Guages ???

[rida125]

ok so in the guages, if im working with raw LED's, do i need to put in resistors with them, or does that whole system work on one circuit so i dont need to put resistors in?

[cherrington17]

depends on what you mean "raw leds" and how you plan on wiring them.

are you replacing the 194 bulbs?

[rida125]

yeah im replacing the 194 bulbs. and the led's that im using are just like the actually glass part on the top and two wires sticking out and i was planning on putting them into the same place as the existing 194. and im pretty sure 3mm LED

[Nate's Alero]

Originally Posted by rida125

ok so in the guages, if im working with raw LED's, do i need to put in resistors with them, or does that whole system work on one circuit so i dont need to put resistors in?

well, what line are you tapping/how are you getting power? if you wire them in series so that the LED forward voltage meets and adds up to the supply 12V, then you do NOT need a resistor, if you do say, a series like this

this is an example from my glow Needles

RED LED's
Forward Voltage @ 2.8V, 3.2 MAX @ 20mA

i have three LEDS in series off a 12V circut, i have two of these setups for the Speed and tach needles, so i have

2.8 X 3 = 8.4 Forward Volts, on a 12V circut, so i need to resist to 12V

(i left and used the lowest FV on the LED, so surges to 13.2 could be tolerated without blowout, and light Surging)

so,
8.4FV, @ 20mA, on a 12V circuit means you need a 330ohm 1/8th watt resistor and etc..

if you used a system like this,

2.8FV X 4 = 11.2V, with room for surging with 13.6 MAX V without a resistor, (that is the highest surge i have ever seen with any interior light)

so for the above, you do NOT need a resistor

[cherrington17]

better send a link to what your working with. if it has 2 lead WIRES on it (not just metal leads) then they probably already have a resistor inline)

and its arcylic.. not glass.

[Nate's Alero]

here's what you should do, have you ever really worked with LEDS? if not, play wiht them, get some crappy ones from RS, maybe the pack of 20 for like 2$, and solder them together, and see how you like doing it before you go mess with the big boys..