mrodenberg0124

Well i'm working on the last part of my conversion to blue LEDs which is the main speed, tach, etc gauges. At first all of the lights were working fine. Then one went out. I tried replacing the one that went out with a new one and then 2 were out. Tried replacing again then 3 were out. Now after about a hour 5 of them are out. 2 on the digital display, 2 from the speed, and 1 from the tach. Does anyone know why this would happen? At this rate i'll have no lights at all

ares

iTrader: (2)

sounds like they are overdriven. how do you have them wires? did you use resistors?

mrodenberg0124

No, according to Acree, resistor replacement wasn't required on the main cluster of gauges. Although i've been thinking. I also changed the LEDs for the needles to blue, perhaps that is stressing them too much as you're saying and making them burn out? If so would that kill the resistor as well or could i just put the red LEDs for the needles back on and then the blue ones should work again?

Acree

iTrader: (29)

Dude, blue leds put no more stress on the motherboard than the amber leds do. I've measured them and they pull the exact same current. You're issue, not to sound like a d!ck, is bad soldering. Your leds are going out because they are losing contact with the board. You have to make sure EVERY contact is touching and make sure EVERY led is perfectly flat with the board. And I would STRONGLY advise you to put the red leds back for the needles. I'ts completely useless to put blue leds in for the needles. The material the needles are made out of only allows oranges and reds to shine through. By putting a blue led in, you have succeeded in only making the needles about 20% as bright as they should be.

-Acree

mrodenberg0124

I was just wondering if maybe that was causing it since i didn't think you changed your needle LEDs. I was just saying since you said i didn't need to change the resistors that i shouldn't need to. I've checked the connections multiple times. They're on just as good as the doors, ac controls, and middle gauges are which i've had no problems out of for a couple weeks. I also take the board outside to check the connections in bright sunlight to make sure. And i'm not quite sure why they would all work then all of a sudden they all start going out randomly. And this is without driving around. Just unplugging the board then replacing a LED that isn't working with a new one and plugging it back in. Then all of a sudden another LED is out.

Acree

iTrader: (29)

Out of the 4 connections on the board, which one are you soldering on to?
-Acree

mrodenberg0124

The bottom 2 posts with the indention on the right. I have 2 post LEDs instead of 4 so i moved them down to the bottom 2 connections. I think that's right

Acree

iTrader: (29)

That sounds right. Just make sure that you position the leds far enough away from the top connections to insure they are not touching, but still have enough contact patch on the loser contacts to allow for a solid soldering connection. Also, remember this, solder itself is not a good conducter of electricity. You must make sure the led contacts are in good connection with the board contacts.

-Acree

mrodenberg0124

Roger, thanks again Acree. I'll redo them all this weekend and see how it goes.

ares

iTrader: (2)

you sure you tested them? I wasnt really thinking through it, hadnt looked at the detailed howto, just generally if LEDs start blowing like that, I think overloaded.

but amber LEDs generally pull 2v, blue should take 3.4v. which should mean the blue would need more current(opposite of what I had suggested, just suggesting this as an aside to the actual question). unless they have some unussual amber LED source.

Acree

iTrader: (29)

Ares, you would think so, but when I measured, with a voltmeter, the leds current for the blues compared ti the amber, they were the same. Yes, the voltage runs higher for blue, but the current is the same.

mrodenberg0124 - Keep us updated on the status of your porject. I hope you get it working.

-Acree