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Parking Pole wiring query
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 8:59 am
by bongomike
Hey Guys i'm in the middle of fixing my static parking pole. I have unscrewed the clear plastic top piece. I one of the terminals on the LED is corroded and snapped. If I touch the two broken pieces together it lights up fine but there is not enough space to solder back on as it's snapped right at the top near the LED.
I went to the only place in town to buy some LED's I asked for some for a car but after wiring them im they blow straight away. I went back to shop and they told I need to solder in a resistor. I said there wasn't one on there previously.
Are they trying to sell me the wrong voltage LED's? As I said it's the only place in town which stocks them. Does anyone know what types I need or do I need to solder in a resistor?
Cheers
Bongomike
Re: Parking Pole wiring query
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:03 am
by wonkanoby
whats the specs of what they sold you
Re: Parking Pole wiring query
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:04 am
by daveblueozzie
Cant help with the parking pole but most led's need a resistor of some kind to control the voltage.
you can't simply plug an LED into your 12 volt power supply in your vehicle and expect it to work. The common LED requires only 2 volts to work so the power supplying your LED needs to be reduced from 12 volts down to 2 volts. That is accomplished by using a resistor. Note: typical LEDs require 2V for each LED however some require 4V such as for blue and white LEDs.
Re: Parking Pole wiring query
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:09 am
by bongomike
Hey Wonkanoby. I don't know they were just from behind the counter in no bag
DBO. I know what you mean but I haven't changed anything just cut off the old LED and used a new one. I'm a bit mythed
Re: Parking Pole wiring query
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:37 pm
by BigPanzer
Hi Mike,
Just to complicate matter slightly, some types of LED have a built in resistor. Unfortunately you can't tell by looking at them whether they have or not.
Peter
Re: Parking Pole wiring query
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 2:25 pm
by g8dhe
What makes you think it was an LED on the post before and not an ordinary 12v bulb ?
Re: Parking Pole wiring query
Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 3:37 pm
by Simon Jones
It is possible there is already a resistor wired in the base of a pole, although if they are blowing then possibly not. Simple way to check is to measure the voltage at the base of the lamp. Is it definitely an LED rather than a filament bulb? You could splash out 69p and get a ready made 12v LED from Maplins to see what happens:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/5mm-12v-leds-35782