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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Switch illumination
        
(Message started by: Scorpio_Mike on Jan 27th, 2009, 4:05pm)
Title: Switch illumination
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 27th, 2009, 4:05pm
Has anyone managed to replace the bulbs in the heated window and heated seat switches ?
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Simmo on Jan 27th, 2009, 5:06pm
Mike, I think THIS (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/tripswitch.htm) is the closest anyone has got to it but it may help. If Tompion is bored he might try something!! ;D :D. There is also an article in similar vein about the sunroof switch HERE (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/ilsunroof.htm).
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by SnowyScorpio on Jan 27th, 2009, 5:26pm

on 01/27/09 at 16:05:15, Scorpio_Mike wrote:
Has anyone managed to replace the bulbs in the heated window and heated seat switches ?


Is it the switch for rear and front windowheatin on the AC consol your refering to?
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Chieftain on Jan 27th, 2009, 6:17pm
mike I had a post about the heated seat switches a while ago.  Had a good one dontated so played with the others, found it was the bulb that was dead so simply replaced it with a 12v green grain of wheat bulb, result lovley green switch illumination.  When I got my Scorp nearly 2 years ago the heated window switches were the same so used grain of wheat again and they are still going strong.  Total time 30 mins, grain of wheat from model shop few pounds for a box of 12.  hope this is of use. ;D
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 27th, 2009, 7:23pm

on 01/27/09 at 17:26:50, SnowyScorpio wrote:
Is it the switch for rear and front windowheatin on the AC consol your refering to?


Yes, they are the ones.

I had to extract the CC panel to swap a bulb or 2 out today - a bit tricky as someone has bent the metal clips in the past.
Twas then I realised the heated front and rear windscreen switch illumination was not, well, very illuminating - so thought I would try and do summat about it. Would also be nice to have the heated seat switches illuminating too as intended by Uncle Henry.
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Tompion on Jan 27th, 2009, 7:32pm
I have done it with LED's but I think the grain of wheat bulbs should be better, saves cramming a resister in there & probably better light spread/colour.
I bought some grain of wheat bulbs off Ebay – after a previous post on here (possibly Chieftain’s) although not used them yet.
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 27th, 2009, 9:04pm
Can you use GoW bulbs in the CC & headlight switch panels ?
Just wondering if the bulbs in the tiny holders can be changed  ???
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Simmo on Jan 27th, 2009, 9:42pm

on 01/27/09 at 19:32:07, Tompion wrote:
I have done it with LED's but I think the grain of wheat bulbs should be better, saves cramming a resister in there & probably better light spread/colour.
I bought some grain of wheat bulbs off Ebay – after a previous post on here (possibly Chieftain’s) although not used them yet.

I just knew you would have to have a go at something like this!!. ;D ;D
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 27th, 2009, 10:18pm
Simmo - did you get any bulbs for the headlight switch ?
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Jonnycab on Jan 28th, 2009, 12:58am
That's interesting....I might just get some of those grain of wheat bulbs myself as I was wondering what to replace those un-illuminating tiny little bulbs with  :)

Seen some blue ones on Ebay which might look quite interesting in the dark  ;)
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Tompion on Jan 28th, 2009, 1:36am

on 01/27/09 at 21:42:43, Simmo wrote:
I just knew you would have to have a go at something like this!!. ;D ;D

I had contemplated illuminating the cruise control buttons, but gave myself a good talking to ;D
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Tompion on Jan 28th, 2009, 1:41am

on 01/27/09 at 21:04:11, Scorpio_Mike wrote:
Can you use GoW bulbs in the CC & headlight switch panels ?
Just wondering if the bulbs in the tiny holders can be changed  ???


Don't think they'd be bright enough for the CC panel as they have to illuminate various areas via plastic prisms/light paths.
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Simmo on Jan 28th, 2009, 6:29am

on 01/27/09 at 22:18:15, Scorpio_Mike wrote:
Simmo - did you get any bulbs for the headlight switch ?

Not yet Mike as I haven't seen the chap yet.He was not there when I collected the car but I hope to see him this week.  ;) Mike.
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Chieftain on Jan 28th, 2009, 12:40pm
Yes GoW do work in the heated window switches, if you look at my reply I said I used them for seat switches and screen switches switches, plenty of light and easy to fit, and as i said dead cheap in model shops. ;D
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Tompion on Jan 28th, 2009, 3:13pm
My last reply was referring to the panel not the switches, which I took the second query to be about.
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Chieftain on Jan 28th, 2009, 3:31pm
Ah confusion reigns :-[
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 30th, 2009, 11:13am
Well, having this morning pulled apart a spare heated seat switch and a spare heated window switch - both with non-working illumination I have to question WHY did Ford put an LED in for the power on indicator but an old fashioned type grain-of-wheat bulb for the illumination ?
Maybe to sell lots of spare expensive switches  ???
Time to get some 12v LEDs and dig the soldering iron out I think.
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Chieftain on Jan 30th, 2009, 5:11pm
New seat switch £26 from FMD.  When i first took one apart asked same question why filament and LED?
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by Moonchalk on Jan 31st, 2009, 1:15pm
Brand new (well unused stock) heater switches are still available (few days wait tho) from FMD, I was recently quoted £20+VAT each.

Part numbers for front & rear screen switches are:

7142895
7142896

HTH
:)
Title: Re: Switch illumination
Post by tlundkvi on Feb 2nd, 2009, 10:15am

on 01/30/09 at 11:13:32, Scorpio_Mike wrote:
Well, having this morning pulled apart a spare heated seat switch and a spare heated window switch - both with non-working illumination I have to question WHY did Ford put an LED in for the power on indicator but an old fashioned type grain-of-wheat bulb for the illumination ?
Maybe to sell lots of spare expensive switches  ???
Time to get some 12v LEDs and dig the soldering iron out I think.


For the heated seat switch

To save the rest from trying with the multimeter: The GoW bulb is soldered in two ends, the end having the resistor to the green led is cathode (-) and the other end having nothing but the pin is anode (+). I used a red 3mm 12V led, but a 5mm 12V led works too and should fit (and are easier to get). Due to the directionality of the led beam, the tip should face upwards.

If anyone wants to replace the green led that indicates when in use, the green led is a standard 3mm 3.4V led (yes and why did they do this here and use 12V leds in the board computer switch). You can replace the led to another colour in two ways:
a) remove the resistor, replace with a 12V led in any colour or

b) change colour to e.g. blue and the resistor is safe to leave as blue uses a higher native current. If you change to red or yellow, replace the resistor with the appropriate for 12V systems (varies dep. on colour).

For this led, the resistor is at the cathode (-) and the plain pin at the anode (+).

Sorry, should have taken some pictures and written a guide :)


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