Body Interior Exterior Lighting
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

Dimmable LED's for Map Lights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 13, 2010 | 05:04 PM
  #1  
2008G-Man's Avatar
2008G-Man
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 167
From: South West FL
Dimmable LED's for Map Lights

I searched around over in the "Body Interior Exterior Lighting" section and didn't find anything. I would like to swap my interior bulbs out for LED's but I really like the way the Map lights dim before turning off. Anyone know if there is a LED bulb that can dim like the incandescent?
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2010 | 06:06 PM
  #2  
ucla bruin's Avatar
ucla bruin
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,776
Likes: 3
From: Orange County
Unfortunately no. The OEM bulbs dim because it's a filament. When power cuts off, the filament cools down, creating a dimming effect.

LEDs have a faster response so it doesn't "dim" naturally, unless you want to add a other things to it. But it may not be worth the trouble just for the dome light.
__________________
Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2010 | 08:55 PM
  #3  
KurtL's Avatar
KurtL
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
ucla bruin is correct. Let me preface this by informing you that i am the engineering manager at a company that develops LED lighting systems. Often you will find crap info on the net but what im about to tell you, you can trust

You could put an electrolytic capacitor in parallel with the LED and its ballast resistor. Would need to be rated at 25VDC, probably 10uF should be a good starting capacitance. The more capacitance you chose the more charge it will hold and the longer it will take to discharge. If you cant find a value big enough to discharge at the rate you like you can add capacitors in parallel to increase the total capacitance.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2010 | 11:03 PM
  #4  
2008G-Man's Avatar
2008G-Man
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,736
Likes: 167
From: South West FL
Originally Posted by KurtL
ucla bruin is correct. Let me preface this by informing you that i am the engineering manager at a company that develops LED lighting systems. Often you will find crap info on the net but what im about to tell you, you can trust

You could put an electrolytic capacitor in parallel with the LED and its ballast resistor. Would need to be rated at 25VDC, probably 10uF should be a good starting capacitance. The more capacitance you chose the more charge it will hold and the longer it will take to discharge. If you cant find a value big enough to discharge at the rate you like you can add capacitors in parallel to increase the total capacitance.
Interesting concept, in a previous life I took some electrical technology courses and yes, I do remember capacitors store electricity. I'm not that ambitious though
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
misc
Body Interior Exterior Lighting
4
Sep 14, 2015 05:16 PM
B Feelgood
Body Interior Exterior Lighting
2
Sep 13, 2015 05:56 PM
harlemcat45
G37 Sedan
1
Sep 9, 2015 09:35 AM
pauliewalnutzz
Private Classifieds
3
Sep 8, 2015 11:41 AM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:38 PM.