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Safari 98 Radio Backlight bulbs

Hello all, I read few topics here about desperate attempts to fix backlighting on Delco radios. I have same problem. Only two light bulbs on left side are lit. all of the rest of them are blown. THese are usual 12 v light bulbs with average cost of $0.45. but varietu is the problem. too many with different amp draws. does anybodu know type of light bulb that gooes inside? like 12 v 200mA. ( or 300mA etc...) ampreage is important because if you put bigger ones source transistor will die.

any help appreciated.

virola..

Reply to
kumagaj
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Hi!

If the bulbs are 12V, why would there be any form of regulation? Thinking about how quickly they tend to burn out, I really doubt there is any regulation going on. If there were it would stand to reason that the bulbs should last a LOT longer.

Too big of a bulb might make the printed circuit board traces burn out, but you'd need some *big* (for the space available, anyway) bulbs to do that.

William

Reply to
William R. Walsh

I think that this percaution comes from my previous expirience with backlight bulbs in older receivers... but then in those old receivers one or two bulb will go bad after several years of service, what i find

when i opened this Delco radio is that all bulbs of same size are busted. Only two working ones are bigger in size and on different circuit. I think that light bulb circuit is regulated somehow because interrior car dimmer regulates them too. I think ill put 200mA if they dont work than ill go with 300mA. the only hassle is taking radio out, but honestly on these models cockpit and all plastic are light year ahead. Face comes off in 30 sec. goes in in 35 sec. MASTERPIECE!. and radio slides out in additional 12 seconds NO TOOLS REQUIRED!!! AWESOME!!!!

Reply to
kumagaj

Hi!

The circuit is the same as what dims the rest of the instrument panel. That control is basically a rheostat. If you ever pull it out you will notice it has lots of different pins and a caution not to touch it when in operation. There should also be a pretty good sized heatsink. I'm not sure if it powers the bulbs or just sends a dimming "signal" to the radio. I think that the dimmer control also sends power to the radio bulbs.

If you run the panel in this vehicle at high brightness regularly, the bulbs just won't last very long at all. Reduced brightness operation can help, but even then your bulbs may not last long. That "grain of sand" bulb case just can't dissipate the heat that is generated and in the end, heat is what gets 'em.

William

Reply to
William R. Walsh

William! Thanks a lot!!!

Your experience actually solved a lots of questions that i had. Dimmer is Reostat!! that says it all. ALL the lights inside the car are

actually contoled from there! and that is why i have so many dead ligtbulb inside!! reostat is sparking meaning is not smooth continious woltage and busting fragile little lightbulbs. WD40 will solve this, i think. I did not look at reostat yet. I will look at it and pass on knowledge to everyone. and radio too probablu have one wire that supplys regulated voltage (12v) for backlight. it should be easy to find that wire in bunch at the rear. attach voltmeter and fiddle with dimmer. I will let you know outcome. thanks.

Virola

Reply to
kumagaj

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