cluster pin help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Big Blue · 03-10-2017, 11:34 AM

I am looking for information on the location of the pin or pins that operate the dash cluster lights. I have the cluster out and I am going to put LED STRIPS or LED Bulbs in. What I want to do is install either strip or bulbs while it is out and on my Kitchen table and see what is better. So on the Pin connection plug which pin or pins do I tap on to to work the lights? It is a 86 or 87 board. If more information is needed please let me know.

John

Big Blue · 03-10-2017, 12:58 PM

I am looking for information on the location of the pin or pins that operate the dash cluster lights. I have the cluster out and I am going to put LED STRIPS or LED Bulbs in. What I want to do is install either strip or bulbs while it is out and on my Kitchen table and see what is better. So on the Pin connection plug which pin or pins do I tap on to to work the lights? It is a 86 or 87 board. If more information is needed please let me know.

John

ray_mcavoy · 03-10-2017, 05:57 PM

Hi John,

The 1978 - 1987 (and 88/89 R/V series) gauge clusters use pin #2 as the power feed for the cluster illumination bulbs. Most of them ground through pin #10. There are one or two that ground through pin #3. But if you wire in your own LED strips you can use either ground.

If you go with LEDs that are plug-in replacements for 194 bulbs you can put them in the original sockets but you'll want to follow the traces on the printed circuit back to the connector socket to see which side is power vs. ground so you can orient the LEDs for the correct polarity.

With the cluster oriented as shown in your 1st photo, pin #1 is in the upper right corner. The pins are numbered 1 through 9 down that side. Then pin #10 is in the lower left corner and the pins go #10 to #18 going up that side.

Big Blue · 03-10-2017, 07:03 PM

Thanks ray_mcavoy, Are these the right pins I need to touch with a battery to work the cluster lights?? Thanks Again, John

ray_mcavoy · 03-10-2017, 07:24 PM

You're welcome! Yes, those are the correct pins. Hooking your battery + to #2 and - to #10 should light up most of the cluster illumination lights. Keeping the battery + on #2 and moving the battery - to pin #3 should light up the remaining one(s) that make use of that other ground pin.

By the way, I would recommend using a small inline fuse in the jumper wire that you'll be using to temporarily feed battery power to the cluster. That will significantly reduce the chances of doing any damage if you accidentally connect to the wrong pins or slip and short the battery wires together when connecting to pins that are right beside one another.

Big Blue · 03-10-2017, 11:09 PM

You a most welcome for your help. Sometimes I try to do things on my own and screw things up. So thank you for the extra information.
Thanks Again, John

03-10-2017, 07:03 PM	#4
Big Blue Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northeast--Bethlehem, Pennslyvania Posts: 642	Re: cluster pin help Thanks ray_mcavoy, Are these the right pins I need to touch with a battery to work the cluster lights?? Thanks Again, John Attached Images __________________ Big Blue ( John ) 79 Chevy Pick up.....My Dailey STILL Working on a frame up: 1987 Truck body on a 78 Blazer frame. Need cab blasted to start project. Got the cab BLASTED, Now Prep and Paint. Started to lay SOME BONDO and primer. Done, Ordering paint. Got paint, Stuff painted,Cab,Fenders, Hood more later. 9/7/2015 Got the clear coat on,now time to take one off. Started to put things back (What a nightmare) like the heating and AC stuff,inside wire harness, outside AC unit and booster, still more. May 2016, still working on the inside. Got duck work in,heating and AC. Radio (stock) in dash with after market in console later, Speaker are hooked up, Steering column is in. Getting ready to drop the cab onto the frame, Working on engine now since I have the room. Well here it is 2018, got the engine in and it runs, now I need to get the exhaust system in so I can adjust the lifters, to loud right now. Got the exhaust on now I am waiting for the break parts to come in.

03-10-2017, 07:24 PM	#5
ray_mcavoy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sherman, ME Posts: 2,354	Re: cluster pin help You're welcome! Yes, those are the correct pins. Hooking your battery + to #2 and - to #10 should light up most of the cluster illumination lights. Keeping the battery + on #2 and moving the battery - to pin #3 should light up the remaining one(s) that make use of that other ground pin. By the way, I would recommend using a small inline fuse in the jumper wire that you'll be using to temporarily feed battery power to the cluster. That will significantly reduce the chances of doing any damage if you accidentally connect to the wrong pins or slip and short the battery wires together when connecting to pins that are right beside one another.

