The AM Forum

There are a lot of instances where one would like to have more light on meters, frequency dials and test equipment, but solutions using conventional lamps or LEDs are usually difficult to implement for any number of reasons.   

Recently however, I stumbled upon a product sold by MPJA, that does seem to offer significant advantages toward solving these kinds of problems.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/PROJECTS/Pilot-Lamps/i-bh8NP6L/0/8e597629/M/LedStripAssy-M.jpg)

This LED strip comes in a fifteen foot chunk on a little 3 inch diameter plastic reel.    It can be cut as short as a 2 inch long piece, or to any multiple of same.    Properly cut, the piece will have solder pads at both ends, only needs 12 Volts at a few mils, and, has an adhesive backing.   

For a project, I decided to illuminate the frequency dial and "S" meter of my SX-117, since its "open" on the bench for other reasons.   

On the frequency dial, I simply stuck the strip to the inside surface of the dial glass just above the opening.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/PROJECTS/Pilot-Lamps/i-QNmPn5D/0/256cdf7f/M/FreqDial-M.jpg) 

And for the "S" meter, I stuck the strip to the inside top of the meter cover.   it did require a couple 32nd inch holes in the top right corner of same, but in my defense, I'm sure this radio has no chance of ever becoming a museum piece, so I feel no real sin was committed here.   All these changes can be removed with only the two holes in the meter as remnants of the modification.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/PROJECTS/Pilot-Lamps/i-ghfBtpZ/0/5f0cef9f/L/S%20Meter-L.jpg)

Power was taken from the radio's 6VAC Filament circuit, with the capacitor and diode tacked to the ground lug of the Volume control at the bottom left of the "S" meter pic.   A wire was run to the original pilot lamp pick off point on a terminal strip below chassis.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/PROJECTS/Pilot-Lamps/i-x3NRVz4/0/9e1af00d/S/PowerSupply-S.jpg)

The lighting on the repair bench is pretty good, but you can still see the difference between power off, and on.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/PROJECTS/Pilot-Lamps/i-QnqNcd4/0/ca4c84a1/L/AC%20Off-L.jpg)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/PROJECTS/Pilot-Lamps/i-wMJWjSb/0/6391dccf/L/AC%20On-L.jpg)

The outcome here is encouraging and I'm sure others can see where these LED strips could come in handy for other little projects.

Thanks for the post....All my dial lights seem to be less effective as they (me) age.....I have taken to hanging a small flashlight on the rack for aux dial lighting..This could solve the problem....Steve

I have used a piece of light strip taped at the reflector plate behind the meter lamp of my Ten Tec Corsair 2. I didn't have a spare bulb, but this works a whole lot better, nice and evenly spread light.