Fitted Led interior lights

Myowni30 · **March 02, 2010, 18:51:54**

Not sure I like the results, but only few mins to change back to standard lights

Shambles · **Reply #1: March 02, 2010, 18:58:25**

They look ok to me.

How are they during the slow dimming period?

Myowni30 · **Reply #2: March 02, 2010, 19:03:59**

Quote from: Shambles on March 02, 2010, 18:58:25

They look ok to me.

How are they during the slow dimming period?

They just dim slowly like the normal bulbs, may be a bit quicker.

Not sure that the interior is as light now, or it may be because of the complete colour change

Shambles · **Reply #3: March 02, 2010, 19:31:00**

Maybe 6 LEDs should have been 12 or 24. There sure seems to be the room for a larger array.

I might have a look for some of those myself.

Myowni30 · **Reply #4: March 02, 2010, 20:51:48**

Houston we have a problem

Just been out to the car now its dark outside and notice that the leds are still just glowing, even if I start the engine.

Obviously not enough resistance in them to switch the dimming function off. They will of course turn off via the switches, but if left on the Door setting then they just glow a small amount.

Can now see why some leds have a type load resistance to stop this problem

Have to put the standard bulbs back in unless some one knows how to solve this.

Shambles · **Reply #5: March 02, 2010, 21:01:44**

You need to wire in a 5Ω resister - one per bulb (in series). They're only around 10p each if you don't have any at home. You need to simulate the load of a filament festoon. I just measured my boot light filament and it measures 5Ω

With the gadget you've installed it might be tricky adding the extra resistive load, so you might have to do some firtling with the mechanics to get that load applied

Dazzler · **Reply #6: March 02, 2010, 21:03:51**

Quote from: Shambles on March 02, 2010, 21:01:44

You need to wire in a 5Ω resister - one per bulb (in series). They're only around 10p each if you don't have any at home. You need to simulate the load of a filament festoon. I just measured my boot light filament and it measures 5Ω

Anyone would think you were intelligent if they didn't know any better

Myowni30 · **Reply #7: March 02, 2010, 21:54:40**

Quote from: Shambles on March 02, 2010, 21:01:44

You need to wire in a 5Ω resister - one per bulb (in series). They're only around 10p each if you don't have any at home. You need to simulate the load of a filament festoon. I just measured my boot light filament and it measures 5Ω

With the gadget you've installed it might be tricky adding the extra resistive load, so you might have to do some firtling with the mechanics to get that load applied

That's not going to be easy to do with this type of bulb fitting. May buy some more of the ones that have the leads like the one I used for the trunk/boot light.

Oh well, only £5 for the 3 of them, so not much lost

May be able to cut the tracks on the back of the cuircit board and solder in the resistor for each one. Will have a go in the next week or two.

Need to check first with the standard bulbs in place that the power is cut off totally when the dimmer turns them off, to see if its just such a low voltage that the normal bulbs don't light, were as the leds do.

Lorian · **Reply #8: March 02, 2010, 22:16:29**

The soldering on those SMDs looks very poor.

The look like they are wired in series (2.2v X 6 = 13.2v) with no current limiting resistors, maybe no reverse polarity diode either?

This is what the back should look like if they are done properly

Lorian · **Reply #9: March 02, 2010, 22:49:37**

Quote from: Myowni30 on March 02, 2010, 21:54:40

That's not going to be easy to do with this type of bulb fitting. May buy some more of the ones that have the leads like the one I used for the trunk/boot light.

If the LEDs are wired in series I think you could just solder a small reistor from one end of the festoon to the other on the back. Easy enough if you have a hot iron. These are never going to be the brightest of solution though.

Myowni30 · **Reply #10: March 03, 2010, 00:39:51**

Quote from: Lorian on March 02, 2010, 22:16:29

The soldering on those SMDs looks very poor.

The look like they are wired in series (2.2v X 6 = 13.2v) with no current limiting resistors, maybe no reverse polarity diode either?

This is what the back should look like if they are done properly

No mine have only 2 resistors on the back. Will take them out later today and take a picture.
I think that one of the tracks goes to one end, so it is that track that I said I may be able to cut and solder the resistor on.

Lorian · **Reply #11: March 03, 2010, 07:59:40**

Keep in mind you are only tying to tie down the circuit, not trying to limit the current when LEDs are on.

Myowni30 · **Reply #12: March 03, 2010, 13:37:15**

Okay, here is a picture of the back of mine. 5Ω resistor seems a very low value, are you sure that's correct.

Not sure I have put in the correct colour code, but that's just a picture to show how I think it could be done.

