Warning-Light Provision & Cold-Air Vent Relocation
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(examples only) with a choice of only 4 or 5 colours and 22 lights, duplication is inevitable!
If one confines one’s choices to the colour filters that were factory-fitted to any given Lucas 6WL, 8-segment warning-light cluster, then the colour options are certainly limited to five of the following:
Dark Blue, Dark Green, Yellow, Dark Red and Orange or Magenta
I like Magenta as a colour, but the light-transmission-coefficient of the associated colour filter is low and the human eyes’ daytime colour-vision sensitivity to light at the blue end of the colour spectrum is much lower than that for the other colours. In daylight conditions, a Magenta warning light could easily go un-noticed, so although I shall give it a try, I will probably use another more visible colour in preference.
Noting that ICI Perspex transparent and translucent acrylic sheet, is available in a variety of thicknesses, colours and shades, it is possible to increase one’s available filter-colour options; including white, light-grey, light-red, orange, light-green, turquoise, light-blue, purple.
http://www.perspex.co.uk/products/persp ... x-colours/
http://www.perspex.co.uk/products/colour-selector/
http://www.plasticsheets.com/light-blue-perspex-sheet/
http://www.plasticsheets.com/grey-perspex-sheet/
http://www.plasticsheets.com/white-perspex-sheet/
http://www.plasticsheets.com/purple-perspex-sheet/
In addition to creating unique emblems for each individual warning-light function, this was previously discussed in the following topic thread:
Board index » The Triumph Dolomite Club » Dolomite-related [Start here!] » Customising Lucas 60 mm, 8-Segment, Warning-Light Clusters
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=29490
Forum Index > Accessories/Memorabilia/Toys > Upgrading warning-light function & provision
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewt ... p?t=257858
Of the eyes’ three colour receptors for red, green & blue, those for blue have about 75% less sensitivity than those for red or green, at their peak wavelengths or frequencies, in the range 400~700 nm (i.e. 4000~7000 Å)
The human eyes’ sensitivity to different colours of light, is discussed in some detail on Pages 15 & 35 of the following book:
David Malin & Paul Murdin, “Colours of the Stars”, Cambridge University Press, 1984, ISBN 0 521 25714 X.
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Now consider the late model Dolomite 8 segment warning light cluster the lights being (clockwise from the top) :-
1) indicator repeater (both sides)(Green) - Keep this unchanged.
2) Oil pressure warning (Green) - Repurpose as driving light warning.
3) Low fuel warning (Yellow) - Repurpose as front fog light warning.
4) Handbrake on warning (Red) - Keep this but add additional circuits for pressure drop and fluid levels.
5) Main beam warning light (Blue) - Keep this unchanged.
6) Choke (Yellow) - Keep this unchanged.
7) Heated rear window (Purple) - Keep this unchanged.
8) Ignition warning light (Red) - Keep this unchanged.
So that is 8 from 10, by using the factory late model rear fog light switch which is internally illuminated, you then only need to find one extra warning light for the DRLs - which is only borderline necessary anyway!
In a factory-standard Dolomite, which has only eight dashboard warning lights (unlike modern cars which typically have circa 20~40), in addition to the brake-circuit-failure warning light and seat-belts-not-fastened warning light, mixing different types of warning & tell-tale functions in the same cluster presents no problem.
However, in a system having many more warning lights, it makes more sense to group similar functions together. Within a given cluster, individual functions can often be positioned in a way that correlates with the application, as is done on the control panels for chemical-process plants and nuclear reactors.
As previously mentioned, it is my intention to use the original Toledo speedometer, with its three integral warning lights, for ignition (red), oil-pressure (green) and headlamp main beam (blue). If it’s practical to use a matching style tachometer with two integral warning lights, originally for R & L direction indicators (green) and heated rear window (magenta), then I might slightly revise the following provisional allocation of warning-light functions, to the two 60 mm Lucas 6WL, 8-segment warning-light clusters.
If using two 60 mm Lucas 6WL, 8-segment warning-light clusters, it makes sense to employ one each of the early-model and late-model warning-light clusters (or at least early-model and late-model printed circuit boards with bulb holders), to avoid the possibility of fitting the moulded thermo-setting plastic, multi-way connector blocks, to the wrong warning-light cluster. The early-model and late-model printed circuit boards, have 8+3 connection-pin and 12 connection-pin configuration respectively.
