Brighter Instrument Lights?

Jon B

Has anyone found brighter versions of the #55 instrument lamps (bayonet base) used in Hudsons?  My speedometer is marginally readable on a dark night.  I thought maybe someone was making an LED version of the lamp which might have more candelpower than the original incandescent bulb (but not be any hotter).  I did once find a brighter, non-standard incandescent bulb but it had a limited life and burned out rather soon. 

A halogen version might be brighter but I assume it's a lot hotter and I don't want to melt anything under the dashboard, or start a fire.

The original #55 bulb specs are as follows: 6-volt, 0.41 amp, 2,4-3.2 watt, BA9s base (miniature bayonet), 2 mscp (2 cp), 1.07" maximum overall length, 500 hour rating

One company DOES make an LED that would seem to interchange, but I can't determine if it's any brighter: http://www.soslightbulbs.com/product/led-lighting/led-lamp/lamp-55-led-equivalent-miniature-light-bulb/

GrimGreaser

Take a look here: www.superbrightleds.com

I've put some led strips behind mine with good effect.

Lee ODell

Jon
My speedometer and gauges were not readable at night because the dash lights like you described, so dim. After replacing my 6 Volt generator with a 6 volt alternator the speedometer and gauges were easy to read in the dark. Wish I had done that years ago instead of trying to keep it all original. It eliminated all my charging problems and it starts better. Another plus for alternator was the headlights were much brighter and I can see father distances at night. I didn't change any bulbs. The alternator cost was a lot less than what I spent trying to keep it original.
Just sharing a alternative way to brighten lights that worked for me.
Lee O'Dell

Lance

One way the dash light shine better with origional equipment is with a flourescent paint job on the letters/numbers. When the dashes on the stepdowns were new, the letters glowed in the dark, Only a minor amount of lighting was needed to make the letters visible at night , hence only a few of the  number 55 bulbs were used.  Over time the flourescent plastic numbers faded and you're left with a dark dash at night.   Lee has a good idea of using a 6volt alternator  but you can do a repaint too. That paint is available from places like Hobby Lobby or gun supply outfits (used for painting sights on guns).

Jon B

First off, my 1937 instruments are done in an early form of indirect lighting and never used fluorescent paint (but thanks for the suggestion!).  They depend upon edge lighting and possibly (because this was still new and unproven technology at the time) the only way to make this really "work" would be to introduce much more light behind the scenes. 

I'm lazy, and my motto for fixing things is, "first, try the simplest and cheapest solutions."  Lee, that's a good thought about the alternator (though I'm not totally sure I understand why .41 amps from an alternator is any brighter than .41 amps from a generator; but then I wasn't the brightest bulb in my class at school...).  However, if one could simply drop in a different light bulb and solve the problem, that would be the easiest solution to my problems. For instance the 50 cp. bulbs in my headlights are so much brighter than the original 32's and it only took a few seconds to install them.

Again, thanks for your suggestions and I think both of your ideas will be helpful to people who read this discussion.  Before I make any moves I want to get a  bunch of  suggestions in front of me so I can choose from among them all.

PaulButler

In that case Jon have you thought of strapping a torch to your head

dwardo99

A lot of people don't like this solution, and it is admittedly a bandaid, but I have been using an 8-volt battery in the Hornet for a long time now. It starts much better and it does overdrive the bulbs some and shorten their lives but not a whole lot. I have not replaced any bulbs yet, and when we were driving the car regularly it got a lot of night use. The headlights and instrument lights are way better. In fact, the headlights are better than they are on my 94 Buick. The downsides are you have to adjust the voltage regulator properly and you cannot use your radio without dropping the  voltage somehow (don't ask me how I know). The guages and heater blower seem to like it just fine. Flame suit on now. 

charles4d

 Jon

 Go to www.2cvsource.com it might help

   Chip