6 volt LED light bulbs for dash
- Thread starter oldspert
- Start date
Y-Blockhead
Well-known member
Snyder's carries 6v bulbs as I'm sure other vendors do as well.
rotorwrench
Well-known member
I believe that they used the old GE63 (Mazda) bulb type with the G6 base (modern BA15S) bayonet type with the single contact. These are 7.0-volt 3 CP according to GE. They are just a bit less bright on 6-volt but a person has to take into account that the generator output is higher than that.
The caveat of using the LED lamp such as Snyder's A13466-LED bulb is that there is no glass globe to aid in installation and removal in the photo of that product. Amazon and other sources have an LED with a globe to replace the #63 or the #81 type bulbs. The GE81 was a 6-volt bulb with 6 CP output and the same size spec but LEDs aren't rated in candle power as regular incandescent bulbs so keep that in mind when shopping for LED types. The LEDs don't like heat at all so a person may have to look at the globes and see if they are glass or plastic. If plastic a person can drill some small holes in it to circulate air for cooling.
A person has to hope that a Chinese made LED Type won't be so bright that it is virtually unusable for some night time operations. The hood on those 28/29 dash lamp assemblies may do OK even with a bright one.
The caveat of using the LED lamp such as Snyder's A13466-LED bulb is that there is no glass globe to aid in installation and removal in the photo of that product. Amazon and other sources have an LED with a globe to replace the #63 or the #81 type bulbs. The GE81 was a 6-volt bulb with 6 CP output and the same size spec but LEDs aren't rated in candle power as regular incandescent bulbs so keep that in mind when shopping for LED types. The LEDs don't like heat at all so a person may have to look at the globes and see if they are glass or plastic. If plastic a person can drill some small holes in it to circulate air for cooling.
A person has to hope that a Chinese made LED Type won't be so bright that it is virtually unusable for some night time operations. The hood on those 28/29 dash lamp assemblies may do OK even with a bright one.
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ModelA29
Well-known member
I swapped mine for a red led from fleabay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1547611617...8285ACKTfFBFeSCf74n3Qgtw==|tkp:Bk9SR8bZ6I27ZQ
Y-Blockhead
Well-known member
Red ambiance in your interior... Oooo, SEXY.
Jim/GA
Well-known member
I recommend that you install a small 12 volt bulb in there, in the 6 volt car. You will get a nice soft glow of a light from it, plenty to see the instruments from in the dark, and it will not get so hot. It will be less harsh than an LED bulb. You will gladly leave it on for long night time drives.
The basic 12 volt 3 cp parking light bulb you need, get it from any auto parts store, is a number 67 bulb.
For those of you that have converted your car to 12 volts, you can play the same trick by installing a 24 volt parking light bulb, a number 1251 bulb, in the instrument panel light.
oldspert
Senior Member
rotorwrench
Well-known member
The GE67 bulb is a 13.5-volt 4 CP bulb where the GE89 is 13-volt 6CP so they are very similar bulbs used in 12-volt systems. They will function on 6-volt but the lumen level could vary. Any incandescent bulb will radiate some heat but I've never run 12-volt rated bulbs on 6-volts.
The LEDs will use a lot less energy but the lumen levels are a mystery. They tend to use the lumen as the basis for the level of light radiation and there is no clear pathway to candle power comparisons for the most part. A person just has to try them and see.
The LEDs will use a lot less energy but the lumen levels are a mystery. They tend to use the lumen as the basis for the level of light radiation and there is no clear pathway to candle power comparisons for the most part. A person just has to try them and see.
Keith True
Well-known member
I have used 12 volt bulbs in place of the 6 volt too.I did it to get away from the brightness.The 6 volt bulbs are too bright,or glarey reflecting off the instrument panel.To tell the truth though,I never use the dash lights while driving.I have two A's that I put together and checked the dash lights when I installed them,then never once turned them on again.I also have a 28 that I bought with the dash light already in it,and turned that one on just once to see if it worked.