Interior LEDs - issues

Chiveroni

Chiveroni

Member
Messages
187
Hi everyone

I recently swapped most of the interior lights in my 2011 GTS with LEDs (T10 from Yorkim) - haven't gotten around to finishing them all yet. Other GTS drivers have installed these very bulbs and recommend them. They installed easily enough and really are fantastic. But when I switch the ignition off, the dome light and the two map lights next to it remain on very dimly (I haven't even switched the map lights on!). Needless to say this is draining the battery so I have removed the dome / map reading lights. The bulbs in the footwell, in the glove box and under the doors appear to be behaving. I guess the one in the boot as well - but I can't tell :)

Any thoughts? I am not electrically minded...
 
spkennyuk

spkennyuk

Member
Messages
5,979
Chiveroni said:
Hi everyone

I recently swapped most of the interior lights in my 2011 GTS with LEDs (T10 from Yorkim) - haven't gotten around to finishing them all yet. Other GTS drivers have installed these very bulbs and recommend them. They installed easily enough and really are fantastic. But when I switch the ignition off, the dome light and the two map lights next to it remain on very dimly (I haven't even switched the map lights on!). Needless to say this is draining the battery so I have removed the dome / map reading lights. The bulbs in the footwell, in the glove box and under the doors appear to be behaving. I guess the one in the boot as well - but I can't tell :)

Any thoughts? I am not electrically minded...
Click to expand...

There is a residual current in the circuit which on a stadard bulb is not enough to illuminate it. On an led bulb its enough to give a dim light to the leds.

You can fix it by fitting .25 watt 1000ohm resistor parrallel to the bulbs causing the issue. They are cheap to buy and should cure the issue for you.

Its not likely to be enough of a drain to discharge the battery. Short term fix until you put a resistor in is to put the standard bulbs back in.

The resistors are probably £1 or so each.
 
Chiveroni

Chiveroni

Member
Messages
187
spkennyuk said:
There is a residual current in the circuit which on a stadard bulb is not enough to illuminate it. On an led bulb its enough to give a dim light to the leds.

You can fix it by fitting .25 watt 1000ohm resistor parrallel to the bulbs causing the issue. They are cheap to buy and should cure the issue for you.

Its not likely to be enough of a drain to discharge the battery. Short term fix until you put a resistor in is to put the standard bulbs back in.

The resistors are probably £1 or so each.
Click to expand...
Thanks!!! Sounds easy enough. Will order some resistors and get them soldered on. Will work out how to fit them alongside the bulbs! Time to dig out the soldering iron....
 
JMS

JMS

Member
Messages
267
On the subject of LED’s, what size did you go for in the back? They are a different size to the map lights and footwell lights.

cheers
 
Chiveroni

Chiveroni

Member
Messages
187
JMS said:
On the subject of LED’s, what size did you go for in the back? They are a different size to the map lights and footwell lights.

cheers
Click to expand...
Hi - the reading lights in the rear have been a bit hit and miss. You are correct - they are festoon type. The first I ordered didn't work. So I turned to a company called ABD and they advised me perfectly but sent bulbs that were too long (but did work when I placed them across the contacts). I'm awaiting the correct bulbs from them (today or tomorrow) and then I'll post all the details with some pictures, part numbers, prices, links, etc. There is a thread on ML and the Yorkim bulbs mentioned there are not available in UK and I couldn't find an alternative from them. But that might be down to my total lack of electrical knowledge
 
Chiveroni

Chiveroni

Member
Messages
187
JMS said:
On the subject of LED’s, what size did you go for in the back? They are a different size to the map lights and footwell lights.

cheers
Click to expand...
OK - the correct bulbs arrived today and they work perfectly. They need to be 39mm long and I purchased them from abd.co.uk. You can see the type in the images below. Let me know if you have any more questions.

106149 106150
 
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Chiveroni

Chiveroni

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Messages
187
It's much, much brighter. The current lights were a dull orange in colour. Now they are bright white. The "puddle lights" under the doors now really illuminate the floor and you can see where you are stepping. The boot is now nicely illuminated and makes it easier to see in bags, etc. when it's dark outside. Probably a matter of taste but my other cars all have LED interior lights and I like how bright they are.

I also read that the LEDs will draw less power but that wasn't any kind of influence in the decision. I can take picture if you're interested.
 
Chiveroni

Chiveroni

Member
Messages
187
It's obviously a bit difficult to tell but I'd say 10x brighter? It's pitch black outside at the moment. And raining :(

106151106152106153106154
 
Chiveroni

Chiveroni

Member
Messages
187
spkennyuk said:
There is a residual current in the circuit which on a stadard bulb is not enough to illuminate it. On an led bulb its enough to give a dim light to the leds.

You can fix it by fitting .25 watt 1000ohm resistor parrallel to the bulbs causing the issue. They are cheap to buy and should cure the issue for you.

Its not likely to be enough of a drain to discharge the battery. Short term fix until you put a resistor in is to put the standard bulbs back in.

The resistors are probably £1 or so each.
Click to expand...
OK - I ordered "some" resistors via eBay - £1.35 for 50! So, if anyone is going down this route let me know as I'll have some spare :rolleyes: I can send or if anyone is near Stamford come and grab some!
 
safrane

safrane

Member
Messages
16,916
Hmm... I get the reasoning for changing them, but I prefer a warmer light... it creates a better ambiance when you run out of petrol on that dark country lane.

If I had lights that bright back in my 'youth' I think one of us would have left the car and walked home (not saying who)
 
spkennyuk

spkennyuk

Member
Messages
5,979
safrane said:
Hmm... I get the reasoning for changing them, but I prefer a warmer light... it creates a better ambiance when you run out of petrol on that dark country lane.

If I had lights that bright back in my 'youth' I think one of us would have left the car and walked home (not saying who)
Click to expand...

Well at least the gathered audience would have been able to see properly! #floodlit #dogging :eek:
 
Chiveroni

Chiveroni

Member
Messages
187
I'm 56 - I wouldn't be flexible enough anymore anyway. Especially not in the back of a GTS. But our XC90...
 
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