LED map lights

stephensm

stephensm

Member
fitted leds to front console and to rear console.

had to remove the map reading lights as made some of the others flicker.

not really the room to put resistors in and they get hot so anyone fitted map reading lights and had success? mine were from carmodsshop.

i need another supplier that has repacement led's that have a higher resistance.
 
No fraid its not that simple.

I rewired them, if the polarity was wrong they wouldn't work at all.

This is a resistance issue, need another supplier with higher resistance leds
 
Well it's a power issue really. Almost all the power consumed ends up as heat in the LED and the resistor. That power depends on the current through both which also directly determines brightness of a given LED. Yes, you can reduce current (and therefore power and heat) by using a higher value resistor but your light output will suffer. The same effect can be achieved by simply using a less bright LED.

As the technology develops (and this is happening very quickly) the current at which LEDs give a particular light output is reducing which will ultimately solve your heat problem.
 
flickering led lights

hi,

mine were flickering as well, i used these which i fixed to the ali panel above and behind the map reading light to take the heat out of them (use stainless screws), i dismantled the led's and changed the polarities before soldering to the connections, the resistors go across the + &-.

now they dont flicker, you need one resistor per led but the middle bulb will not need one its just the small push in bulbs

you must fix them to the ali panel though as the resistors get very hot and would melt plastic if threy touch it, however when they are in contact with the ai this disipates the heat and they are safe, i used them in my previous bmw for over a year without problems when i fitted led's to the headlights as you needed them to trick the bulb monitor.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LED-Indicator...cycle_Parts?hash=item518ac7d7e4#ht_1297wt_939

hope this assists someone.

** update**

found these which may suit better and would not require drilling, anyone else used them??

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LoHeat-LED-Ba...arParts_SM?hash=item3efcf6af97#ht_5017wt_1165
 
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steel screws will oxidise both themselves and the bodywork extremely quickly. I would remove them sharpish.

Bret
 
those are the ones i order john-wingnut and they flicker so ive ordered the resistors in bobsimes post. the second link from ebay, they are ceramic and supposedly offer less heat so ill let you know how i get on.

thanks for all the advice
 
Thats strange.

Why are they flickering for you and not me??

I take it you have rewired them for reverse polarity

John
 
interior leds all installed

right..... i had the led map lights from car mod shop, and they flickered when ignition turned on.

received and installed low heat ceramic resistors as per bobsimes suggestion, and now they work perfectly.

they come with snap lock connectors but i found it best to solder the wires straight onto the backing plates of the bulbs, ie the track that takes the current to the bulb.

they also come with metal plates and adhesive tape to hold the resistor in place, ive stuck them to the underside of the roof. whether the tape will hold the resistors in place over time is anyones guess but the plate will help dissipate the heat a little, they get to 80degs C apparently, which is supposedly cooler than traditional metal resistors.

now i have to order the boot light and and another load resistor as this flickered as soon as installed, then all interior led mods complete!
 
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