Behind Switchpanel lighting strip replacement

B

BVasily

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Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2005
RO Number
18136
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71
Can anyone suggest a source for the lighting strips that illuminate the switch panel names from behind? These strips are controlled via the lighting rheostat.
1995 Sea Ray 330 DA
 
The transformer was bad on mine ... ITs a little blk nub....

Rob
 
Just a quick update on this issue ..
Don ... thanks for the EL tip. I picked up a 5' strip at BestBuy for $7.50. I won't tell you what sea ray wanted!!!

Also, I had a new dash panel made (mine had faded badly from the sun
). I am not sure how to upload pictures ... or even if its possible, but the fellow who made this, Scott,did a great job, and is very reasonable (about 1/5 Sea
Ray Pricing). If anyone is interested, email me directly and I will send along photo's of the old and new dashes. He has a lazer cutter/etcher and will etch all of the original text for proper backlighting.
 
I would love to see a picture. How does the switch labeling look ???
 
I will send you one directly Don.
Scott's contact info is ...

Vector Imaging
Scott Cambra
153 Barnes st
Fall River Mass, 02723
(508) 730-2954
scott.cam**verizon.net
 
Will have to wait until tomorrow Don ... I just signed up as a subscriber. (Thought i did this some time ago ... but guess not)

Feel free to email me directly, and i will send you a picture of the dash.

Bob.
 
Bob, how big a job is the removal and reinstall of the dash panels? Thanks, JS
 
Hello everyone I am scott Cambra, owner of Vector Imaging. Witht he help and trust of Bob I have succesfully remade his guage panel. I used a reverse etchable UV stable material on the burl finish. this stuff looks and performes excellent. I use a CNC laser for all my work so everything is accurate and the text is sharp. Any text I engrave can be lit up just like th originals, the nice part is that you do not have to settle for what searay gave you, I can engrave any text you want and move the switches around and put whatever logo or boat graphic you like on them. There really is no limit to what I can do. I have the gauge panel done, but will need someon switch panel to copy the outside shape, once I have it, I can reproduce them indefinatly Her eis the picture of Bob's panel, as you can see it is a big improvment over the old one and will make his helm look new again. IF any of you have any questions, please feel free to contact me through this thread or via email scott.cam**verizon.net

P1010044.jpg
 
quote:
Originally posted by Double D

I would love to see a picture. How does the switch labeling look ???

Click to expand...

Here is a quick sample of the sea ray graphic, if I had a better camera you would see that even the smallest version is easily readable

P1010050.jpg
 
Scott....... Welcome aboard. Thanks for offering your help with the problem of faded dash panels. This is a big issue with older Sea Ray's.....and I'm sure alot of owners will appreciate your help.
The new panel looks great.

One question I have is : Do you have templates for most S/R models..... or do you need to dis-assemble the panel and send you the originals ???
 
quote:
Originally posted by Double D

Scott....... Welcome aboard. Thanks for offering your help with the problem of faded dash panels. This is a big issue with older Sea Ray's.....and I'm sure alot of owners will appreciate your help.
The new panel looks great.

One question I have is : Do you have templates for most S/R models..... or do you need to dis-assemble the panel and send you the originals ???

Click to expand...

All I have at the moment is this gauge panel you see, I will need atleast one of each to copy the shape. Bob is contemplating sending me the switch panel. I plan on making a list and anyone who sends me their original will get a discount on their new one.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Sokol

Bob, how big a job is the removal and reinstall of the dash panels? Thanks, JS

Click to expand...


Hello Jim …

Dash panel removal is not difficult, but it is time consuming. The instrument panel was relatively easy. What I did was to remove the instruments one at a time and rewire them in place as I went along. This ensures you will not mix up wiring etc. The instrument panel probably took me 2+ hours to do.

The switch panel is a lot more work because of space and the number of switches involved. I am following the same protocol as above. The EL lighting strips will have to be cut and the wires properly marked as these do not readily come apart. I am only half way through the job of getting the switch panel apart and have been delayed due to a bi-lateral inguinal hernia operation I had to have done last week. Hopefully I will get back to this task in a week or so.

Hope this helps.
 
Here is an easy way to solve the dash light problem - glue a rope light behind the panel. Rope lights are are a series of little lights in a 1/2 inch clear plastic tube. Inexpensive, low power draw. I just siliconed it in place behind the lettering. Works great. Rope lights are available at JC Whittney and the usual marine stores.
 
I just recieved the switch panel, it is smaller then I thought so the price will be cheaper to reproduce. I will be offerieng them in sets, just email me for details. Iwill be posting Bob's finished panel this week so keep an eye out
 
Here you guys go. they are now ready for production, if any of you know of where the sea ray owners hang out now, please let me know, I would like to get a thread going. IF your wondering, my text is much sharper and clearer to read. I alos made it a littl more bold so it would be easier on the eyes.

P1010080.jpg


P1010081.jpg
 
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