Help needed with internal light on van

Leesfarm07 · Post by **Leesfarm07** » Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:23 am

Hi folks. Not been on for ages as my car has been parked up with little use.
I'm doing a camper conversion and I'm scratching my head over what I'm sure might be a simple problem.
The van originally had 2 lights in the load area which I took out but left the wiring plugs in place. Each plug has 3 wires going to it. On test one was live all the time and one activated by the door opening. I've installed a small LED light which I wired to come on with opening the door and go out after about 20 seconds of closing the door. Here's my issue. The led doesn't go out fully....it stays dull but not off. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
I know it's a strange topic for the forum but I'm sure there's some electric boffins on here

markplant · Post by **markplant** » Tue Oct 09, 2018 9:39 am

I have the same same issue with led number plate lights on the zed, they do eventually go out ,

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Tue Oct 09, 2018 12:04 pm

It's because you have current still finding it's way back to earth through other ancillaries even when the door switch is closed (i.e. open circuit). That's because led's can light with just a tiny tiny current whereas a bulb would not. Try putting a 1K ohm power resistor (rated at least 1W) across your LED lights, that should sort it.

BMWZ4MC · Post by **BMWZ4MC** » Tue Oct 09, 2018 12:48 pm

ph001 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 09, 2018 12:04 pm It's because you have current still finding it's way back to earth through other ancillaries even when the door switch is closed (i.e. open circuit). That's because led's can light with just a tiny tiny current whereas a bulb would not. Try putting a 1K ohm power resistor (rated at least 1W) across your LED lights, that should sort it.

This is why, so do this (I had the same problem when I used LEDs for reversing lights on another car)

Leesfarm07 · Post by **Leesfarm07** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 8:24 am

Ah that brill thank you. Because I've fitted black side and rear windows it was a pain cos it meant you could see in.
Thank you chaps

Leesfarm07 · Post by **Leesfarm07** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 8:34 am

ph001 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 09, 2018 12:04 pm It's because you have current still finding it's way back to earth through other ancillaries even when the door switch is closed (i.e. open circuit). That's because led's can light with just a tiny tiny current whereas a bulb would not. Try putting a 1K ohm power resistor (rated at least 1W) across your LED lights, that should sort it.

Thank you ph001. Do I put it literally across the two led incoming wires to the bulb in parallel ?

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Wed Oct 10, 2018 9:49 am

Leesfarm07 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 10, 2018 8:34 am Thank you ph001. Do I put it literally across the two led incoming wires to the bulb in parallel ?

Yes, exactly that. Let me know if you are struggling to find any resistors. I'll bung you a few out in the post

Leesfarm07 · Post by **Leesfarm07** » Sat Oct 13, 2018 3:58 pm

Blimey that's excellent ph001. Our local maplin has closed. I wasn't sure if the resistors would get red hot and whether I needed a special one of some sort. Let me know how much and I'll PayPal you over some cash

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Sat Oct 13, 2018 7:27 pm

Free to forum chums...pm me your address and i’ll pop them in 1st class post for you on Monday

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