Early-model (dark-brown PCB on left) and late-model (light-brown PCB on right) printed circuit boards with bulb holders & bulbs
Early-model (dark-brown PCB on left, with 8+3 rivetted brass connection pins) and late-model (light-brown PCB on right with 12 rivetted brass connection pins) showing the connection pins and associated push-on connector blocks.
Because of the way I wish to allocate warning functions to the two 8-segment warning-light clusters and the specific individual segments within a cluster, it makes sense to me to use an early-model printed circuit board with a late-model transparent lens (with direction-indicator, double-headed arrow) and a late-model printed circuit board with an early-model transparent lens.
For example, if one turns a late-model Dolomite’s 8-segment warning-light cluster up-side-down, with the double-headed arrow at the bottom, then reading clockwise from the top, one could provisionally allocate functions as follows:
(1) 000º – Auxiliary driving lights (LIGHT-BLUE) [PCB – H’BRK]
(2) 045º – Front fog lights (LIGHT-GREEN) [PCB – CHOKE] – peasouper fog or smog
(3) 090º – Right-hand direction indicator (ORANGE) [PCB – <L]
(4) 135º – Rear fog lights (LIGHT-GREEN) [PCB – OIL] – peasouper fog or smog
(5) 180º – Trailer direction indicator (ORANGE) [PCB – BEAM]
202½º – Locating Lug for Transparent Circular Lens
(6) 225º – Brake-lights on (RED) [PCB – IGN]
(7) 270º – Left-hand direction indicator (ORANGE) [PCB – FUEL]
292½º – Locating Lug for Early-Model PCB
(8) 315º – Dipped headlamps (DARK-GREEN) [PCB – R>]
All of these tell-tell warning-light functions, associated with lamps used in driving, require a direct Earth connection, so there would be no problem with choosing any given warning-light segment location for a particular function, with either an early-model or late-model printed circuit board.
Arranged in this configuration, tell-tale light functions, exclusively for illuminated lamps pertaining to driving, at (a) the front, (b) front & rear or in between, or (c) rear, are positioned so far as it is possible, above, along, or below the horizontal axis of the circular cluster.
The car’s direction indicators are located at both the front & rear (plus the side, if I later retro-fit side-repeater lamps, as is obligatory on cars first-registered after circa 1983), so the tell-tale warning lights are positioned along the horizontal axis of the circular cluster.
The trailer’s direction indicators are located solely at the rear, so warning lights are positioned at the bottom of the circular cluster.
Having all three, distinctively shaped, orange warning-light segments, with appropriately-shaped arrow emblems, close to one another in a T-shaped configuration, enables one to see quickly and easily which direction indicator functions are operating correctly, or not as the case may be.
Auxiliary driving lights, dipped headlamps and front fog lamps, located at the front of the car, have corresponding colour-coded warning-light segments positioned above the horizontal axis of the circular cluster.
Auxiliary reversing lights, rear fog lights and trailer direction indicators located at the rear of the car, have corresponding colour-coded warning-light segments positioned below the horizontal axis of the circular cluster.
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OPTION 1
Using a similar Lucas 6WL, 8-segment warning-light cluster with late-model, light-tan, PCB – printed-circuit board and a late-model or early-model, customised (i.e. modified) transparent circular lens, then reading clockwise from the top (i.e. 000º), one could provisionally allocate additional mainly non-lamp functions as follows:
000º – Top of transparent-lens’s vertical silver boundary line
000º – Locating lug for late-model, tan coloured PCB
(A) 022½º – Kenlowe radiator-cooling-fan on (ORANGE) [PCB – FUEL]
(B) 067½º – Daytime running lights (WHITE or LIGHT-GREY) [PCB – H. BRAKE]
090º – Right hand side of transparent-lens’s horizontal silver boundary line
090º – Gap between late-model, tan-coloured PCB’s circle of 12 connection pins
(C) 112½º – Heated rear-window demist on (MAGENTA) [PCB – CHOKE]
(D) 157½º – Low fuel level (RED) [PCB – DEMIST]
180º – Bottom of transparent-lens’s vertical silver boundary line
(E) 202½º – Auxiliary reversing lights (WHITE or YELLOW) [PCB – DEMIST]
(F) 247½º – Hand-brake-lever on (YELLOW) [PCB – OIL]
270º – Left hand side of transparent-lens’s horizontal silver boundary line
270º – Locating lug for circular transparent lens
(G) 292½º – Carburettor choke on (YELLOW) [PCB – D. I.]
