Why no red dashboards?

[Towncivilian]

Mine is bluish-white:



But this isn't the stock lighting, everything was replaced with LEDs. It's not as bright as it may appear in the photo. Here's the stock lighting (not my car obviously):

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
I learned in aviation that red lights don't detract from your night vision. This idea is put into play in OTR tractors. They have a red overhead light for use at night.

I've had a couple of RX-7s that used orange illumination for the instrument panel and other dashboard lighting and it seems that is as good as it got.

It just seems red lighting would make for an easier ride at night.



All the vehicles I drove in the Army back in the 80`s had red dash light`s too.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: santov
all Bimmers are orange/red.

One thing that bugs me is when the dashboard gauges dim, but the LEDs to the HVAC, seats, etc, etc stay bright and are not affected by the dimmer know. Then it feels like bright glare.

I usually have my dashboards set to almost off. As dark as possible, but still legible.



Mine has a sep. dimmer for the computer read out.

 

[kkreit01]

Red reminds me of 90s Pontiacs. I've never had red, nor would I want it. I did get tired of the "Ford green", and they have finally branched out. I like blue or amber.

 

[kb01]

I was also mech infantry. My memory is a little bit foggy but I recall vehicles having red dash lights but the interiors were typically painted bluish-green color, which roughly matched the interior lighting color.

 

[38sho]

my sister's early style mid 80's Fiero had red lighting

it was like an airplane, or the closest car I've seen similar to a cessna or something

 

[38sho]

my sister's early style mid 80's Fiero had red lighting

it was like an airplane, or the closest car I've seen similar to a cessna or something

 

[OVERKILL]

E39 M5:

 

[artificialist]

In the interior of my 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, there is red lighting, however, the gauges are white, and only use red in the danger zone.

I was in a 2009 once, and as I remember, it was red all around.

 

[javacontour]

Most likely nothing will prevent you from replacing the existing bulbs with red tinted bulbs, or little red "socks" that go over existing bulbs.

So if you want red lights, install red lights. You may want to research your options. I bought some red bulbs back in the late 80's and the red flaked off and then they were just plain bulbs.


Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
I learned in aviation that red lights don't detract from your night vision. This idea is put into play in OTR tractors. They have a red overhead light for use at night.

I've had a couple of RX-7s that used orange illumination for the instrument panel and other dashboard lighting and it seems that is as good as it got.

It just seems red lighting would make for an easier ride at night.

 

[SkyGod]

Pontiac's seem to use lots of red dash lighting.
It's irritating.
I prefer white gauges.
you can always turn down the intensity.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
Most likely nothing will prevent you from replacing the existing bulbs with red tinted bulbs, or little red "socks" that go over existing bulbs.

So if you want red lights, install red lights. You may want to research your options. I bought some red bulbs back in the late 80's and the red flaked off and then they were just plain bulbs.


I tried to replace the instrument cluster lights in my Celica with colored incandescent bulbs.
You could hardly see it at night. They were red.... but you couldn't see the numbers on the tach or speedometer

I would later try just regular LED bulbs. The light didn't diffuse properly and there were really light spots and really dark spots. It looked horrible.

I finally found the proper LEDs with the proper diffuser and the cluster was bright and visible....and no longer dimmed in a smooth fluid fashion.

Then I got interested in those ElectroLuminous gauge overlays. It looked really cool but you really can't see the needles now. SO, you gotta' spend extra on EL needles which means prying the instrument apart once again AND removing and installing these ultra delicate needles. Uhhh no....I'll just leave it the way it came.

 

[Bamaro]

Red interior lights are best for night vision. They cause the pupils of the eye to close less than other colors do and thereby allow more light in.

 

[ahoier]

my brothers late model 90s Pontiac Sunfire has 3 gauges...I believe white background, with glowing red numbers on the instrument cluster (speedo, tach, fuel, etc...)

My 1988 Aries is "green" lol....and a very faint green at that....may look into "aftermarket" modification if/when the bulbs decide to go out (likely still OEM lol....as my glovebox, ash tray, and dome light bulbs are lol). I guess, maybe that's the whole idea of being "low light" green, so it doesn't obstruct the vision that much.