03-10-2017, 11:09 PM	#6
Big Blue Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northeast--Bethlehem, Pennslyvania Posts: 642	Re: cluster pin help You a most welcome for your help. Sometimes I try to do things on my own and screw things up. So thank you for the extra information. Thanks Again, John __________________ Big Blue ( John ) 79 Chevy Pick up.....My Dailey STILL Working on a frame up: 1987 Truck body on a 78 Blazer frame. Need cab blasted to start project. Got the cab BLASTED, Now Prep and Paint. Started to lay SOME BONDO and primer. Done, Ordering paint. Got paint, Stuff painted,Cab,Fenders, Hood more later. 9/7/2015 Got the clear coat on,now time to take one off. Started to put things back (What a nightmare) like the heating and AC stuff,inside wire harness, outside AC unit and booster, still more. May 2016, still working on the inside. Got duck work in,heating and AC. Radio (stock) in dash with after market in console later, Speaker are hooked up, Steering column is in. Getting ready to drop the cab onto the frame, Working on engine now since I have the room. Well here it is 2018, got the engine in and it runs, now I need to get the exhaust system in so I can adjust the lifters, to loud right now. Got the exhaust on now I am waiting for the break parts to come in.

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03-10-2017, 11:34 AM	#1
Big Blue Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northeast--Bethlehem, Pennslyvania Posts: 642	cluster pin help I am looking for information on the location of the pin or pins that operate the dash cluster lights. I have the cluster out and I am going to put LED STRIPS or LED Bulbs in. What I want to do is install either strip or bulbs while it is out and on my Kitchen table and see what is better. So on the Pin connection plug which pin or pins do I tap on to to work the lights? It is a 86 or 87 board. If more information is needed please let me know. John __________________ Big Blue ( John ) 79 Chevy Pick up.....My Dailey STILL Working on a frame up: 1987 Truck body on a 78 Blazer frame. Need cab blasted to start project. Got the cab BLASTED, Now Prep and Paint. Started to lay SOME BONDO and primer. Done, Ordering paint. Got paint, Stuff painted,Cab,Fenders, Hood more later. 9/7/2015 Got the clear coat on,now time to take one off. Started to put things back (What a nightmare) like the heating and AC stuff,inside wire harness, outside AC unit and booster, still more. May 2016, still working on the inside. Got duck work in,heating and AC. Radio (stock) in dash with after market in console later, Speaker are hooked up, Steering column is in. Getting ready to drop the cab onto the frame, Working on engine now since I have the room. Well here it is 2018, got the engine in and it runs, now I need to get the exhaust system in so I can adjust the lifters, to loud right now. Got the exhaust on now I am waiting for the break parts to come in.

03-10-2017, 12:58 PM	#2
Big Blue Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northeast--Bethlehem, Pennslyvania Posts: 642	Re: cluster pin help I am looking for information on the location of the pin or pins that operate the dash cluster lights. I have the cluster out and I am going to put LED STRIPS or LED Bulbs in. What I want to do is install either strip or bulbs while it is out and on my Kitchen table and see what is better. So on the Pin connection plug which pin or pins do I tap on to to work the lights? It is a 86 or 87 board. If more information is needed please let me know. John Attached Images __________________ Big Blue ( John ) 79 Chevy Pick up.....My Dailey STILL Working on a frame up: 1987 Truck body on a 78 Blazer frame. Need cab blasted to start project. Got the cab BLASTED, Now Prep and Paint. Started to lay SOME BONDO and primer. Done, Ordering paint. Got paint, Stuff painted,Cab,Fenders, Hood more later. 9/7/2015 Got the clear coat on,now time to take one off. Started to put things back (What a nightmare) like the heating and AC stuff,inside wire harness, outside AC unit and booster, still more. May 2016, still working on the inside. Got duck work in,heating and AC. Radio (stock) in dash with after market in console later, Speaker are hooked up, Steering column is in. Getting ready to drop the cab onto the frame, Working on engine now since I have the room. Well here it is 2018, got the engine in and it runs, now I need to get the exhaust system in so I can adjust the lifters, to loud right now. Got the exhaust on now I am waiting for the break parts to come in.

03-10-2017, 05:57 PM	#3
ray_mcavoy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sherman, ME Posts: 2,354	Re: cluster pin help Hi John, The 1978 - 1987 (and 88/89 R/V series) gauge clusters use pin #2 as the power feed for the cluster illumination bulbs. Most of them ground through pin #10. There are one or two that ground through pin #3. But if you wire in your own LED strips you can use either ground. If you go with LEDs that are plug-in replacements for 194 bulbs you can put them in the original sockets but you'll want to follow the traces on the printed circuit back to the connector socket to see which side is power vs. ground so you can orient the LEDs for the correct polarity. With the cluster oriented as shown in your 1st photo, pin #1 is in the upper right corner. The pins are numbered 1 through 9 down that side. Then pin #10 is in the lower left corner and the pins go #10 to #18 going up that side.



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