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Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 13 Dec 2013, 13:55
by MidLifeCrisis
I just replaced the plastic PCB on my dashboard broadly following Covkid's instuctions in the Wiki;
http://wiki.club8090.co.uk/index.php/VW ... _connector

I thought the PCB layout that I used might be of use/interest to others.

Note that my dash is the simplest version out there - petrol, no rev counter, no clock (although I did include the clock wiring). I also added an additional light into the dash as a spare for the future.

Image

Just to clarify this is a view from the component (top) side of the veroboard (even though you can see the vertical tracks that would be on the underside - imagine that the board is slightly transparent).
The LED were mounted on the back of the Veroboard (i.e. on the track side, facing downwards).
Each wire from the connector arrives at the board on the bottom row (shown by the wire names on the pic)
The wires to the fuel gauge/coolant temp etc then come off the board on wires from the small black circles on the second from bottom row)
The wires to the three illumination lights come off the board on the 6 x black circles on the bottom right of the board.
The red dots are where the tracks are cut.
Note that I used an LED for the High Beam so that has a different resistor value to the original circuit.

SP1 is my spare LED that is lit when the SP1 wire is grounded - just got to think of a use for this now.

For others trying this, the most useful information on here is probably the spacing of the mounting holes and the LEDS. (Note for reference that the component holes on the veroboard are 0.1" apart) You can design the board however you like but those elements need to be spaced as shown so that they will all mount correctly into the dash.
Also its worth mentioning that the components are mounted so that they do not interfere with the various bits that stick up from the LED mounting section of the dash.

This is how it looks in the end;
Image
(Note that the illumination lights are not connected in this pic - but the connectors can be seen on the bottom right of the board)

It seems to work really well - just need to do something about the blinding brightness of the blue LED for the High Beam.

Also finally for completeness - here is my diagram that I created by tracing the wire on the original plastic PCB that might help if you are thinking of doing something similar.

Image

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 13 Dec 2013, 14:37
by icosahedron
:ok Thanks for sharing.

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 13 Dec 2013, 15:43
by 1664
:ok

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 13 Dec 2013, 16:47
by ghost123uk
Bliddy heck, that's good presentation :ok

What software did you use to do both the block diagram and the circuit diagram ?

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 13 Dec 2013, 16:54
by MidLifeCrisis
ghost123uk wrote:Bliddy heck, that's good presentation :ok

What software did you use to do both the block diagram and the circuit diagram ?

Thanks
Block diagram was just done in powerpoint.
The circuit diagram was done on something called 'DIY Layout Creator' that I found on the interweb - http://www.diylc.org

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 14 Dec 2013, 10:19
by ghost123uk
MidLifeCrisis wrote: Block diagram was just done in powerpoint.

Flip, that must have taken you ages I would have thought, really well done I say :ok

MidLifeCrisis wrote: The circuit diagram was done on something called 'DIY Layout Creator' that I found on the interweb - http://www.diylc.org

I'll have a go at that :ok

Got to be a wiki candidate this has, Harry, where are you :wink: (is it just HarryMann that does the main wiki entries ?)

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 15 Dec 2013, 10:22
by Aidan
Nice work, many thanks for sharing :ok

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 16:29
by CovKid
Added to my WIKI on hardwiring. Worth adding LED sockets as I did - saves messing if one needs replacing/swapping later. The blue LED can be dipped in black paint. Works a treat. Either that or feed it into original cap that was on bulb (if you can still find it). As I noted once before, the reason VW used a white bulb and a dark blue plastic cap was because blue LEDs hadn't been invented. You can get the original bulb ofcourse but then why would you given the longer lifespan of LEDs.

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 16:54
by MidLifeCrisis
CovKid wrote:Worth adding LED sockets as I did - saves messing if one needs replacing later.
Yeah - I tried using some sockets that I had but couldn't get the LED legs to stick in them properly.
So in the end I gave in and soldered them figuring that LEDs last for ages and it wouldn't be the worst job in the world to unsolder and stick in a new one in I had to ...

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 07:40
by keytouch
CovKid wrote:Worth adding LED sockets as I did.

I'm in the middle of doing this project but am struggling to source sockets for the LEDs. Are you able to point me in the right direction?

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 10:08
by CovKid
Well, if memory serves me right, they're not specifically for LEDs but are just 2-pin veroboard sockets. Maplins do them.

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 10:34
by poshbuggers
GoWesty now sell a kit too.

Admittedly it's costly but better than risking buying another duff one. Plug and play too.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details. ... parent_id=

Nice to see solutions to a problem that seems to be creeping up on us all as these vans get older.

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 10 Mar 2014, 12:02
by keytouch
poshbuggers wrote:GoWesty now sell a kit too.

Admittedly it's costly but better than risking buying another duff one. Plug and play too.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details. ... parent_id=

Nice to see solutions to a problem that seems to be creeping up on us all as these vans get older.
Ouch that's a premium price

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 13 Apr 2014, 21:41
by MattBW
Any idea if the diesel cluster and petrol are basically the same? Mine is 85 and has no rev counter, no clock, just speedo, fuel and temp really.

Maybe its time to learn some soldering skills ;)

Re: Replacing the dashboard plastic PCB

Posted: 14 Apr 2014, 15:44
by pirate-pete
MattBW wrote:Any idea if the diesel cluster and petrol are basically the same? Mine is 85 and has no rev counter, no clock, just speedo, fuel and temp really.

Maybe its time to learn some soldering skills ;)

Basically the same yes but some slight differences as diesel will also have glow plug led. I know on the early ones without clock the has the clock tracks and terminals - just no clock to connect them too.