 The definitive LED console light page.
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Well, I think it's pretty definitive anyway, especially if you lean towards DIY projects.  Given the number of posts about these things recently I thought it was time I did this.
It talks in detail about using diodes to modify the standard console light so it'll work with LED turn signals & hazard lights, lists a decent source for commercial LED globes, and shows how to make your own LED globes for both the turn signal warning light, and the other "idiot" lights.
LED console warning light page
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Nice work Matt!
Do you still have those original wire pictures/diogram you posted to the other thread? The pix aren't coming up any longer. (just x's)
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Yep, but since I'm running short of space on the web server I couldn't double up on them. Those pics are all used on the web-page however (hoorah for recycling) except for that sketch of the underside of the console. If you specifically want that one, let me know.
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Yes, that's one I wanted to save as well. You can email to me if space is short. ssjones@myactv.net
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Quote:
Yes, that's one I wanted to save as well. You can email to me if space is short.
Here y'are...
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Gracias! (sorry, guess it was in your gallery, didn't think to look)
I'll hit RS this week for diodes and board to make the cool capsules!
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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No probs... It wasn't in my gallery till you asked for it.  Have fun
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Matt: I ordered bulbs to replace my Neutral and Turn Signal lamps. Do I need to use diodes (2) and a resistor for my turn signal module? It looks like from your sample pix, only a resistor is used:   Or are those shots for the neutral light where the diodes aren't used?
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Quote:
Matt:
I ordered bulbs to replace my Neutral and Turn Signal lamps.
Do I need to use diodes (2) and a resistor for my turn signal module? It looks like from your sample pix, only a resistor is used:
Or are those shots for the neutral light where the diodes aren't used?
Hey Al. Those shots are for the neutral/oil/high beam lights. The turn signal light's a different design, doesn't just plug into the socket (you have to cut wires, add a wire and install it permanantly), and uses 2 diodes as well as the resistor.
The reason I didn't include any pics of the finished turn signal is coz I originally designed it to have 2 LED's and took all the pics of that, but at the last minute changed it to use 1 and forgot to take pics of that version till after I glued it all up. However this is a circuit layout for the turn signal version:
and this shows the (failed) 2 LED design, to give you an idea of how the single one looks.
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Well, my Radio Shack sucks and should be known as "Cell Phone Only Shack". No diodes, resistors or board!
I'll try another place this week.
So for the turn signals, wouldn't it be simpler not to use the board and just wire in two diodes with the LED?
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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hehehe yeah Radio Shack is like that the world over. If I was in the USA I could maybe offer some suggestions. We have a very good electronics company here called RS Components and I believe that in the US they're called Allied Electronics and have a website at http://www.alliedelec.com/ if that helps. Quote:
So for the turn signals, wouldn't it be simpler not to use the board and just wire in two diodes with the LED?
If I understand you correctly you're talking about soldering the two diodes and the resistor directly to the LED legs? Yes it can be done that way, however I can see three potential problems with it...
- it's kind of fiddly getting everything hanging off the LED
- you'd need some sort of epoxy to bind the whole thing together and give it structural strength when you were done
- you'd have no way of keeping it in place in the rubber socket housing, and since you'd still need to add the third wire you'd still have to remove the actual socket.
The reason the board for the turn sig light is a different shape is to fit it snugly inside the socket house so it stays upright and doesn't move about. If you want to do it the other way then please have a go and send me pics and a blurb about how you did it, and I'll include it on the webpage.
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Oh, or maybe you mean to wire the diodes into the wires below the console and just use the same design as for the other lights in the socket? Yes you can do that, it just gets a little crowded under the console. The turn signal bulb design was to get away from adding more stuff below the console and move the diodes to the socket housing. You should never need to change the LED globe once it's fitted, so removal of the socket from the housing isn't a problem.
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Well, those reasons certainly seem worth extending the effort to make the board. Thanks for the link.
As to the resistor on the board, is there any value that I would need?
Thanks for sticking with me through all of these dumb questions!
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Any chance you could take a picture of the bulb/board inserted into the console from underneath? That would make things a little more clear to me.
