my conversion.