Am I correct

Shambles · **Reply #13: March 03, 2010, 13:55:53**

The resistance of my festoon was 5 of those earth ohms. If you have a multimeter see what resistance your LED device is showing... it will be interesting to see. As for it being a low value, yes it does seem very low, but seeing as that's what the original festoon is presenting to the lighting circuit I'm guessing that what'll you'll have to copy. Ideally you could do with asking someone who has LED lights to see what their ballast pack has in it, in resistive terms.

Oh, and if you do decide to series-wire a 5Ω resister, what you've marked in your diagram looks fine, but you'll need Green Black Gold to achieve 5Ω.

I think Hemmi's an electronics guru. For me it was just a hobby for 20 years.

Myowni30 · **Reply #14: March 03, 2010, 14:48:02**

Have just tried the leds and they don't show any resistance at all. Trying the original 12V 8W bulb on my meter shows just 1.5 ohms. Will give it a try and see what happens.

Myowni30 · **Reply #15: March 03, 2010, 17:26:18**

Fitted 1.5Ω resistor to each led array, tested them on a 12V transformer and all work. Need to put them back in the car and see if they switch off now.

Shambles · **Reply #16: March 03, 2010, 17:49:32**

Is that brown/green/black? If so it's 15Ω

Myowni30 · **Reply #17: March 03, 2010, 18:22:15**

Quote from: Shambles on March 03, 2010, 17:49:32

Is that brown/green/black? If so it's 15Ω

Well I asked for 1.5Ω resistors. Anyway one led out of the six on each array still glows

Standard bulbs are staying for now

i30mania · **Reply #18: March 05, 2010, 01:20:54**

I ve changed my bulbs a while ago

Original ones

DaveCRDi · **Reply #19: March 05, 2010, 17:22:30**

Nice job i30mania! that looks great.

Did you replace the sidelights/running lights with LED units too?

Where did you get all that if you don't mind me asking (I'd consider doing that myself).

Mike SX · **Reply #20: March 05, 2010, 18:46:31**

Quote from: i30mania on March 05, 2010, 01:20:54

I ve changed my bulbs a while ago

Do they slowly dim, and extinguish (switch off) completely, or do they glow in the dark

KKOM · **Reply #21: March 05, 2010, 18:59:27**

Details my friend WE NEED DETAILS !!!

Mike SX · **Reply #22: March 05, 2010, 22:06:45**

Quote from: KKOM on March 05, 2010, 18:59:27

Details my friend WE NEED DETAILS !!!

Hey, lighten up a bit

Dazzler · **Reply #23: March 05, 2010, 23:13:25**

Quote from: Interphase on March 05, 2010, 22:06:45

Quote from: KKOM on March 05, 2010, 18:59:27
Details my friend WE NEED DETAILS !!!

Hey, lighten up a bit

that's what he is trying to do

i30mania · **Reply #24: March 06, 2010, 02:12:10**

Sorry guys for late response,

I bought from ebay, there are alot of LED sellers but I suggest you to buy SMD LED , like in the pictures.

I was afraid at first but dimming works great,

I ve changed all the lights, including parking lights,side repeaters.

This ones have 3M tape at back

I only did not touch to the tail lights, waiting for a reasonable price for Led tail lights (like Hemmi's have)

Stop Global Warming

Lorian · **Reply #25: March 06, 2010, 09:38:14**

www.dealextreme.com are good on prices, but read the reviews of the items, as they have some crap lights with duff resistors and no diodes, and some super lights too, like this one:

https://i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,4821.0.html

Which looks similar to Mania's. They have lots of different sizes.

KKOM · **Reply #26: March 06, 2010, 11:50:11**

Quote from: i30mania on March 05, 2010, 01:20:54

I ve changed my bulbs a while ago

Hi my friend,
Can you send us the links of the specific items you have purchased so it will be easy for us to know what exactly to buy
Thanks

Myowni30 · **Reply #27: March 06, 2010, 12:42:38**

Let me say that those interior (main roof and map) lights are all different to mine.

My main roof light has a rocker switch, and not a slide switch as shown in i30mania pictures. Also the map lights are different in design, there is no push button in the lens, on mine you just push the back edge of the lens to switch on and off. Not saying that the leds he has used want fit though.

DaveCRDi · **Reply #28: March 06, 2010, 19:02:19**

Quote from: KKOM on March 06, 2010, 11:50:11

Hi my friend,
Can you send us the links of the specific items you have purchased so it will be easy for us to know what exactly to buy
Thanks

I'd be very interested in specific links too.

It looks like you did a great job, and I'm quite wary of some of the LED arrays that appear to be more cheaply constructed than yours, particularly the sidelights.