LED's glowing?

[Da]

Swapped the standard filament lamps in my courtesy light for some white LED ones. Simple enough, but they now glow very dimly when not lit, is there a resistor that I need to fit to cancel this out? If so what value etc? cheers.

 

[BrianR]

If they are bi-polar LEDs try turning it round.
If that doesn't work it could be a dirty door switch or maybe just the way the cars CPU works that allowing a trickle back.

 

[Da]

They aren't bi-polar Brain I have tried that already. As for the door switch I don't believe that's the cause but could be wrong. I think it is more likley a trickle back as you say so wondered if I could surpress it with a small resistor or similar?

 

[BrianR]

Putting a resistor in line will do nothing but reduce the voltage and thus the output of the LEDs.

Give me a min. and I will look at the wiring diagram and see if there is anything that could be causing a trickle back.

 

[BrianR]

Believe it or not, they use the same earth point for the ultrasonic unit and the interior lamp so my guess would be thats where the leak is.

If you can get to the u/s module and pull the 3-pin plug, see if that stops the LEDs glowing then if it does, insert a 1n4001 diode (with the band facing away from the u/s unit) in the black wire.

 

[Da]

cheers Brian, very helpful. I will give that a go in the morning. :star:

 

[Da]

Will this do the trick Brian? It's listed at 50v but I'm struggling to find that diode in 12v format.

 

[BrianR]

I cant see what you have highlighted in the RS cat, but what you want is a 1n4001 diode, its the most commonly used item in alarm installs and any car security dealer should have them. If you cant find one, PM me.

 

[Da]

Cheers Brian, it was a 1n4001 50v 1A diode rectifier. The session has timed out now though. Looking at that wiring diagram, E12 is the light correct and the U/S module is A123/B123? And the linked cable is the source of the trickle back?

 

[BrianR]

Cheers Brian, it was a 1n4001 50v 1A diode rectifier. The session has timed out now though. Looking at that wiring diagram, E12 is the light correct and the U/S module is A123/B123? And the linked cable is the source of the trickle back?

You've got it Moriarty

 

[Da]

Cool Thanks for your help Brian.

 

[Jaffa182]

Where is the u/s unit on the clio? I can get hold of the diode but which wire do i solder it in line with??

Cheers, Ben (Jaffa182)

 

[Da]

The ultrasonic unit is up behind the courtesy light afaik Ben.
The diode needs to be on the return leg of the cable that links the U/S unit and courtesy light as outlined in the drawing above.

 

[bmh.01]

I've never seen anything up there when i've changed the CC fan, and that diagram Brians posted is for the Ph1 which is pre-UCH so it may be different. And the diagrams i've got (renault's for the Ph2) don't show anything other than the light on its own earth, although when I had LEDs fitted in my light they stopped glowing when I locked the car which shows something alarm/central locking related is causing it.

 

[Da]

Yeah mine's the same Ben, it also stops glowing if you sit in the car and let the relays 'time out' (I think it's 15 minutes) You hear a click and the glow, goes!
As for the diagrams, I wasn't aware it was for a ph1 as Brian never made that known, thanks for the advice as personally I've never looked into the glowing I've just let it be for now.

 

[JR]

Fitted mine today but i dont think mine glow ? i am out in about 30 mins so will find out.

 

[Da]

It's only the interior/map reading light Justin as it's getting feedback from somewhere. No other LED's should be affected.

 

[JR]

So the main interior light and the directional smaller light could both be affected ?

 

[Da]

They could be yeah but for me it seems to be only the main interior light, not the map light.

 

[ditz]

They could be yeah but for me it seems to be only the main interior light, not the map light.

mine does it too, i fitted mine about 6months ago and noticed it straight away was intending to do something about it. but never got round to it and to be honest its never really caused any problems so i left alone

 

[JR]

Mine defo do not glow Daz i checked them tonight.

 

[Da]

Cool, that's good to know. Maybe it's a ph2 issue only then? :S

 

[JR]

could be ?

 

[eggy790]

lol my mk2ph1 which has the festoon glows.. and also doesnt work when you switch it on urself from inside i.e. for map reasing but the original bulb does..led only works wen door is open.. how do i fix this then?

 

[Marky_]

lol my mk2ph1 which has the festoon glows.. and also doesnt work when you switch it on urself from inside i.e. for map reasing but the original bulb does..led only works wen door is open.. how do i fix this then?

I don't think there's a cure for this yet :dapprove:

 

[eggy790]

okay, will phase 2 interior light fit then with the seperate map light, i.e. if i get one from breakers or sumthing, would it be direct replacement?

 

[Jaffa182]

Am looking into it but can't find anything yet. Might take it to my mate who is a auto electrician and see if he can sort anythn out.

I think it might be something to do with the dimmer (thinks its a capacitor) thats on it. Before the standard light used to dim then go out, the new leds don't they just switch off. Maybe just take the dimmer out of the circuit???? not sure.

Jaff

 

[morgam23]

i swapped out my LED back to the original lamp yes. The original look is better now yes.