Posted By: cdstl
Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 11:47 AM
I put a new Tach into my 72 Cuda but it is too bright at night. When I turn it down, I can't see my my aftermarket oil/temp gauges or the dash. I put some LED bulbs into the gauges, but when I turn down the light on the tach I can't read those anymore.
I don't really want to put a permanent sun shade type of material on the tach and was thinking about one of those "baby shade" window shades. The kind that you would unfold and put on the window and then take it down when you're done. Trouble is that I don't think that they are made anymore.
Suggestions?
Thanks
Posted By: cdstl
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 11:58 AM
Well, I found my baby shades after all.
BABY SHADEIt may be the least expensive solution.
Posted By: burdar
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 01:04 PM
What color is the tach light? I wonder if a different color would tone it down. You can get colored LEDs or silicone covers to put over a traditional bulb.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 01:18 PM
Just put a dab of paint on it.
Posted By: TC@HP2
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 02:08 PM
Take the bulb out and paint it with candy apple blue or green. Candy colors are translucent and will still let light through but will tone it down and tint it.
Other alternative is crawl junkyards pulling bulbs from 1st generation Grand Cherokees. Some of these have rubber bulb covers in blue.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 02:57 PM
Take the bulb out and paint it with candy apple blue or green. Candy colors are translucent and will still let light through but will tone it down and tint it.
Other alternative is crawl junkyards pulling bulbs from 1st generation Grand Cherokees. Some of these have rubber bulb covers in blue.
I think Summit has them as well...
Posted By: burdar
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 03:01 PM
Here are some blue ones. I almost bought these for my tach but went with blue LED instead.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Eagle-Mini-Bulb-Cover-5-pack-BLUE/152462869680?hash=item237f7ec4b0:g:Ww0AAOSwmqZawkP9
Posted By: dart4forte
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 03:05 PM
If your tach is wired into your dash lights you should be able to dim it
Posted By: cdstl
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 04:05 PM
I ordered some baby shades and plan on cutting out a disc to slap on when it gets dark. We'll see how it works.
Thanks for the replies.
Posted By: moparx
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 04:32 PM
try this for direct link. do not include anything after the "?".
Posted By: burdar
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 04:34 PM
try this for direct link. do not include anything after the "?".
Thanks, that's been happening a lot lately. I figured there was an easy fix.
Posted By: dvw
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/23/20 04:45 PM
I use a colored sharpie for the bulbs. Works great.
Doug
Posted By: cdstl
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/28/20 02:46 PM
FYI
I talked to Autometer about putting a bulb cover on. Evidently this tach, and probably all of them, has "microscopic" bulbs that are soldered into the board. They are not like the incandescent bulbs which we replace with LED bulbs. My option is to buy an aftermarket rheostat dimmer solely for the tach. Not going to happen.
The baby shade film came in and a quick check shows me that it will probably be satisfactory.
Thanks for the replies.
Seems like you could just add a resistor to the wire feeding the light in the tac.
Posted By: 440lebaron
Re: Tach is too bright - 10/28/20 08:20 PM
if the bulb is replaceable put in lower candlepower