Rep Power: 813

i have some leds wired to a couple of radioshack switches, but even with the switch in off position, the leds are still lit up (but in very dim mode). is there a way to fix this or do i need to look for different switches?

 
Rep Power: 0

Well, clearly the circuit is still being completed, if it's very dim. I'd check out the switch, maybe one of the power wires is touching the off position part of the switch. If not, get some new switches.

 
Rep Power: 813

i rechecked everything, its all wired fine. must be crappy switches i guess. leds can be lit with very little power so i guess they didnt think of that when making it.

 
Rep Power: 246

does your switch have a light in it? if it's a light bulb i've seen led's draw power thought the filiment.

 
Rep Power: 813

its led switch, but anyway problem solved. lol. albertross gets rep, it was something connecting the two contacts together. and that something was the butyl rubber (black window sealer goop) i used to insulate the rear of the switch lmao. im so relieved it was such a dumb mistake cause i was ready to rip everything apart if that didnt fix it. put some electrical tape instead and now they turn off completely.

 
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Nice, rather it be a dumb mistake than a catastrophic mistake. =P Where'd you connect the LED power to? I've thought of just getting a wire from the positive battery terminal to the switch, and connecting all the LED's to that switch, but I'm a little unsure as to what size fuse (near the battery) and wire I should have. I have the worst hand stability ever, lol. They shake like crazy so it makes wiring that much harder for me.

 
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whoa mr. super mod gearbox stuck on something? thats something i never thought id see

 
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nah, it means u have too many leds!!!! lol

 
Rep Power: 813

haha, surprisingly all of my exterior lights are regular filament bulbs now (well upgraded versions), and all my interior lights are led. i connected my power from the battery, it was run a long time ago for xm and some other stuff. but its big enough gauge that i dont think it will ever get overloaded. leds use little power for the most part, i only have a 5 amp fuse on mine. the lil 5mm leds are like nothing barely running at 20ma. but if you use superflux and they run around 70ma each, having 20 of em is around 1.4amps (6w?), still not much i guess with a switch rated for 10amp. these are the extra running lights i had connected to the switch with 10 leds mounted at the top of the reverse light housing. the other switch is for the interior floor light.

 
Rep Power: 304

^Looks very nice, Gear!

 
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hey gear what are you using these leds for..? new reverse light.. or just lights for show? i am not hating just curious

 
Rep Power: 813

the reverse bulb still works as normal. these are just for when it starts to get dark and i want rear lights but i dont want to have all the stock park lights on. mainly because i want to keep my front turn signal drl going but also have some rear lighting, enough to notice. if i turn on park lights, the front drl shuts off (amber turn signals in bright mode). so i guess you can call the rear one a park/drl light. kinda like how bmw has its park lights in the rear that turn on when it has front drl on.

 
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ok cool.. where did you buy that led pack or did you make it?

 
Rep Power: 813

i was bored so i just made it with some spare leds, chrome tape, and radioshack board. its sealed with windoweld ribbon

 
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whats total cost? i am making a scanning light for when i arm my car.

 
Rep Power: 813

well id say $5 for the board, maybe $5 for the leds and resistors, and $5 for misc supplies. assuming you already have soldering iron and stuff. might be cheaper just to buy a premade piece.

 
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i am building a led scanner bar that will turn on when i arm my car.. the trick is to use a very low voltage leds and components... i know i know a bit ricer but i have always wanted this and it is going to be very very hidden but noticeable. if that makes any sense...