$5 3rd brakelight fix - DYI
#1
$5 3rd brakelight fix - DYI
Well after a couple years of procrastinating I finally cracked open the 3rd brakelight and tested all the components... You can get the part(s) at Radio Shack for just a few bucks.
Note: this repair is for when all 6 LED's are dim or completely outt. If some LED's still work this isn't going to help.
Here's the culprit -- 1N4007 diode which is way small for these LEDs. The diode looks fine... but it has become an open circuit because it overheats:
You should replace it with a single 1N5404 -- it is bigger (3Amp instead of 1Amp). I already had two 1N4004 in my toolbox (leftover from alarm installing days) so I used them and doubled them up for more current. You can get these at Radio Shack. Notice the orientation of the stripe... it won't work if you install them backwards:
And there we go
Hopefully this saves you guys some $$...people were trying to sell me used ones for $150+
Note: this repair is for when all 6 LED's are dim or completely outt. If some LED's still work this isn't going to help.
Here's the culprit -- 1N4007 diode which is way small for these LEDs. The diode looks fine... but it has become an open circuit because it overheats:
You should replace it with a single 1N5404 -- it is bigger (3Amp instead of 1Amp). I already had two 1N4004 in my toolbox (leftover from alarm installing days) so I used them and doubled them up for more current. You can get these at Radio Shack. Notice the orientation of the stripe... it won't work if you install them backwards:
And there we go
Hopefully this saves you guys some $$...people were trying to sell me used ones for $150+
Last edited by djamps; 04-15-2011 at 10:31 PM.
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#4
Actually I was wrong (updated post) on both the actual diode part number and the recommended replacement...my old man eyes are failing me
you'd actually want something like a 1N5404 which will handle 3x the current. All of the 1N400n diodes are only 1A. Even though the actual current is only 0.3 they get really hot... The last number really isn't important, it's just the reverse voltage rating and there is no reverse voltage here because the LED are not inductive.
you'd actually want something like a 1N5404 which will handle 3x the current. All of the 1N400n diodes are only 1A. Even though the actual current is only 0.3 they get really hot... The last number really isn't important, it's just the reverse voltage rating and there is no reverse voltage here because the LED are not inductive.
Last edited by djamps; 04-15-2011 at 04:35 PM.
#7
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^^ Interesting. I haven't seen enough to know the most common failure mode... but if you have all the LED's out (or all leds lit very dimly) this fix will work. It's rare for an LED to fail, even more rare if every single LED failed. If an LED went closed circuit (again, very rare) you'd most likely see a burnt resistor.
Either way it's a cheap DIY so what is there to lose.
Either way it's a cheap DIY so what is there to lose.
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Thank you so much for this informative post! My third brake light will sometimes work and other times not. I am assuming this will fix the problem. I have not actually soldered anything electrical before, only plumbing. I have a soldering iron though, so my question is what size of solder would you recommend for this job and how much wattage will be needed? What else would I need? Flux and maybe a soldering wick?
Thanks, Jeff
Thanks, Jeff
Last edited by MyfistYourFace; 03-16-2015 at 05:04 PM.
#15
I am not the best at soldering and found this to be beyond my ability. Impossible IMO to soldier without removing the circuit board from the assembly which is braced into place and also is retained by both the + and - contacts which are also soldered. maybe if I had two more hands I could do it..... but soldering from the top of the board with the larger 1N5404 is a very difficult task. Just a warning to the people without soldering experience. Wasted 2+ hours and a trip to radio shack before giving up. I hope it works for everyone else!
Last edited by SNOWDOGG; 04-01-2015 at 11:39 PM.