luminescent dash

Topic: luminescent dash (Read 3873 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #25 – March 14, 2020, 02:16:00 am

Thanks for the photo. My 97 side panel does not light up. Anyone's 97 side panel light up like the 99 shown?

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #26 – March 14, 2020, 05:07:23 am

On my 97, only the dash lights up, not the side panel.

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #27 – March 14, 2020, 09:50:49 am

Thanks for the pictures Don and Craneman! Those el dashes are really quite snazzy.

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #28 – March 14, 2020, 10:33:47 am

I still have a left and center panel fora 2000 U320. I had to buy all three to replace the right side

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #29 – March 14, 2020, 12:39:18 pm

Quote from: John & Genni – March 14, 2020, 05:07:23 am

On my 97, only the dash lights up, not the side panel.

Same here

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #30 – March 14, 2020, 01:15:10 pm

Thanks guys. My guru buddy had mounted a panel in the middle of my left panel and mounted my retarder handle in it and I wondered if he had shorted something. But I never had seen it light up before that either, did not know what was normal.

I'd like mine to light up like the 99's. Anyone have an extra light up side panel?

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #31 – March 14, 2020, 01:43:03 pm

Each to their own, Having been a night driver in a class 8 for 10 years. I they look distracting in those photos. (mine do not work) or it might not even have them as mine is a 1998. Cool when you are stationary. I prefer a BMW car dash for night vision, Which is a low intensity red. Like most aircraft. Aircraft use red for a reason.

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #32 – March 14, 2020, 02:04:14 pm

Yes sat in a live f-18 cockpit long ago. Red dim lighting and red top centered needles on every gauge at normal conditions.

Quick eye scan determines if every thing is ok.

That's why I really appreciate the dash layout on our 97. All the gauges can be read with averted vision

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #33 – March 14, 2020, 05:20:10 pm

Quote from: John & Genni – March 14, 2020, 05:07:23 am

On my 97, only the dash lights up, not the side panel.

My 99 side panel does not light up as well.

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #34 – March 14, 2020, 05:54:43 pm

Quote from: MAZ – March 14, 2020, 05:20:10 pm

My 99 side panel does not light up as well.

Have you turned the fader knob next to the joy stick?

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #35 – March 14, 2020, 06:29:35 pm

Craneman you have a separate brightness knob for your side console?

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #36 – March 14, 2020, 07:57:12 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – March 14, 2020, 06:29:35 pm

Craneman you have a separate brightness knob for your side console?

I have a brightness control on the dash that controls the light for the dash gauges. And I have a brightness control on the side panel next to the retarder joystick that controls the brightness of the EL luminescent dash.

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #37 – March 14, 2020, 09:32:22 pm

Quote from: craneman – March 14, 2020, 05:54:43 pm

Have you turned the fader knob next to the joy stick?

I dont have one Craneman.

Mark

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #38 – March 14, 2020, 09:44:22 pm

Neither do i

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #39 – March 14, 2020, 11:43:28 pm

Must just be on the 320's '99 and later

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #40 – March 14, 2020, 11:44:17 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – March 14, 2020, 06:29:35 pm

Craneman you have a separate brightness knob for your side console?

Yes

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #41 – March 15, 2020, 01:00:22 am

EL luminescent dash and side counsel dimmer

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #42 – March 15, 2020, 01:19:04 am

My 97 has the mirror controls at the top. My relocated retarder handle is where your brightness knob is.

I wonder if the 97 is capable of being lit? Just did not have an inverted power supply wired to it? Maybe too dark? Another mystery.

I have a spare dash setup with the power supplies on them. I think. My guru buddy semi retired. Half to bug him to look.

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #43 – March 15, 2020, 11:38:41 am

Someone had posted this earlier

Looks like an earlier version without the left/retarder panel illumination

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #44 – March 15, 2020, 06:08:19 pm

Might be inverted power?

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #45 – March 15, 2020, 06:41:15 pm

Tommy,
Thanks for posting that inverter diagram. Didn't have it.
jor

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #46 – March 15, 2020, 08:47:56 pm

Not off the inverter in the coach. Something in the dash might be changing 12 volt to 110? There are round things attached to the back of the electro dash panels

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #47 – March 15, 2020, 09:24:44 pm

Quote from: Caflashbob – March 15, 2020, 08:47:56 pm

Not off the inverter in the coach. Something in the dash might be changing 12 volt to 110? There are round things attached to the back of the electro dash panels

Read the link in reply #44 12 volt input 100 volt vac 600 hz. output.

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #48 – March 15, 2020, 09:51:04 pm

Thanks. Had not opened the link. Seems I was somewhat correct

The early 98 diagram shows a circuit to the side panel.

Re: luminescent dash

Reply #49 – March 16, 2020, 12:36:35 pm

Have talked with several of you guys about the EL dash problem and got good information but since I am a little slow on the uptake and still didn't understand how to fix the problem I called James at Xtreme, This is what I understood after talking with him and he is one of the people who used to build the EL dash at Foretravel.

So the dash is like a sandwich you have the following layers
1 Aluminum Plate
2 insulation film
3 EL Wiring
4 top insulation film (in my case its black)

He explained the problem as the bottom insulation has been disturbed(gone bad) and is allowing the EL wiring to contact the Aluminum and thus causing the spark/arc and will eventually short out the panel. He said the #2,3,4 are made together like a heavy duty film and are one piece and have been glued to the Aluminum.

THE FIX:
-If its in the dash you will have to remove the panel that is bad or having problems.
-In my case its to the left of the dash (where my Retarder joystick is) so I'm lucky and only have to remove 6 screws and lift the plate
up to get at my problem area. I think I will be able to leave everything connected to attempt the fix.
-once you have access to the panel edge you should be able to use an exacto knife or blade to separate the heavy duty film from the aluminum. Make sure you are seeing aluminum when you separate. He recommended separating around the entire edge and doing the whole panel but I am going to just work on the area of my problem 1st. He said the film is pretty heavy duty and should not be a problem to separate from the aluminum. After removal use Liquid Electric Tape (My local hardware store had some or Lowes, Autozone) to coat the area to re insulate it and let it dry.

My understanding is that the purpose is to re insulate the area under the membrane so it will stop arcing.

From the side view I could see faintly where the aluminum stopped and the membrane started.

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