(H) 337½º – Low hydraulic clutch and/or brake fluid (RED) [PCB – BEAM]
360º – Top of transparent-lens’s vertical silver boundary line
Keeping in mind that warning lights for the choke, handbrake and fuel-level, require a direct ignition-controlled, positive battery-supply connection, the late-model printed-circuit board which would normally be 112½º clockwise from the top, needs to be re-orientated, so that its locating lug is at the top.
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OPTION 2
Using a similar Lucas 6WL, 8-segment warning-light cluster with late-model, light-tan, PCB – printed-circuit board and a late-model or early-model, customised (i.e. modified) transparent circular lens, then reading clockwise from the top (i.e. 000º), one could provisionally allocate additional mainly non-lamp functions as follows:
000º – Top of transparent-lens’s vertical silver boundary line
000º – Gap between late-model, tan-coloured PCB’s circle of 12 connection pins
(A) 022½º – Low hydraulic clutch and/or brake fluid (RED) [PCB – CHOKE]
(B) 067½º – Carburettor choke on (YELLOW) [PCB – DEMIST]
090º – Right hand side of transparent-lens’s horizontal silver boundary line
(C) 112½º – Heated rear-window demist on (MAGENTA) [PCB – OIL]
(D) 157½º – Low fuel level (RED) [PCB – D. I.]
180º – Bottom of transparent-lens’s vertical silver boundary line
180º – Locating lug for circular transparent lens
(E) 202½º – Hand-brake-lever on (YELLOW) [PCB – BEAM]
(F) 247½º – Auxiliary reversing lights (WHITE or YELLOW) [PCB – IGN]
270º – Left hand side of transparent-lens’s horizontal silver boundary line
270º – Locating lug for late-model, tan coloured PCB
(G) 292½º – Kenlowe radiator-cooling-fan on (ORANGE) [PCB – FUEL]
(H) 337½º – Daytime running lights (LIGHT-GREEN) [PCB – H. BRAKE]
360º – Top of transparent-lens’s vertical silver boundary line
Keeping in mind that warning lights for the choke, handbrake and fuel-level, require a direct ignition-controlled, positive battery-supply connection, the late-model printed-circuit board which would normally be 112½º clockwise from the top, needs to be re-orientated, so that its locating lug is 270º clockwise from the top.
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The hydraulic clutch & brake fluid reservoirs and carburettor choke, are both located at the front of the car on the right-hand side, so it seems appropriate to locate the corresponding colour-coded warning-light segments, positioned above the horizontal axis of the circular cluster on the right-hand side, as indicated in
OPTION 2.
The Kenlowe radiator-cooling-fan and daytime running lights, are also both located at the front of the car, so it seems appropriate to locate the corresponding colour-coded warning-light segments, positioned above the horizontal axis of the circular cluster in vacant sites on the left-hand side, as indicated in
OPTION 2.
The heated rear window, fuel tank, brake lights and auxiliary reversing lights are located at the rear of the car, have corresponding colour-coded warning-light segments positioned below the horizontal axis of the circular cluster.
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Just a couple of quick points, 1) your list of warning lights includes 2 for low fuel at *15 and *20
As you rightly noted, I did mistakenly duplicate my listing of a warning light for low fuel level, which is very remiss of me! If I use a single warning light for low fluid levels in both the hydraulic brake and clutch reservoirs, I would need only twenty warning lights in total, which can be catered for by using two Lucas 6WL, 60 mm diameter, 8-segment warning-light clusters, the three warning lights in the speedometer and the separate hydraulic-brake-circuit-failure warning light.
If I had a 100 mm tachometer with two integral warning lights, I might reallocate the warning functions slightly. This might involve having the ignition & low-oil-pressure warning lights in the tachometer and have headlamp-main-beam, headlamp-dipped-beam & side-light tell-tale warning lights in the speedometer. A side-light tell-tale warning light, is a normal factory-fitted feature of the instrumentation in the 1973 VW 1600 Type 2 van, which has been quite useful on occasions.
Hence, the tell-tale warning light for DRLs – daytime running lights, could be reallocated from position “
H” in the second 8-segment cluster (
OPTION 2), to position “
8” in the first 8-segment cluster, which would be more logical.