L.E.D sidelights

[storey_3000]

Hi all,
just thought i'd mention that i bought a set of white led sidelights off ebay last week and tried them today but the computer system doesn't like them. It prompted me to check the right parking light, which i clicked ok to, then the same for the left, but the small display in the rev counter displayed the bulb symbol. Got out and checked em and they were working fine. Guess they work on a different voltage or draw less current or something. I dunno. Had to take em out again though. Don't know if anyone alse has tried em but i thought i'd let you all know.

[Green Growler]

Yes m8, it has been discussed somewhere on here before but some time ago, LED's are a bit of a no no on the Vec C, they do not draw enough current and so give the bulb checker a heart attack.

[storey_3000]

Ah, thought that might be the case! And i thought you'd probably all tried them before anyway! Oh well!

[Ian T]

You could still use them in the front interior light, they are ok in there.

[hsmeets]

Led's normally draw less current than a regular bulb.

Let's say the bulb is 15 Watts (check this) at 12 Volts then it draws 15 / 12 = 1.25 Amperes. The LED's you bought probably draw not much more than 0.3 Ampere, but you should confirm this by measuring the current with a multimeter. The low current triggers the computer into believing the bulb has died. You need additional current to keep the computer happy.

The checkcontrol can be fooled easily if you place a resitor in paralel with each sidelight.

To draw an extra 1 ampere at 12 volts you need a resistor of 12 / 1 = 12 ohm, it also must be capable of dissipating: 12 volts times 1 ampere = 12 watts

These resistor will cost around 1 or 2 pounds each and can be bought at any regular electronics shop.

Summary: lookup the watt's of the original bulb, measure the current thru the new LED lights (or ask the seller or look at the spec sheet):

12 volts divided by ( (Watts of bulb divided by 12 volts ) minus (current thru LED) ) = resistor Ohms (should be somewere around the 8 to 15 ohms)

Get a resistor capable of dissipating at least the same watts as the original bulb and you'll be save not burning the resisitor.

You now mimic the powerconsumption of the original bulb and the computer should be happy.

This also applies to the rearlights if anyone would care to upgrade them to LED lights (if such mod would be roadlegal anyway)

Huib

Hi all,
just thought i'd mention that i bought a set of white led sidelights off ebay last week and tried them today but the computer system doesn't like them. It prompted me to check the right parking light, which i clicked ok to, then the same for the left, but the small display in the rev counter displayed the bulb symbol. Got out and checked em and they were working fine. Guess they work on a different voltage or draw less current or something. I dunno. Had to take em out again though. Don't know if anyone alse has tried em but i thought i'd let you all know.

[stehanson]

the leds that crazy leds sells from vvoc.com supposedly dont trigger the warning system - just thought id mention it!

[RSV_Ecosse]

the leds that crazy leds sells from vvoc.com supposedly dont trigger the warning system - just thought id mention it!

Any idea what ones apparently dont trigger the warning light?.

I had a look at CrazyLED's website, but it appears to be down just now.

[nutron]

Those little four LED clusters look great in the front, espechially in blue! Mr Nick Nick didn't think so though but white ones would be fine. I'll be taking a look at Crazy LEDs myself.

[stehanson]

yeah, its a new site that he has and isnt working properly yet, if your a member of vvoc to, just pm him (unless his box is full) - everyone raves on there about his white sidelight leds and they are not meant to throw up probs with the bulb check sensors - Ill belive it when I see it though!!

[RSV_Ecosse]

I spoke to him on the VVOC forums.

He said that the LED's he does work 100% with the Vectra B's bulb warning system, but he has not tested them on a Vectra C.

I'm guessing they wont work, but I might order a pair anyway, just out of curiosity.