led wiring to alarm

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Security and Convenience
Forum Discription: Car Alarms, Keyless Entries, Remote Starters, Immobilizer Bypasses, Sensors, Door Locks, Window Modules, Heated Mirrors, Heated Seats, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=5325
Printed Date: August 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM

Topic: led wiring to alarm

Posted By: sufferrar
Subject: led wiring to alarm
Date Posted: November 11, 2002 at 6:59 AM

what is the best way to add another led to an alarm but you want it to imitate the original . i don't want to connect it to the original because it will share the current be be not bright as just one.

Replies:

Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: November 11, 2002 at 11:03 AM

hook it in parellel with the original. It will not make it any dimmer. Do not hook it in series.

Posted By: sufferrar
Date Posted: November 11, 2002 at 12:32 PM

the original led is a small one . i'm putting a larger one that i know draws alot more current that the smaller one. would it be bright enough ? how would it not make it any dimmer ?

Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: November 11, 2002 at 3:07 PM

IT will be fine.

Posted By: The Raven
Date Posted: November 11, 2002 at 8:04 PM

When Adding LEDs to ANY alarm, you should always run them in series, so that the current is not brought up too much, like wiring them in paralel will do. Yes the LEDs will be a little dimmer, but should not be enough to be noticable. I had 4 at one time installed in my A pillers and all were bright.

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"Speed costs, How fast do you want to go?"

Posted By: sufferrar
Date Posted: November 18, 2002 at 5:30 AM

o.k. I hooked up another led to the alarm .

in parallel: the extra led lit very very dim.

in series : they both lit with same brightness but dimmer that just one led.

I don't think it is bright enough because the led that came with the alarm is a small one and the extra one that i put in was a similar one. the alarm says that the voltage output fro the led is 2v.

how can i get it as bright as it should be.? i'm willing to use a relay but don't know where to hook it up.

Posted By: cpgoose
Date Posted: November 18, 2002 at 9:15 AM

I'm interested in the answer too, cause I don't know either. Too bad you got 2 conflicting answers.....which is correct.....series or parallel? <jeopardy theme in background>

Posted By: PLAYER69
Date Posted: November 18, 2002 at 11:21 AM

sufferrar you need an led of the same voltage if you want it to be as bright as the original. Parellel will be fine like I stated earlier. An LED will draw around 10 ma. If the output can't handle 20ma something is very wrong.

A relay would draw way more power and will not work well. The relay would also be clicking every time the led flashed posted_image