LED Voltage
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Lights, Neon, LEDs, HIDs
Forum Discription: Under Car Lighting, Strobe Lights, Fog Lights, Headlights, HIDs, DRL, Tail Lights, Brake Lights, Dashboard Lights, WigWag, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=68791
Printed Date: April 28, 2024 at 11:42 AM
Topic: LED Voltage
Posted By: Zilverado
Subject: LED Voltage
Date Posted: December 20, 2005 at 9:18 AM
So I'm looking to replace the LEDs inside the dash switches on my '92 Pathfinder - - they've finally all gone out. Can someone tell me what voltage these would be? Would they be full 12V? Unfortunately, I did not measure the voltage on the (+) lead coming into the switch to see if it's reduced to a lower voltage. All I tested was that there was current there - using my 12V tester. So I am assuming they are 12V. Talking to local electronics stores here, they typically do not carry 12V LEDs. Three, four and five volt are more common. They suggested I could add a resistor to the circuit to knock the voltage down, but this would require a little more work. I assume that in this case I would simply put a resistor in the (+) lead feeding the switch? Any thoughts? ------------- Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
Replies:
Posted By: Zilverado
Date Posted: December 20, 2005 at 10:09 AM
Thanks for the quick reply - - just realized that I posted in the wrong forum. Maybe I'll repost in the LED forum as well. As for your comments. The factory switch is a toggle that is pretty simple - just a set fo contacts that slide accross one another. I did not see any printed circuit board inside the switch itself. ------------- Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
Posted By: charlie_one
Date Posted: December 20, 2005 at 1:31 PM
The older pathfinders (atleast 96 and erlier) has full 12 volts to the bulbs in the svitches, they just have low watts. Im about to put 3.3volt leds whit a 470 resistor in my pathy -88 svitches, but im afraid that ill have to have the resistor out behind the svitch, it is pretty little room inside it. ------------- Where the asphalt ends, the Pathfinder way begins.
/New nissan 4x4 saying /
Ps sorry for my halfbad english ds
Posted By: Zilverado
Date Posted: December 20, 2005 at 2:06 PM
Thanks Charlie_one, perfect information. It's GREAT to see another Pathfinder owner on the forum. I took a little closer look at the "bulb" which I happened to take to work with me. It is actually a bulb and not an LED as I thought earlier. So I'm not sure what I'll do right now. I'm heading to an electronics store right after work to see what they have. If they have small bulbs like this, I'll likely just replace the bulbs with the same. If not, I'll probably go to small LEDs as well. But you're right, the resistor will have to be outside the switch assembly. Thanks again. BTW, have I seen your name around this Nissan Forum - it looks a little familiar. If not, you should register. The more the better... https://www.nissanforums.com/index.php? ------------- Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
Posted By: charlie_one
Date Posted: December 20, 2005 at 3:38 PM
Alredy a member  , it was there ill did find the link to this awsome page !! ------------- Where the asphalt ends, the Pathfinder way begins.
/New nissan 4x4 saying /
Ps sorry for my halfbad english ds
Posted By: Zilverado
Date Posted: December 20, 2005 at 4:03 PM
Cool. Yeah, I think I've posted links to this site on that forum in the past as well. This site was a lifesaver when I installed the remote starter in our Pathfinder. Another reason I love the internet - - GREAT info - - FREE!!!! ------------- Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
Posted By: charlie_one
Date Posted: December 21, 2005 at 3:36 AM
Oboy, ill should have a VERY small bankacount, if it wasnt for the net ------------- Where the asphalt ends, the Pathfinder way begins.
/New nissan 4x4 saying /
Ps sorry for my halfbad english ds
Posted By: Zilverado
Date Posted: December 21, 2005 at 8:05 AM
UPDATE... I picked up a few small 12v bulbs at the electronics store yesterday, and went home to repair the switches. Turns out that not all the switches are infact backlit. I was hoping that they would all have lights, but not all of them do. Unfortunately, the switch for the rear window wiper is not lit - - that would have been a good one to have. Also, when I put the Auto Transmision switch (right beside the rear wiper) back together, I think I may have gotten things a little screwed up. The switch has a little ball bearing in it, which I thought I got in the right place, but now the orange light that indicates which tranny mode I'm in, seems to want to come on, no matter which position the switch is in. If I toggle the switch a bit, it will go off, but things obviously are not right... ------------- Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
Posted By: charlie_one
Date Posted: December 23, 2005 at 3:29 AM
Did you got to work yet, Zilver ¿
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Where the asphalt ends, the Pathfinder way begins.
/New nissan 4x4 saying /
Ps sorry for my halfbad english ds
Posted By: Zilverado
Date Posted: December 23, 2005 at 8:00 AM
No, I haven't looked at this any further, the light seems to be staying off at this point. I think the switch is working, it's just that I must have gotten the ball bearing in there wrong, so that the light function is a little off. Either way, I typically don't use this switch anyway.
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Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
Posted By: charlie_one
Date Posted: December 23, 2005 at 10:06 AM
As you said, all switches dont have a light in them, but im wondering of it should be possible to take a Dremel and just file of some material on the inside of the button and put a LED inside them , to make them backlighted ¿ Its probely much more work than it is funktional, but it would be intresting to try, just for the sake of trying . ------------- Where the asphalt ends, the Pathfinder way begins.
/New nissan 4x4 saying /
Ps sorry for my halfbad english ds
Posted By: Zilverado
Date Posted: December 23, 2005 at 10:36 AM
Hey, you're thinking like me - - that's scary... I was kinda tinking of doing something similar, but at this point, it's not super high on the priority list. Maybe next winter when I've got my nice new garage/shop to play around in... Have a Merry Christmas. ------------- Zilverado,
Backyard Mechanic
1986 Chevy Truck & 1992 Nissan Pathfinder
Posted By: charlie_one
Date Posted: December 23, 2005 at 11:02 AM
Well, the priorety is almost as same for me, should try to get some switches from the junkyart and do some testing on them first. Dont wanna wreck my own at this point . But as they use to say, you learn as long as ju lives Merry cristmas to you to, and ofcourse to everybody else on the forum !! Happy Hollidays to all of you that dont celebrate Christmas !!! ------------- Where the asphalt ends, the Pathfinder way begins.
/New nissan 4x4 saying /
Ps sorry for my halfbad english ds
Posted By: bigac
Date Posted: January 12, 2006 at 10:48 PM
i know this is a little late but this website sells auto leds, they have a very comprehensive collection and a very good incandescent to led cross ref. https://www.ledtronics.com/datasheets/auto_index/auto_index.htm also most auto manufacturers use what is called light pipes to get the light to the places it needs to be. ------------- A little from column A, a little from column B.
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