silvermax2k2

iTrader: (1)

I am so upset. i decided to install blue LED's in my windows switches tonight. all was going just fine. i got all of the factory led's out, and installed all the new Led's. but the LED's i have are 5mm (someone told me they would fit) and they are MUCH bigger then the facory LED's. well, i went to go test it, and only some of them worked. so i took out the ones that didn't and reversed the leads, then less of them worked. now my board is all messed up from soldering/de-sodering. so i was left with one LED that worked, and i went out side and plugged it in and now NONE of them work. here is a pic of my board:



I was using a 12 volt power supply to test it before i went outside everytime.
Now, I need help. Here are the kind of LED's i have:

6000 mcd (brightness)
3.1 volts
30 MA

now, why is this not working? do i need to buy resistors? is my board shot? (i don't think so.) is the power comming from the switches not 12 volts? HELP ME!!!!


-Chris

Jepht20

iTrader: (10)

not sure how to fix it, sorry. but i have an extra stock driver's side front door whole switch area. if you need it, i'll sell you it for what i paid for it, and you're close so no need for shipping. goodluck fixing them btw!

silvermax2k2

iTrader: (1)

how much?


3213

erty67

iTrader: (104)

chris, get me a pic of the other side of that board

GodsmackMAX

iTrader: (4)

Sorry to put this so bluntly man really no offense... but DAMN!!! You sure FUKED that circuit board over!


Maybe some lessons in Soldering 101???


Good luck!

(_8*(l)Homer

You need 5v 3mm led's for the window switches buddy. There is not room to solder resistors onto the board with the huge led's.

5mm led's will work if you dremel the holes on the switch's back a little larger in diameter.

Use small bits of insulated wire to make jumpers over broken etch on board.

Hope it helps







57 days baby!

silvermax2k2

iTrader: (1)

well, i did dremel bigger holes... no problem there. but why wont they work? like only one of them turns on! did i blow a resistor? should i install bigger resistors since i have bigger led's? has anyone done a 5mm in the switches before? why is this so hard for me?

Chris

GodsmackMAX

iTrader: (4)

Well, you most likely didn't 'blow' a resistor, because this is almost impossible to do by performing this mod. You really have to TRY to 'blow' or ruin a resistor.

Anyways, the resistors are not your problem. I think you have trashed the board. The leads look pretty torn up. What kind of soldering iron are you using? Getting one with a fine tip (special for electronics) from RadioSmack really makes this a whole lot easier.

Your problem is most likely that the LEDs are in backwards. When I do the boards, I look at the ones that are currently on the board and just match up the anode and cathode. It is also marked on the board itself which side is negative. The little arrow pointing to the line, that side with the line on it is the side where the negative lead should go. The negative lead on any LED is always the shorter lead and the longer one is the positive.

Hope this helps!!!

silvermax2k2

iTrader: (1)

um... does anyone one want to make these for me??? LOL... i just off my back window switches, and they are so freakin small!!!! can i even put a 5mm in there? this is crazy... *sigh*

i have a 98 maxima as well, so i have one more shot on doing this correctly... do you think i should try it again?

Chris

ChristheNite

I'll do it if you wanna ship everything to me and a couple of bucks for my time. I have done 4 sets with no problems...let me know! Anyone else interested feel free to drop me a PM.


Chris

silvermax2k2

iTrader: (1)

Good news everyone! i actually did it!!! i have the drivers side done! it looks good, but i do have a couple of hot spots. but i am willing to let it slide since this was such a pain in the A$$!!!!! good lord i am happy that is over with. now i just have to do the 3 harder ones... this is just gonna be great... thanks for all the help on this on guys....


Here is a pic!



but can anyone give me pointers on the rest of them? i noticed that there are 4 contact points for the tiny LED, whats up with that? bah, this is gonna $uck.



-Chris

GodsmackMAX

iTrader: (4)

The passenger side is easy just match up the anode and cathode like I told ya. The rears are a bit difficult. I have done plenty of these, and I always just end up scraping it off completely until I can get down to the metal leads that were on the bottom of the surface mount LED. Then I just use my solder sucker and it gets everything up. I use tweezers or needle nose plier to get it off.

The trick is to get your new LED prepped (sp?) for the area. Put the board so that the two black boxes are to your right and on the underside of the board. The square LED should be on the top. Now the lead coming from that to the top right is the positive lead. The one to the bottom left diagonally across is the negative lead. Just match up your new LED and your set.

Also, doing these is going to be almost impossible without the fine tip soldering iron that I mentioned above. The first time I did this, I had a big iron and I ended up melting the leads so bad that the lifted from the circuit board.

Another tip, don't leave the iron on the board for so long. The general rule is 3-5 seconds but you can work on it for about 10secs without any damage then it just gets too hot. Take a break between soldering for 20 secs or so just to let it cool a little. REMEMBER: PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

It also helps to secure the board while you work on it so it doesn't move everywhere.

Hope this helps!
drew