LED dome light help!

[TopHat428]

Ok so i put an LED in my dome light it works great and is really bright i love it, but after i close my door and put my key in, the dome light fades off like its supposed to then right after blacking out one row of LEDs in the dome comes on very very dim and just stays on. Is anyone else having this problem or does anyone know how to fix it please help its frustrating me, its also happening with my map lights

First Photo: Light on
Second Photo: Light off
Third Photo Light with one row dim

[happyisthealero]

check your terminals? maybe?

[03glgold]

my dome light does what it wants when it wants to so i just leave it in the off position unless i need it. I can have it on the door setting and it will stay on no matter what at times. Other times it works normal, and then there are times i turn it to full time on and have to hit it a couple times before it comes on. This however is with a regular bulb

[sleepyalero]

yeah i have it to where only map lights come on when door opens.

[cavaliers60]

My floor lights do that.... Hate it, but whatever. lol

[jhubbz]

Its because your car thinks there is a regular bulb in there. Not enough resistance is being applied to the circuit, so some of the juice still flows through. Put a resistor in line and it should solve your problem.

[TopHat428]

Originally Posted by jhubbz

Its because your car thinks there is a regular bulb in there. Not enough resistance is being applied to the circuit, so some of the juice still flows through. Put a resistor in line and it should solve your problem.

Would a resistor fit up in the dome light?

[sleepyalero]

yeah jhubbz should be able to help you on which to get.

[jhubbz]

Yeah, they make smaller resistors at radioshack that you have to have a multimeter and find the difference in resistance between the regular bulb and the led. Or you could just buy a regular-ass resistor off an led site and splice it in. The problem with the ones from the led sites, is they are a bit too large to tuck up in the dome light. You could probably stick it above the dome light housing, but might overheat in such a confined space. I have the same problem you do. It just doesn't bother me anymore.

[TopHat428]

Originally Posted by jhubbz

Yeah, they make smaller resistors at radioshack that you have to have a multimeter and find the difference in resistance between the regular bulb and the led. Or you could just buy a regular-ass resistor off an led site and splice it in. The problem with the ones from the led sites, is they are a bit too large to tuck up in the dome light. You could probably stick it above the dome light housing, but might overheat in such a confined space. I have the same problem you do. It just doesn't bother me anymore.

i was just afraid that my dome and map lights being on might drain battery if my car sat for a day or so

[RalphP]

Originally Posted by TopHat428

i was just afraid that my dome and map lights being on might drain battery if my car sat for a day or so

Heh.

If that current worries you, I'd highly suggest you go out and scrub the top of the battery ALSO.

Most of those bulbs are pulling MAYBE 10mA at that glow.

Plus, the reason you see it? The LEDs are a lot more efficient at converting electricity into light.

That same current flowed through the incandescents before the swap, you just didn't see it because it wasn't enough to light up the filament!

IOW - If you're parking it for six months, sure, that'll help run it down. For a day or two? Don't sweat it any - the BCM is leaking a lot more current just sitting there than the lights do by themselves.

RwP

[Jonathanlopez]

Originally Posted by TopHat428

Ok so i put a peimar lighting in my dome light it works great and is really bright i love it, but after i close my door and put my key in, the dome light fades off like its supposed to then right after blacking out one row of LEDs in the dome comes on very very dim and just stays on. Is anyone else having this problem or does anyone know how to fix it please help its frustrating me, its also happening with my map lights

First Photo: Light on
Second Photo: Light off
Third Photo Light with one row dim

Lights are looking gorgeous. You have very nice choice so great work done

[Mike The Canadian]

It's on because of the resistance.

As for draining the battery, I wouldn't worry... After 15 minutes it shuts off (car cuts off all power to dome, floor, etc lights).

Turn your car off and check!