LED question
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LED question
Is there anyway of using 12v LEDs as warning lights for the ignition and oil warning lights ? I was doing this on the RV8 and found out that you need an ordinary bulb in my system that was taken from a P6 Rover,18 ACR alternator ect, for it to work, I went ahead and put in an LED on the oil warning light only to find it flickers on at tick over, any suggestions please ?
- Ian Anderson
- Forum Contributor
- Posts: 2396
- Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 9:46 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
Re: LED question
Your oil pressure is extremely low at hot idle and the LED flickers.
An incandescent bulb takes Xx times longer to glow and the amount of current getting through does not allow it to do so.
Would be my guess.
Easiest fix is a slightly heavier oil but you then need to take it easy on warm up as it will be too thick.
Ian
An incandescent bulb takes Xx times longer to glow and the amount of current getting through does not allow it to do so.
Would be my guess.
Easiest fix is a slightly heavier oil but you then need to take it easy on warm up as it will be too thick.
Ian
Owner of an "On the Road" GT40 Replica by DAX powered by 3.9Hotwre Efi, worked over by DJ Motors. EFi Working but still does some kangaroo at low revs (Damn the speed limits) In to paint shop 18/03/08.
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Re: LED question
Generally the alternator excite needs a small load in order to work, hence an LED will not really suffice. Unless perhaps you can run a suitable resistor in parallel across it, although no idea how much it would need.
Re: LED question
The instrument cluster from a Montego / Metro / Maestro / Fright Rover / Discovery 1 has a resistor in parallel with the charge light, presumably so if the bulb goes, the alternator will still work.
I don't know the value however.
Chris.
I don't know the value however.
Chris.
--
Series IIA 4.6 V8
R/R P38 4.6 V8
R/R L405 4.4 SDV8
Series IIA 4.6 V8
R/R P38 4.6 V8
R/R L405 4.4 SDV8
Re: LED question
Thanks for the replies, guess I am sticking with the old bulbs, as to the oil light flickering, its a rebuilt brand new top hat 4.6 with Valvoline VR1 20/50 with some Comp cams zinc additive, only done about 1000 miles, but it is my old SD1 front cover and oil pump although I went through it and seemed fine, I want to use a dissy for looks as its in a hot rod !
Re: LED question
A small LED will light on a tiny current, so could be increasing the load on the switch with a parallel resistor would stop it flickering.
Dave
London SW
Rover SD1 VDP EFI
MegaSquirt2 V3
EDIS8
Tech Edge 2Y
London SW
Rover SD1 VDP EFI
MegaSquirt2 V3
EDIS8
Tech Edge 2Y
- richardpope50
- Gold Member
- Posts: 616
- Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:25 pm
- Location: Horsham, West Sussex
Re: LED question
Ask this guy https://www.bettercarlighting.co.uk/
He does a lot of replacement LED bulbs for standard bulbs and probably will have the right one. I used hime to replace all my side and indicator bulbs for LED ones and they were simply a straight swap.
He does a lot of replacement LED bulbs for standard bulbs and probably will have the right one. I used hime to replace all my side and indicator bulbs for LED ones and they were simply a straight swap.
Richard.
Dax Rush 5.0l TVR V8, EFI with Megasquirt ECU and wasted spark, Racelogic Traction Control and Quaife LSD ....... Now nut and bolt restoring a TR6
Dax Rush 5.0l TVR V8, EFI with Megasquirt ECU and wasted spark, Racelogic Traction Control and Quaife LSD ....... Now nut and bolt restoring a TR6
Re: LED question
I'm using LED bulbs for my warning lights - charge and low oil pressure and works fine. Also have a blue one for my main headlights - which reminds me - is too bright at night so needs a resistor to dim it a little.
My low pressure is a switch - on or off so easy for an LED. I also have an analog pressure gauge.
Can't recall exactly regarding my charge warning - I used to have the amber light on until I blipped the throttle to get the alternator self exciting/charging with the old Lucas alternator - once charging it would stay charging - but now i'm using a tiny alternator from something like a Kubota tractor I don't have to do blip the throttle to start the alternator - just self excites.
My low pressure is a switch - on or off so easy for an LED. I also have an analog pressure gauge.
Can't recall exactly regarding my charge warning - I used to have the amber light on until I blipped the throttle to get the alternator self exciting/charging with the old Lucas alternator - once charging it would stay charging - but now i'm using a tiny alternator from something like a Kubota tractor I don't have to do blip the throttle to start the alternator - just self excites.
Dax Rush 4.6 supercharged V8 MSII
Re: LED question
I have LED running lights on the dash to show where the switches are in the dark, used one of these controllers to dim them, it can also make them flash if you want to !SuperV8 wrote: ↑Tue May 31, 2022 1:34 pmI'm using LED bulbs for my warning lights - charge and low oil pressure and works fine. Also have a blue one for my main headlights - which reminds me - is too bright at night so needs a resistor to dim it a little.
My low pressure is a switch - on or off so easy for an LED. I also have an analog pressure gauge.
Can't recall exactly regarding my charge warning - I used to have the amber light on until I blipped the throttle to get the alternator self exciting/charging with the old Lucas alternator - once charging it would stay charging - but now i'm using a tiny alternator from something like a Kubota tractor I don't have to do blip the throttle to start the alternator - just self excites.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193990955923 ... BM2JTF_qNg
Re: LED question
Interesting, thanks.Devonrod wrote: ↑Wed Jun 01, 2022 3:38 pmI have LED running lights on the dash to show where the switches are in the dark, used one of these controllers to dim them, it can also make them flash if you want to !SuperV8 wrote: ↑Tue May 31, 2022 1:34 pmI'm using LED bulbs for my warning lights - charge and low oil pressure and works fine. Also have a blue one for my main headlights - which reminds me - is too bright at night so needs a resistor to dim it a little.
My low pressure is a switch - on or off so easy for an LED. I also have an analog pressure gauge.
Can't recall exactly regarding my charge warning - I used to have the amber light on until I blipped the throttle to get the alternator self exciting/charging with the old Lucas alternator - once charging it would stay charging - but now i'm using a tiny alternator from something like a Kubota tractor I don't have to do blip the throttle to start the alternator - just self excites.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193990955923 ... BM2JTF_qNg
Dax Rush 4.6 supercharged V8 MSII