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Resistors for LED's

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Old 03-01-2004 | 11:03 PM
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Resistors for LED's

Where can I find small resistors for hooking up LED's in switches. I've got it working but the resistor is way too big for the switch. I need like a micro resistor. 390 ohm .5 watt. Anyone know where I can get one of these?
Old 03-02-2004 | 04:54 AM
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Radio Crack should have them at somewhat inflated prices. But resistors are cheap anyway. They're 5 for a buck.

Here's a listing of their resistors

You'll have to use ohm's law to make it exactly 390ohms. I'd just go with one 470ohm resistor though. It won't be at max brightness, but it will be close.

Let me know if you need more help.
Old 03-02-2004 | 06:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Bucket
Radio Crack should have them at somewhat inflated prices. But resistors are cheap anyway. They're 5 for a buck.

Here's a listing of their resistors

You'll have to use ohm's law to make it exactly 390ohms. I'd just go with one 470ohm resistor though. It won't be at max brightness, but it will be close.

Let me know if you need more help.
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/526558/4
I just did the driver side with leds 5mm 3.6volt 20ma 1100mcd
but i cant find leds for the passenger side can you help me please.
I need the info about the led in (Lock,window) switch to the passenger side like 1.5mm ?volt ?ma ?mcd.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=290268
Old 03-02-2004 | 07:03 AM
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Originally Posted by thomasd cook
Where can I find small resistors for hooking up LED's in switches. I've got it working but the resistor is way too big for the switch. I need like a micro resistor. 390 ohm .5 watt. Anyone know where I can get one of these?
What is the difrent ?(390ohm 5 watt and 470ohm 5 watt)the lower the # the brighter the led.

Can some one please post the write-up I did the driver side ,but i don't know about the passenger side and rear window switches.


http://www.alexhsu.com/maxima/ledinstall/
Old 03-02-2004 | 08:58 AM
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I'll try and do a write-up today on how I did my rear switches.
Old 03-02-2004 | 05:10 PM
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Ha, Ha. Wow! I just started this project last night. I did the blue LED mod in the switches, too. The driver's side switch was a breeze, but the passenger's side is a pain in the a$$! The switch itself must be taken apart by prying out the sides. Once apart, you have access to the LED and also your dealt with a switch that has 2 springs and 2 ball bearings inside that operates the up/down mode of the switch. Don't lose these parts! Make sure you put it together right or the switch won't work. I just removed the resistor from the LED and soldered a blue LED on the contacts. I got it to work, but now I'm dealt with the switch only opening the window in the DOWN position. The UP does not work. What it is, is that one of the ball bearings came loose when I put it together. The ball must rest on the spring in order for the switch to work! Arrgh! Now, I have to work at it again to put it back together. Believe me, it's hard to keep the spring and ball bearings in line when snapipng the pieces back together. Once I get it to work, I'm not even going to tackle the rear switches! Arggh!!
Old 03-02-2004 | 09:49 PM
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Other than putting the switch back together the window switches weren't too bad. I'm finding the driver's side pretty difficult because one side of LED's isn't lighting up. I'll swap polarity and see if I can get it to work.
Old 03-03-2004 | 03:10 AM
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Originally Posted by custommaximaSE
What is the difrent ?(390ohm 5 watt and 470ohm 5 watt)the lower the # the brighter the led.

Can some one please post the write-up I did the driver side ,but i don't know about the passenger side and rear window switches.


http://www.alexhsu.com/maxima/ledinstall/
5 watts is way more power than necessary and physically huge. 20ma and 400 ohms is only a little over 1/8 watt so a 1/4 watt resistor should be fine.
Old 03-03-2004 | 06:09 AM
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Originally Posted by wdave
5 watts is way more power than necessary and physically huge. 20ma and 400 ohms is only a little over 1/8 watt so a 1/4 watt resistor should be fine.
So what kind leds sould i use?Or
can i use the same leds i used for the driver side?
and if i use the same leds i used for the driver side i still have to use the resistor like you said 1/4 watt.
Old 03-03-2004 | 06:33 AM
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Originally Posted by thomasd cook
Other than putting the switch back together the window switches weren't too bad. I'm finding the driver's side pretty difficult because one side of LED's isn't lighting up. I'll swap polarity and see if I can get it to work.



