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what wb gauge color is easiest to read in the sun?

Old 05-20-2010, 12:05 PM
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Default what wb gauge color is easiest to read in the sun?

Innovate offers blue or red for the standard LC-1 gauges. I'm going to take a guess and say that blue is easier to read in the sun? Or does it matter?

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Old 05-20-2010, 12:37 PM
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I have the blue, its kinda hard around noonish when the lights coming straight down, but otherwise its pretty easy to read. I have it mounted in the lower spot in an A pillar pod thats as close to the dash as I could get it. No experience with the red.

Edit: These observations were made with a hard top.
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Old 05-20-2010, 12:57 PM
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I don't ever have a problem reading my blue, top up or down.
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Old 05-20-2010, 01:15 PM
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i got the red one and it is great all times
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Old 05-20-2010, 01:20 PM
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I have a red one mounted below the radio. Completely washed out when the sun hits it.
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Old 05-20-2010, 01:26 PM
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Blue good at all times unless sun is right on it.

I think it's less a function of color, and more of the gauge face. Putting a shroud on it, or some type of non-reflective film may help. I never found film I wanted to try locally (was looking for yellow, to make gauge = green).
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Old 05-20-2010, 01:47 PM
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Red mounted in an A pillar pod. Never noticed a problem with glare before.
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Old 05-20-2010, 02:15 PM
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I went ahead and ordered a red one, since I don't like the way blue LED's look at night. Thanks!
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Old 05-20-2010, 02:17 PM
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Red doesn't cause your pupils to contract: good color choice for nighttime driving.
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Old 05-20-2010, 04:43 PM
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Is Innovate going to make a rainbow gauge for Miata owners?
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Old 05-20-2010, 04:57 PM
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I have the PLX DM5 guage which has digial readings in red with a LED setup around the perimiter that goes from green (richer than 12:1) to yellow (12-stoich) to red (leaner than stoich). Love it. Day or night.

But I have this huge urge to get two of them and put one on each side of the wheel along with some under glow for the footwell area. Hoes 'n bitches. Bitches 'n hoes.
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Old 05-20-2010, 05:23 PM
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I have red meters with hoods and I can read them well at all times...and they don't **** up my night vision.
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Old 05-20-2010, 05:55 PM
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Blue is actually one of the worst colors to put as a night time dash board color. It's wavelength is pretty harsh on the eyes, compared to red. There's a reason for using a red flashlight when you go stargazing, and you need to move around or read something.

Good choice on the red
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Old 05-20-2010, 06:20 PM
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Originally Posted by gospeed81
(was looking for yellow, to make gauge = green).
It has always bothered me that they don't make it in green. I have the blue one and have never had any problems with legibility, but I want it green because I'm picky like that. I have gone so far as to roughly measure the various LED components (as well as I can see them with the gauge intact) and at one point I had found what I believed to be suitable candidate replacements in green from Mouser/Digikey. The $80 price has thus far discouraged me from buying a spare gauge to **** with. If anyone wants to donate (or sell me for cheap) an old DB gauge for me to try this, I will buy the green LED parts, attempt the conversion, and document the parts, process & results.
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Old 05-20-2010, 06:23 PM
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What are the Mouser/Digikey part numbers that you suspect are suitable replacements?
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Old 05-20-2010, 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by JustinHoMi
What are the Mouser/Digikey part numbers that you suspect are suitable replacements?
It's been almost two years since I looked and I didn't write anything down. But as I recall, there wasn't a huge variety in green in that size so the list was pretty short. I'll look again when I get a minute.
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Old 05-20-2010, 06:51 PM
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No biggie, I might like red anyways... we'll find out as soon as I get it
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Old 05-21-2010, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by nickblackbelt
i got the red one and it is great all times
werd, never washed out. I have the old gauge however.
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Old 05-21-2010, 11:23 PM
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Red doesn't cause your pupils to contract: good color choice for nighttime driving.
QFT.. there is a reason why all the lights on the dash of all the aircraft the USAF has lights up red at night, pilots eyesight is a very high priority
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