The SLTX 1050 has an LCD hour meter, and I have now installed pushbuttons for the headlight and an auxiliary hydro fan. However, the LCD appears to have no backlighting, and I didn't backlight my pushbutton labels. Instead I plan to install LEDs in the arch over the indicator panel that will let me see the LCD panel as well as my pushbutton labels. While I personally will probably never need to see the pushbutton labels since I know which one does what, if someone else uses my tractor for snowthrowing at night it will be handy for them to see the pushbutton labels.

Digi-Key

• Part	Description	P/N	Qty.	Unit Price	Total
  Cree 5mm LED	5mm LED, white, 55 degree viewing angle	C513A-WSN-CV0Y0151	6	$0.00	$0.00
  Lumex 5mm LED holder	5mm LED holder, black, nylon	SSH-LX5091	6	$0.36	$2.16
  549 ohm resistor	Vishay/Dale 549 ohm resistor, 1/2 watt, 1%, 50ppm	CMF55549R00FHEB	3	$0.16	$0.48
  Total					$2.64

Grand Total

• Digi-Key	$2.64
  Total	$2.64

Diary

• August 17, 2010
  
  • Parts arrived from Digi-Key for the dash lighting. I apparently typoed my order, there are only 5 LED holders instead of 6. However, I'm only using 4.

    I drilled the holes in the dash for the LED holders, created the harness for the LEDs with current-limiting resistors, installed the LEDs, and took some pictures with the LEDs on. Very nice, though probably brighter than I want. I will probably add a current-limiting resistor to the hot wire that feeds them all to bring the brightness down a little bit.

    

• August 13, 2010
  
  • I ordered LEDs, LED holders and resistors from Digi-Key for dash lighting.

    

Datasheets

• Lumex SSH-LX5091 5mm LED holder (PDF)
• Vishay/Dale CMF metal film industrial presision resistors (PDF)
• Cree C513A-WSN-CV0Y0151 5mm white LED (PDF)

Links

• Digi-Key