MEP-802A/803A gauge lighting

[Daybreak]

Howdy,
There are 3 gauges which can have the inside lit.
Your fuel level, coolant temp, oil pressure gauges.

I simply made a jumper wire from the pos+ post from the panel lights over to the open 1/4 blades on each of the gauges.
Now they light up when I flip on my panel light switch.

 

[Chrispyny]

Awesome,,but no pics of the guages lighted up in the dark?

 

[Daybreak]

Awesome,,but no pics of the guages lighted up in the dark?

Howdy,
I went down and flipped them on. It's now dark out.

 

[Chrispyny]

Awesome, definately a mod i'll be doing.

 

[JRM]

I will be doing the same, is it normal for these to run just shy of 200F?

 

[jamawieb]

I will be doing the same, is it normal for these to run just shy of 200F?

Yes that is normal.

 

[Hawaiian-Time]

Yea... Good one! I was just thinking about doing that mod yesterday when I was looking at the back of the panel. Defiantly going to do it.

 

[Daybreak]

Howdy,
I now have changed over three units to have the gauges light up with the panel switch.

 

[Daybreak]

Here are some better picture's

 

[Lmtv772]

That's funny I just looked at that last night. But decided not to mess with it since the other gauges don't light up

 

[hammick]

My 2002 802a doesn't have the gauges with the bulbs. It looks like they can be added though if the part could be sourced. My 2000 802a has the bulbs. Go figure.

 

[Daybreak]

Howdy,
OK, I guess the ones with white backed gauges with the little black bulb holder then only. I do not know the years which there was a change over.

2007 MEP-802A has the white backed gauges and are now lit
2007 MEP-803A has the white backed gauges and are now lit
2009 MEP-802A has the white backed gauges and are now lit
2009 MEP-803A has the white backed gauges and are now lit

 

[hammick]

Howdy,
OK, I guess the ones with white backed gauges with the little black bulb holder then only. I do not know the years which there was a change over.

2007 MEP-802A has the white backed gauges and are now lit
2007 MEP-803A has the white backed gauges and are now lit
2009 MEP-802A has the white backed gauges and are now lit
2009 MEP-803A has the white backed gauges and are now lit

Maybe I am wrong about my 2002 802a. I just checked a photo from GL and it has the black gauges. My friend picked up his '04 802a today and it has black gauges.

 

[Daybreak]

Maybe I am wrong about my 2002 802a. I just checked a photo from GL and it has the black gauges. My friend picked up his '04 802a today and it has black gauges.

View attachment 619763

Howdy,
The back side of the gauge itself.
Yours is blue.
See in this picture, the back side is white.
View attachment 617105

 

[hammick]

Got it. Thanks. I'll check my 2000 802a tomorrow.

 

[Guyfang]

There was no change. The military spec's call for a gauge. Nothing more, for the generators. The gages came from several different manufactures. Some of the manufactures also produced gages for other things, that had a need, (also a requirement) for a light. The military is big on interchangeability. So, manufactures decided to ship whatever they have on hand at the time its ordered. Its easier to make a gage that capable of having a light bulb put in it, then to make two different gages. One with, and one without. Sometimes you get a gage with a light, sometimes not. If we had a copy of FEDLOG, we could look into it, and see how many different types of equipment use that gage. Normally, only vehicles get lighted gages. Gen sets went to green panel lights in about 2004, because of light discipline. So lighted gages would have been a no no, for that reason. For "normal" people like you and me, Mikes improvement is super. But showing a light at night in the army, would get you a wack on the head.

 

[hammick]

Yep seems some have them and others don't. Checked my 2000 802a today and it has the gauges with bulbs.

 

[kloppk]

My 1997 802A gauges have openings for light sockets.

Here's one of my gauges with the light socket opening. The opening is 5/8".


Did some research and found the Dorman 85805 socket is a match for the gauge opening.
Got them from Rockauto.com for $1.63 each


Fit's perfectly in the gauge opening.


Just waiting for the 24 volt miniature bayonet bulbs to arrive so I can finish the install.

 

[hammick]

Nice discovery Kloppk! I haven't tried just panel lights yet at night. If I can't see the gauges I will order these. Do you mind posting the info on the bulbs? Let or regular bulbs?

 

[kloppk]

The bulbs I ordered are regular incandescent bulbs. They are #1820 bulbs, 28 volt, 2.8 watts.
It's a box of 10 from Amazon.com $6.12. Hopefully they are the right ones. Should know by tomorrow.
http://www.amazon.com/CEC-Industrie...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00