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-   -   Electrical What size resistor for license plate new LED's? (https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/electrical/113940-what-size-resistor-for-license-plate-new-leds.html)

MarioKart Sep 13, 2007 10:35 PM

What size resistor for license plate new LED's?
 
I have these four LED lights for my rear license plate, to give it that new Lexus look. When I install the LED's they blink when the lights are off. I know it just takes a simple resistor to solve this problem but not sure of the size I need.
Need help
Mario

mylittlemini Sep 14, 2007 06:00 PM

people have been using a 1k ohm resistor for the boot light mod to control the flickering. find a way to wire it in series before the new LEDs and see if it helps.

MarioKart Sep 14, 2007 11:03 PM


Originally Posted by mylittlemini (Post 1751697)
people have been using a 1k ohm resistor for the boot light mod to control the flickering. find a way to wire it in series before the new LEDs and see if it helps.

Thank you, do you need to do it to both the left and right side or just one side. Can soldier the resistor from one side of the bulb to the other or do you have to cut the wires and put it inline?

ScottRiqui Sep 14, 2007 11:30 PM

You need to put the resistor in series with the LED (in-line). If you solder the resistor across the terminals of the LED, it won't change the voltage drop across the LED or the current passing through it.

Here's a calculator that will give you appropriate values for the resistor. It will calculate resistor values for a single LED, LEDs in series, or LEDs in parallel.

MarioKart Sep 14, 2007 11:36 PM


Originally Posted by ScottRiqui (Post 1752053)
You need to put the resistor in series with the LED (in-line). If you solder the resistor across the terminals of the LED, it won't change the voltage drop across the LED or the current passing through it.

Here's a calculator that will give you appropriate values for the resistor. It will calculate resistor values for a single LED, LEDs in series, or LEDs in parallel.

So this need to be done for both sides. The LED lights a bought have for led in the shape of a square.
M

rkw Sep 15, 2007 12:00 AM

It depends on what you want the resistor to do. Putting the resistor in-line will lower the voltage and potentially help protect the LED from power surges. The lower voltage will also cause the LED to be dimmer than without the resistor.

For the boot LED mod, people installed the resistor in parallel with the LED, to prevent the LED from flickering when it's supposed to be off. This is where the 1K ohm value was used. The resistor provides enough of an path so that tiny amounts of electricity won't cause the LED to light up.

Guest Sep 15, 2007 12:05 AM


Originally Posted by MarioKart (Post 1752056)
So this need to be done for both sides. The LED lights a bought have for led in the shape of a square.
M

I have one resistor on one side of my license plate frame and it works fine. My Parking Lights (Also LED) and most of the other LED's on the car "Strobe" for the first 10 seconds or so until the voltage stabalizes after starting the car.


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