Thats how i did the driver side.With no resistor.



can i use the same led i use for the driver side?It was (5mm 3.6volt 20ma=curent 1100mcd=mcd is the light intensity



Where the resistor gose?
Old 03-03-2004 | 08:04 AM
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PS window switch is not the same as the PS power lock switch.
Old 03-03-2004 | 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by custommaximaSE


Thats how i did the driver side.With no resistor.



can i use the same led i use for the driver side?It was (5mm 3.6volt 20ma=curent 1100mcd=mcd is the light intensity



Where the resistor gose?
The driver's side switch already has resistors built into the circuit board. So there's no need to install any. As far as the passenger's side and the rear door's, the resisitor is inside the rubber boot, where the LED mounts over the copper contacts. When I installed mine, I split the boot to remove the resistor and tapped it into the illumination wire going to the switch. I then soldered the LED onto the copper contacts in the switch. As far as your LED's you're using, you're fine, except 5mm is too big. It won't fit in the switch. Try using a smaller one, like 3mm. I used 3mm,4000mcd LED's in all my switches and they're bright!
Old 03-03-2004 | 10:02 AM
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Driver's side doesn't need resistor's. Everything else needs resistors. Just tap it in right before the switch and the wiring harness. I tried putting the resistor in the switch itself but there was no way that was going to happen, so I just put it in-line with the wires.
Old 03-03-2004 | 10:23 AM
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i used 5mm LEDs in mine and didn't have any issues with fitment.
Old 03-03-2004 | 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by MIXXMAX
I used 3mm,4000mcd LED's in all my switches and they're bright!
Where did you get the 3mm LEDs?
Old 03-03-2004 | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by blueeyce
Where did you get the 3mm LEDs?
Okay what about the voltage?????????

Now i know what we need for the passenger side & rear window switchs but not the lock.Passenger lock switch dose it need resistor?

any color led(5mm or 3mm or 1.5mm)(????????volt)(ma=curent=20)(mcd=intensity=1 100 or any mcd you want,I said 1100,because i used this mcd on the driver side)+++++++(resistor 400 ohm).

Is this correct?.


I know for sure these leds will work for the driver side.






1) Blue LED (bright) - 5mm, 3.7volt, 20mA, 2600mcd. Part#276-316 ($3.99ea)
2) Blue LED (medium brightness) - 5mm, 5volt, 30mA, 300mcd. Part#276-311 ($2.99ea)
3) White LED - 5mm, 3.6volt, 20mA, 1100mcd. Part#276-320 ($4.99ea)

I like the white one.
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/526558/4
Old 03-03-2004 | 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by blueeyce
Where did you get the 3mm LEDs?
I got it off a guy on Ebay. I got 50 pieces for $10.00, including resistors. I bought 50 3mm and 50 5mm. The 3mm were 4000mcd and the 5mm were 5000mcd. They are shipped straight from Japan.
Old 03-03-2004 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by custommaximaSE
Okay what about the voltage?????????

Now i know what we need for the passenger side & rear window switchs but not the lock.Passenger lock switch dose it need resistor?

any color led(5mm or 3mm or 1.5mm)(????????volt)(ma=curent=20)(mcd=intensity=1 100 or any mcd you want,I said 1100,because i used this mcd on the driver side)+++++++(resistor 400 ohm).

Is this correct?.


I know for sure these leds will work for the driver side.






1) Blue LED (bright) - 5mm, 3.7volt, 20mA, 2600mcd. Part#276-316 ($3.99ea)
2) Blue LED (medium brightness) - 5mm, 5volt, 30mA, 300mcd. Part#276-311 ($2.99ea)
3) White LED - 5mm, 3.6volt, 20mA, 1100mcd. Part#276-320 ($4.99ea)

I like the white one.
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/526558/4
Get any LED less than 5 volts. Five volts is a liitle too much for what we are using it for. The passenger's side WINDOW switch and rear door WINDOW switches DO need a resistor. When I took mine apart, there was a 1000 ohm resistor built into the boot where the LED mounts on the copper contacts. I found it easier to remove the resistor and solder it on the positive side of the illumination wire going to the switch. As far as the passenger's side LOCK switch, it DOES NOT need a resistor. It's built underneath the circiut board of the switch.
Old 03-03-2004 | 06:52 PM
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I got my LED's from E-bay also.
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