Odd LED flashing behaviour

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

User avatar
elliptoid
Learner Driver
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:23 pm
Vehicle: NA6

Odd LED flashing behaviour

Postby elliptoid » Fri Mar 28, 2014 5:51 pm

Hi all,

Thought I would experiment with some LED brake lights on my NA6 and seem to have encountered a problem.

I replaced the stock bulb with a BAY15D LED, so it has the same base. The trouble is when I apply pressure onto the brake, the light should get brighter with the "second filament" now being powered. Instead, I get a flashing light.

Any ideas on what may be causing this?
1990 NA6. Now with central locking

User avatar
taminga16
Speed Racer
Posts: 3617
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:22 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Central Victoria

Re: Odd LED flashing behaviour

Postby taminga16 » Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:16 am

Test the LED out of the socket, ie; over a battery. If it does what is required check the earth to the socket.
Don't forget that LED's are polarity sensitive.
Greg.
P.S. My Stop/ tail LED's all illuminate and then gain intensity brake on.
When you turn your car on, does it return the favour?

Mr Morlock
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Re: Odd LED flashing behaviour

Postby Mr Morlock » Mon Mar 31, 2014 7:53 pm

Check u tube " Say no to led stop lights on vehicles." Interestingly posted by a motorcyclist who demonstrates why it is a dangerous idea. It's a very convincing test.
There is nothing wrong with the car wiring. 21w is stop and 5w is tail and is fully functional and effective.
Just because LEDs are flavour of the month they must be designed by the Oem ie systems and function are not compatible when mixing light sources
Bulb life is basically an irrelevance because the hybrid led is an unknown and the std 21/5w is probably a replace every 5 years at low cost anyway. People have cars 10 years and sometimes never replace a bulb- it is hardly a matter of any significance. Interestingly many high mount stop lamps were incandescent and easy to replace a bulb but led Hmls with dud LEDs look really bad.
One of the good features of lighting systems using std bulbs is that these work very well and are both cheap and easy to maintain.

User avatar
taminga16
Speed Racer
Posts: 3617
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:22 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Central Victoria

Re: Odd LED flashing behaviour

Postby taminga16 » Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:04 pm

I have Stop/Tail LED's fitted on my bikes, my ute and my NC, The inserts are all red and I would not entertain the thought of using white LED's in place of the white incandesant globes.
See here. Greg.
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=53999&start=720#p746848
When you turn your car on, does it return the favour?

User avatar
elliptoid
Learner Driver
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:23 pm
Vehicle: NA6

Re: Odd LED flashing behaviour

Postby elliptoid » Tue Apr 01, 2014 5:27 pm

Thanks for the info Greg. Might have to go find a variable power source so I can fully test it. The bulb seems to function, but flash when brakes are applied. Might be a dodgy batch, but at least it seems if you have it in your car, it is not as if LEDs are completely incompatible. The difference in the cars might play a part, I'm not sure.

Mr Morlock, the difference being that, like Greg, I have red LEDs where as the video uploader used a white LED. I was mucking around and chucked a white LED that I am using into the indicator slot. There was noticeable "glare" and was seemingly dimmer in comparison to the amber LED. For me, its not about reducing the cost of the bulbs or replacing them less, I am just experimenting with how the different bulb types effect the looks. If I cannot discern a noticeable difference in the output under braking, I would not hesitate to remove them. But thank you for raising the point that a replacement LED may not be as bright as a stock OEM bulb.
1990 NA6. Now with central locking

User avatar
taminga16
Speed Racer
Posts: 3617
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 12:22 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Central Victoria

Re: Odd LED flashing behaviour

Postby taminga16 » Mon Apr 14, 2014 4:59 pm

Have you had a result regarding the above?
Greg.
When you turn your car on, does it return the favour?


Return to “MX5 Audio, Electronics & Lighting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 36 guests