On Sat, 30 Dec 2006, Keith wrote: > > Since I had the dash out, I hooked up 12VDC to the dash light circuit. I first checked to see how hot the 168 bulbs (2 CP) got by holding them in my hand. I then did the same with the 192 bulbs (3 CP). The 192 bulbs were warm like the 168's, but not hot to the touch. Certainly not a conclusive test, but I suspect if I can hold them, then the platic indicator covers shouldn't melt (I think). Guess I will find out. BTW, the 192, made the dash backlighting real nice. Whenever I've taken dash gauges apart, they're usually darkened by dust and smoke pumped through them by hot air off the lamps. It's really noticiable; lots of sooty dust around the lamps, more over than under. Most of it washes off, some is permanently affixed to the plastic and sometimes aluminum. The cheap plastics used also discolor from lamp heat and age. When I re-did the gauges in my Hornet, I scrubbed and repainted stuff. I'm moving to all-LED internal lighting (requiresd makin diffusers etc). I did the center heater/AC control in LEDs (edge-lit plexiglas) and the white LED color makes the factory style light bulbs -- new bulbs and cleaned plastic -- look like dim yellow camp fires. It's funny this contrast. I really like the old stuff, which is generally dim, yellowish incandescent lamps, subdued colors, mechanical pointers... but I also like the bright, crisp modern LED stuff (when its not cheap flat-panel silkscreened plastic) but the juxtaposition of those two, in the same car, just looks awful. Gotta go one or the other. _______________________________________________ AMC-List mailing list AMC-List@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.amc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/amc-list or go to http://www.amc-list.com