[DML] Blowing fuses with LEDs.

["Alan Roberts" <twodelo2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Josh,  

Blowing fuses with the LEDS in place can occur for either of two reasons. 

First reason is that the LEDs are polarized.  Remove all and replace one at a time and try it out.  You'll find that when you encounter one that blows the fuse, remove it and rotate it 180 degrees and reinsert.  If you look at superbriteleds.com site, you notice a note that says something about some models being AC/DC and others don't mention it.  You can determine the polarity before hand by powering the LED independently with a 12V source.  Put a 100 ohm resistor in line with the LED so that with the wrong polarity, the LED will not present a short to the battery.  LEDs are diodes, i.e., they conduct with one polarity of orientation, and radiate light with the other.  For the LEDS which go into the warning light socket, polarity counts.  It will either light up or not.  

Second reason.  Look at the base of the LED and the socket.  I found that with the extremely small LEDS such as those used for the cigarette lighter and lamp at the center of the two light switches, that wires come out is such a way that they are bent to both sides of the base.  The socket is designed for a lamp with the wire coming out one side.  Clever cutting of the wires on the base of the LED will climate this problem.  Incidentally, use blue LEDS in the two light switch sockets...this is the color of the lens at the front of the switch.  It will give the best illumination.  

I've found it handy to have a small 12V Lead Acid battery for testing the LEDS and a lot of other circuits.  These can be obtained from many sources.  Even a motorcycle battery would do.  A car battery charger will work to recharge the battery.  It can even be recharged by the car by plugging into the cigarette lighter socket.  Again, be aware of the polarity.  Reversing the polarity and trying to charge a battery can get quite exciting!!

Al Roberts
twodelo2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
#4649/#16049

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