How to Replace the Light in a Eureka VU Meter

Warranties

• Check your Eureka warranty to see if you are still within the time frame for a replacement. If the bulb dies out during the first 14 days of purchase, you can file for a full replacement free of charge. This is one of the easiest replacement methods. It may also be one of the most useful if your bulb dies out soon after getting your Eureka system, since this indicates more serious electrical problems than a burnt-out bulb.

Replacing Entire Meter

• If the bulb has turned off and you want to replace the VU meter as a whole, you may be able to hook up a new LED meter to the same input. In this case, you can buy an LED meter design to hook into existing audio equipment, with basic connectors that make it easy to switch wiring from one component to the other. The primary disadvantage with this method is that the LED meter will be a different shape and size than the original Eureka meter, and may work different too -- the two may not be compatible in either wiring or size. Note also that you will be voiding your warranty and potentially damaging your system by installing an LED meter into your system.

Accessing VU Meter

• While it also voids your warranty, you may be able to access your Eureka VU meter and replace only the bulb, especially if the bulb is a traditional incandescent version. You will need to remove the meter bridge to access the circuitry, and unscrew the mounting plate and VU meter to remove the meter from the other dials along the meter bridge chassis. The back of the VU meter box can be removed by depressing the clips holding it together. You can then de-solder the old bulbs or remove the bulb components entirely.

Matching Voltage

• When switching out bulbs, LEDs are still the component of choice, but LEDs tend to have lower voltage than older bulbs. You need to match resistance by soldering in a resistor, as well as the new LED lights. Ohm's law states that multiplying the extra voltage -- after subtracting required voltage for the new lights -- by .02 will yield the ohms that need to be dropped to lower the voltage. Resistors are rated to downsize current by a variety of ohm settings, so choose resistors with the closets setting and solder the components in series with the LED lights.