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Quote:
As to the resistor on the board, is there any value that I would need?
You need to figure out the resistor value from 2 values of the LED you choose, the LED voltage (ie: the voltage the LED likes to operate at) and the typical forward current (how much current the LED likes to have running through it). Typical values are 3.5V and 20mA (don't rely on this though, check the values for your LED or you could blow it up). I started writing up the two forumlas you need to select your resistor but it's too complex so just go to this website, plug in the values, and it'll tell you what you need. Remember to record both the resistance AND the wattage.
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Any chance you could take a picture of the bulb/board inserted into the console from underneath? That would make things a little more clear to me.
Yeah I could do that but it wouldn't do you any good, it'd look pretty much the same as your console does now from below. The socket housing are black rubber tubes, sealed at one end, with two wires going into them and leading to two copper clips that form the socket itself and attach to the globe. Cut the two wires off at the base of the rubber tube and pull out the copper clips from inside the rubber housings. Solder the 3 wires to the turn signal light, insert them into the rubber socket housing and feed them out thru the 2 holes at the bottom till the board's fully inserted into the housing. The attach the three wires to the bike's wiring as shown on the web page. Make sense? I could pull mine apart and take photos of each step if needed, but it won't be for a few days a I use my bike daily.
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Thanks for sticking with me through all of these dumb questions!
Aint no such thing as dumb questions... the only way to know is ask.
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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I used the Superbrite LED page for my bulbs. Can anyone who already ordered these bulbs let me know the voltage and power current for those bulbs? If not, I'll just wait till the bulbs arrive this week. I'd like to have everything ready, but we'll see. No need for downtime Matt, I'm sure it will come together when I have all the parts and console in front of me. Thanks again!
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Umm hang on... you don't a resistor for those commercially made LED globes, it's built in. You only need a resistor for ones you make yourself. Those things just plug straight in, but they don't have the diodes for the turn signals.
You'll need to use the diodes if you use a commercially made LED globe in the turn signal console light AND if you have LED's in your turn signal lights too. If you keep normal light globes in your turn signal lights you can just plug the commercially made LED console light in.
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Matt:
So I'm OK with the Superbrite bulbs and don't need a resistor, good deal.
I DO have the LED's in my rear lights (add on LED ring, that goes over the OEM bulb, from ElectricalConnection.com).
Using the Superbrite bulbs, will I still need the board for structure to the bulb/diodes?
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Does the add-on LED ring replace the turn signal? Or is it a running light? If it's a running light and the turn signals still use the OEM bulbs then you don't need anything else, just plug in the superbrite led thing and you're good to go.
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Quote:
Does the add-on LED ring replace the turn signal? Or is it a running light? If it's a running light and the turn signals still use the OEM bulbs then you don't need anything else, just plug in the superbrite led thing and you're good to go.
Yep, it's just a row of LED's mounting on a rubber ring that fits snugly onto the OEM bulb. They work as running lights and activate with either the turn signals or brake light.
I'll give it a try, thanks!
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Matt:
LED bulbs arrived today. The neutral and oil lights were just plugin and worked. The turn signal light did not work, tried orienting either way, no go. I picked up two 1N4005 power diodes this evening and will wire them in per your instructions tomorrow. The oil/neutral lights sure are bright, the turn signals will be perfect!
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Interesting that it didn't work at all, usually you'd see all 4 turn signals AND the warning light working all at once. Oh well, the diodes can't make it any worse and will probably make it better. Let me know how it goes, if it's still not working we'll look at something else.
Oh, did you try the other green LED in the turn signals? You might have just got a bad one.
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Quote:
........Oh, did you try the other green LED in the turn signals? You might have just got a bad one.
Ah, good suggestion, didn't consider that angle. I'll try that before cutting any wires!
Al
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Re: The definitive LED console light page.
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Swapped the Neutral LED into the turnsignal housing, worked right away! Put the other bulb in the Neutral housing and no go. Changed the polarity and viola, it worked! Maybe I didn't have the bulb wires oriented properly, or I have a fussy (loose) bulb housing. They all work now, true "plug & play". Very nice mod, going for a test spin right now!
Al
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