2015 Dome light LED upgrade

[Morphy]

I want to replace my dome light bulbs with LED. I understand that there might be an issue with the center light not working properly and the map lights staying on constantly when the center bulb is changed to LED. I saw a tutorial on youtube where the individual used a resistor to solve the problem. I am wondering if anyone else has had this issue, and used another solution to the problem such as using Canbus type LED bulbs. Any input would be appreciated before I start the project and mess it up. Thanks, Morphy.

 

[Ta2dResqr]

Canbus will not fix the issue. Only fix I have found is painting the center bulb black. I have heard about the resistor but not tried it yet. With all 3 as LED, they will stay on even with the car off.

 

[Nova]

This is what I did on mine and it's working perfectly.

 

[Ta2dResqr]

It is so weird how this works. From my understanding, the bulbs stay on because of the reduced resistance. Adding the resistor in parallel should in theory reduce it even more. I thought I was going to have to install it inline. I will have to try that fix and see what happens. Thanks for the video!

 

[Morphy]

Thanks for your reply, and instruction video. I guess I'll give it a try. One question about the LED bulbs used. Do they have to be from the same company you purchased the resistor from? I have different brands already purchased and wondering if they would be compatible? Did the tech you talked to indicate the bulb and resistor should be sourced from the same manufacturer?

This is what I did on mine and it's working perfectly.

 

[SHOrod]

The LED bulbs glow because they produce light from far less current than a regular incandescent bulb. The resistor in parallel with the diode acts as a bleed/load resistor and bleeds off the current that would otherwise light the LED. If you put the resistor in series with the LED bulb it would further limit the current available to the LED bulb, which already has built in current limiting resistors, so the LED would not glow as brightly.

The resistor is not specific to the LED bulb seller. For what it's worth, you can probably buy an LED assortment from a popular online sales site for less than what the LED bulb vendor would sell you a couple of their repackaged resistors for. You're just looking for a 1/4W carbon film resistor of a standard value around 470 ohms. I cannot say for sure, but a 330 or a 680 ohm resistor would probably also work just fine.

-Rod

 

[Morphy]

The LED bulbs glow because they produce light from far less current than a regular incandescent bulb. The resistor in parallel with the diode acts as a bleed/load resistor and bleeds off the current that would otherwise light the LED. If you put the resistor in series with the LED bulb it would further limit the current available to the LED bulb, which already has built in current limiting resistors, so the LED would not glow as brightly.

The resistor is not specific to the LED bulb seller. For what it's worth, you can probably buy an LED assortment from a popular online sales site for less than what the LED bulb vendor would sell you a couple of their repackaged resistors for. You're just looking for a 1/4W carbon film resistor of a standard value around 470 ohms. I cannot say for sure, but a 330 or a 680 ohm resistor would probably also work just fine.

-Rod

Thanks again for your feedback. Any specific guidance, other than the bent resistor leads doesn't come in contact with each other when installing the bulb? Does the bulb polarity come into play or change with the resistor attached? Sorry for all the questions, just don't want to mess system or **** fuses. Thanks

 

[SHOrod]

Resistors are not polarity specific so the orientation doesn't matter of them. The LEDs, on the other hand, are polarized. Some manufacturers of the LED bulb assemblies use bridge rectifiers built in that make them not polarity specific, but not all. So if the LED bulb doesn't work when installed one way, flip it and try again. Adding the resistor will not change the polarity of the bulb assembly.

-Rod

 

[Morphy]

Resistors are not polarity specific so the orientation doesn't matter of them. The LEDs, on the other hand, are polarized. Some manufacturers of the LED bulb assemblies use bridge rectifiers built in that make them not polarity specific, but not all. So if the LED bulb doesn't work when installed one way, flip it and try again. Adding the resistor will not change the polarity of the bulb assembly.

-Rod

Thanks for the info. One last question, did you disconnect the negative post to your battery when you were dealing with the dome light issue?

 

[SHOrod]

I didn't convert to LEDs, I think you're referring to @Nova with your last question. But my input would be if you're careful removing the lamp assembly from your headliner and you inspect your bulb with LED before installing, there's no real need to disconnect the battery.

-Rod

 

[Ta2dResqr]

Finally got around to doing this today. Mad at myself it took so long to do it. 5 minutes to take the time to solder the resister to the bulb leads and plug the bulb in. Now everything is the same color and looks 100% better. I used a 475 ohm resistor.