Superbright LEDs - High Power SMD Bightness and Hot Spots
 

So im thinking of grabbing a few of these to throw in my cluster.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...WLE D-xHP.htm

I currently have these and im absolutely sick of the hot spots. I hate that sooo much.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...FWLE D-x5.htm

Besides sanding the LEDs down (which ive already done) can the hotspots be eliminated somehow? I hate to fork over $30 for the SMD ones just to have even worse hot spots...

sand the tips and hit the one pointed straight out with a black sharpie a little. (not completely black, but tint it a little)

its helped in the past a bit. The big thing is that one that points directly straight on. And those SMDs will give you SUPER hotspots.

I have sanded down the tips of the LEDs down flat. Maybe I'll try the sharpie thing.

but the SMDs have a 120 degree beam, wouldnt that be perfect?

it might be 120* but they still have a hotspot in the center. Its more direct into the plastic of the gauge assembly.

Would there be an easy way to diffuse the light?

I've used hot glue in the past. Easy to work with and removable.

Alright. Thanks. I'll get like two of them and see how it works out before bying all 5.