LED Problem/Question, Dome Lights
#1
07-27-2007, 10:31 PM
LED Problem/Question, Dome Lights
Well last week i got leds for the interior and the rear turn, and i must say once you go led you can't go back.
well anyways, tonight i took my car out and noticed when my interior lights turn'd off, the leds in the dome, didn't they are barely on like a glow, can't see unless your real close. I'm think that there is enough current going through them to light them up.
these are the bulbs i got
http://frickinbrite.com/catalog/prod...roducts_id=135
My question will this shorten the life span given that it will always be on. Also has this happened to anyone else... and could this drain the battery, which i think is very unlikely.
well anyways, tonight i took my car out and noticed when my interior lights turn'd off, the leds in the dome, didn't they are barely on like a glow, can't see unless your real close. I'm think that there is enough current going through them to light them up.
these are the bulbs i got
http://frickinbrite.com/catalog/prod...roducts_id=135
My question will this shorten the life span given that it will always be on. Also has this happened to anyone else... and could this drain the battery, which i think is very unlikely.
#2
07-28-2007, 04:20 AM
#3
07-28-2007, 04:22 AM
you're fine. this happens to most, if not all, people with LEDs in their domes.
here is why:
here is why:
Originally Posted by DHCrocks
what's happening is that the dome light circuit is negatively switched. what that means is that when the door is opened or you flip the switch on, one of the leads to the light goes to ground and completes the circuit. When the light is off both leads to the light will actually be given +12 volts and since there is no potential across this there is no light. BUT since the positive voltage is actually going across different paths in the wiring there is a very small difference in resistance in the wiring, this is giving off a very small voltage differential between the two leads.
now comes the problem with the cheap festoon leds. they typically overdrive the leds which is why they always burn out so fast. I've gotten anywhere from 1 to 3 months on those things before they start to burn out. When they overdrive the leds they using a too small resistor value, and the small amount of differential voltage in the dome light circuit is enough to give off a faint amount of light. If the resistor was higher then the voltage would not be enough to overcome it and light it up.
now comes the problem with the cheap festoon leds. they typically overdrive the leds which is why they always burn out so fast. I've gotten anywhere from 1 to 3 months on those things before they start to burn out. When they overdrive the leds they using a too small resistor value, and the small amount of differential voltage in the dome light circuit is enough to give off a faint amount of light. If the resistor was higher then the voltage would not be enough to overcome it and light it up.
Last edited by Calvin; 07-28-2007 at 04:27 AM.
#5
07-31-2007, 12:40 AM
So then the only question left is....
are these cheap festoon LEDs that will burn out quick?
http://frickinbrite.com/catalog/prod...roducts_id=135
they're not exactly cheap....but that's all relative i guess...
g7x5 - I have the exact same bulbs in my car, in the dome, and the door/step lights. I've also noticed the slight glow at night...so I'm wondering the same question....will these burn out quick.
I've done a fair amount of reading on in these forums, and everyone seems to be happy and suggest getting vleds, which is what I got, so hopefully someone can speak to this......that they've had the festoons in their car for years and no burn out!? maybe?
are these cheap festoon LEDs that will burn out quick?
http://frickinbrite.com/catalog/prod...roducts_id=135
they're not exactly cheap....but that's all relative i guess...
g7x5 - I have the exact same bulbs in my car, in the dome, and the door/step lights. I've also noticed the slight glow at night...so I'm wondering the same question....will these burn out quick.
I've done a fair amount of reading on in these forums, and everyone seems to be happy and suggest getting vleds, which is what I got, so hopefully someone can speak to this......that they've had the festoons in their car for years and no burn out!? maybe?
#7
08-02-2007, 01:02 AM
Originally Posted by aHero4Eternity
link is dead.
try this....I think this is what the guy who started the thread has too...
http://frickinbrite.com/catalog/prod...roducts_id=135
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