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View Full Version : led troubles in the old radio and heater/ac contols

egertge
12-01-2003, 04:47 PM
I just got my led's to put in my old radio and heater/ac controls in my 92, but learned the hard way why you need resistors with the led's. I have no idea what kind of resistors to get or where to put them. Anybody have any ideas or suggestions? if i get this working, ill put together a good how to change your dash light color in the older old body style over christmas break. thanks

this first pic shows what happens to an led if you hook it up where a normal bulb goes. the one on the left kinds smoked when i turned it on, the one on the right is a normal one. The second pic is the circuit board where you have to take the bulbs out of.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/204121/100_00022.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/204121/100_00032.jpg
r6z4o6
12-02-2003, 03:59 AM
oooOOooo bluueeee!!!! :drool: That will be what i order when i follow your article!!

Is there any led specifications on the package they came in?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/T13_specs.htm

http://www.superbrightleds.com/bulb_specs.htm

i have no idea what anything means on the pages that i just posted :dunce:
Stabbin97Tahoe
12-02-2003, 08:07 AM
Let me know how to do this. I have everything done but the radio, window, and headlight controls. I haven't tackled them yet because I'm not sure how to hook up a resistor. You can get resistors and LED's at RadioShack:read:
1badgmc
12-02-2003, 12:01 PM
Originally posted by Stabbin97Tahoe
Let me know how to do this. I have everything done but the radio, window, and headlight controls. I haven't tackled them yet because I'm not sure how to hook up a resistor. You can get resistors and LED's at RadioShack:read:

You should be able to just get the T13s and plug them into yours since you have a '97.
Stabbin97Tahoe
12-02-2003, 04:36 PM
Originally posted by 1badgmc


You should be able to just get the T13s and plug them into yours since you have a '97.

You sure about that? And those will fit in the radio, headlight, and window controls? Seems like those are too big of a bulb :think: What about the T1.5 Instrument bulb, or the 74 LED bulb on there website.
1badgmc
12-02-2003, 04:43 PM
Originally posted by Stabbin97Tahoe


You sure about that? And those will fit in the radio, headlight, and window controls? Seems like those are too big of a bulb :think: What about the T1.5 Instrument bulb, or the 74 LED bulb on there website.

Sorry. Those should be the #74s, not T13s. :dunce: I've not messed with the A/C lights myself, but a couple members here say that on the '95+ trucks, the 74s (4 of them) are what work in the A/C. You can buy them with or without the base, but your stock lights should come out of the base.

As for radio, headlight, and windows, I can't say.
Stabbin97Tahoe
12-03-2003, 04:59 PM
Ok, thanks 1badgmc...I already have the A/C done. However I took the 194 LEDS and just filed them down to fit, they work just as good as the 74's just a little more work
egertge
12-05-2003, 08:14 PM
well, i went to put my radio back in to see what the voltages were on the light sockets before i got resistors, and the radio doesnt work know. The clock will show up when i press the rcl button, but the clock doesnt work with the key on, even though it is getting the switched power also, anybody have any ideas what the problem might be? the lights still work, the old ones.
junocdx
12-07-2003, 01:56 AM
I believe you need 470 ohm resistors to wire up LEDs straight from a 12v source.
egertge
12-07-2003, 03:29 AM
would i stick a 470 ohm resistor on each led or just one of them?
junocdx
12-08-2003, 11:31 PM
On each one. Go to Radio Shack and buy a few, and you soder (or whatever else) them to the anode (the pin on the LED that is longer), and then just pop them in.

Hooking up a normal LED to a 12V source = lots of smoke and big pop :)

I've actually seen an LED explode, and its not fun.
Sorry about how long it took to reply