1966 and 1967 Dodge Charger Dash Lighting Early 1966 Dodge Charger

Electroluminescent Dash Lighting (EL Lightining for short)

The instrument panel consisted of four round Bezels with six gauges. Besides the normal instuments, there was a 6000 rpm tachometer.The gauges in the Charger are independently mounted in the cluster housing and are connected by the wire harness. All instruments in the cluster including the airconditioning control and radio dials are illuminated WITHOUT THE USE OF LIGHTBULBS as in other models. This system known as Electro-luminescent Lighting, creates a soft uniform glow without objectionable intensity and glare. Light levels can be controlled in the usual manner with the headlight switch knob.

The gauge faces and dials, composed of electrical conducting laminates, glow when alternating current is applied. Alternating current is converted from the direct current supply of the car by a transistor oscillator (Power Pack) mounted under the instrument panel to the left of the glove box. This power pack, supplies 200 volts A/C at 250 cycles per second (250 Hertz) from the 12 volt D/C car current.

All guages are of the thermal type and operate on the constant voltage principal. This accomplished through the use of a voltage limiter connected in parallel with the gauges. Voltage limiters in all models except the Charger are external plug-in type. The Charger Model uses a voltage limiter integral with the "Fuel Gauge". It is important to note this difference if gauges are to be tested on the bench.

1967 AC Power Supply Schematic

Troubleshooting the Electroluminescent Dash Lighting The instrument panel lighting, the gauge faces and dials, glow when an alternating current is applied. Alternating current is converted from the direct current supply of the car by a transistor oscillatior mounted under the instrument panel to the left of the glove box. This power pack supplies 200 volts A/C at 250 cycles per second (250 Hertz) from the 12 volt D/C car current. If just one gauge in the instrument cluster, the clock, the radio, or gear selector indicator fails to light, the particular unit is faulty and should be replaced only after it is determined that the failure is not caused by a disconnected wire terminal. CAUTION: Always turn the headlight switch "OFF" before handling any circuit on the output side of the Power Pack to avoid a SEVERE electrical shock. A short circuit in any one of the gauges in the instrument cluster, the radio dial, the gear selector indicator or the clock dial will cause ALL panel lighting to fail.

EL Power Pack

Non A/C Instrument Cluster

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