05-09 Interior and Audio Mods Enhancing Your Mustang's Interior and Sound System

Brighter map lights?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 9/17/07 | 08:12 PM
  #61  
Falchion's Avatar
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
 
Joined: October 12, 2004
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 1
I didn't use a Voltmeter, but it was pitch black in my garage the other night, and if they were glowing even a little bit then I'm sure I would have noticed.

I also just checked about an hour ago and didn't see any glow from the LED's........

Originally Posted by metroplex
How are you checking the light? Check it when it is pitch black outside with no ambient light. If you try to check it in the sunlight, it won't show up.

Better you, get a DMM or a voltmeter and run the leads across the contacts. I found 9.75 VDC on the trunk contacts when the trunk switch was closed.
Old 9/18/07 | 03:19 AM
  #62  
sound wave's Avatar
Mach 1 Member
 
Joined: October 20, 2005
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
so does anyone with the moss kit have the dim glow too?
Old 9/18/07 | 04:03 AM
  #63  
metroplex's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 16
From: Southeast Michigan
Falchion: Do you have the factory anti-theft?
Old 9/18/07 | 07:04 AM
  #64  
Falchion's Avatar
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
 
Joined: October 12, 2004
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 1
Yes, I have the anti-theft. And it looks like you were right after all about the LED's being light after the car is turned off.

This morning, I turned the engine off and just sat i the car untill the light went off, and the LED dome light were still dimly light! Errr!

I've been driving it that way for the last several days, so I don't think the battery will be drained down when I get off work, but I'm concerned about this!

Looks like I'll have to put the regular dome lights back in. What a waste of $30!

Originally Posted by metroplex
Falchion: Do you have the factory anti-theft?
Old 9/18/07 | 07:31 AM
  #65  
metroplex's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 16
From: Southeast Michigan
I've contacted V-LEDs about this and I suggest everyone else contact their vendors.

12 VDC devices should really be designed to completely shut-off below a certain voltage. These LEDs should be off at around 11.5 V, but I believe the voltage multipliers/regulators they use keep them running at our 9.75-10V levels. I blame Ford for this, but there's nothing I can do short of installing relays that totally cut off voltage below a certain voltage. That will cost me a lot of time and money just to use LEDs in the car.

Meanwhile, my 2000 Crown Vic and 2003 E-250 are using LEDs just fine (no dimly lit LEDs when they're shut off). The Crown Vic even has theater lighting (where it dims very slowly). I haven't checked the voltage at the connectors to make sure, but it looks like they totally cut off power.
Old 9/18/07 | 09:08 AM
  #66  
Falchion's Avatar
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
 
Joined: October 12, 2004
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 1
I guess, I'll have to replace mine as well. Do you think it will drain my battery? It hasn't so far.......

Maybe I can return these blubs as well as the moleskin I ordered and don't need now. The 2008 window seals have a softer rubber seal against the inside of the windows with moleskin already on it.

It looks like Ford is making some product improvements as the years go by........


Originally Posted by metroplex
I've contacted V-LEDs about this and I suggest everyone else contact their vendors.

12 VDC devices should really be designed to completely shut-off below a certain voltage. These LEDs should be off at around 11.5 V, but I believe the voltage multipliers/regulators they use keep them running at our 9.75-10V levels. I blame Ford for this, but there's nothing I can do short of installing relays that totally cut off voltage below a certain voltage. That will cost me a lot of time and money just to use LEDs in the car.

Meanwhile, my 2000 Crown Vic and 2003 E-250 are using LEDs just fine (no dimly lit LEDs when they're shut off). The Crown Vic even has theater lighting (where it dims very slowly). I haven't checked the voltage at the connectors to make sure, but it looks like they totally cut off power.
Old 9/18/07 | 01:18 PM
  #67  
krnpimpsta's Avatar
 
Joined: May 31, 2007
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC Metro Area
Originally Posted by metroplex
I've contacted V-LEDs about this and I suggest everyone else contact their vendors.

12 VDC devices should really be designed to completely shut-off below a certain voltage. These LEDs should be off at around 11.5 V, but I believe the voltage multipliers/regulators they use keep them running at our 9.75-10V levels. I blame Ford for this, but there's nothing I can do short of installing relays that totally cut off voltage below a certain voltage. That will cost me a lot of time and money just to use LEDs in the car.

Meanwhile, my 2000 Crown Vic and 2003 E-250 are using LEDs just fine (no dimly lit LEDs when they're shut off). The Crown Vic even has theater lighting (where it dims very slowly). I haven't checked the voltage at the connectors to make sure, but it looks like they totally cut off power.

Did you measure microamp currents with the incandescent bulb or with the LED?
Old 9/18/07 | 02:09 PM
  #68  
2K7 Vista GT's Avatar
V6 Member
 
Joined: April 14, 2007
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: West Texas
Originally Posted by sound wave
so does anyone with the moss kit have the dim glow too?
Yes mine glow slightly and I have the Moss kit. Been installed for over 6 weeks now and no problems with the battery.
Old 9/18/07 | 02:16 PM
  #69  
Falchion's Avatar
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
 
Joined: October 12, 2004
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 1
Made me a little nervous, so out it goes. Too bad, I kinda liked it. The light was maybe a little too white?

I pit it in an enevolpe and off it goes back to SC. Another failed mod! Errr!

Originally Posted by 2K7 Vista GT
Yes mine glow slightly and I have the Moss kit. Been installed for over 6 weeks now and no problems with the battery.
Old 9/18/07 | 02:17 PM
  #70  
metroplex's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 16
From: Southeast Michigan
Originally Posted by krnpimpsta
Did you measure microamp currents with the incandescent bulb or with the LED?
The LED. The incandescent bulb does not light up with 9.75 VDC.
Old 9/18/07 | 03:43 PM
  #71  
krnpimpsta's Avatar
 
Joined: May 31, 2007
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC Metro Area
Originally Posted by metroplex
The LED. The incandescent bulb does not light up with 9.75 VDC.
Okay, just wondering. I was thinking maybe the same amount of current might actually flow through the incandescent too, but it just doesn't produce light at those low currents? Just theorizing... I'll test it out when I'm trying mine on.

By the way, after realizing this, have you left the LEDs in? Has anyone left them in?
Old 9/18/07 | 03:47 PM
  #72  
metroplex's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 16
From: Southeast Michigan
I took mine out. I do not believe that amount of current draw will deplete the battery within a few days, but I do not want to take any chances.

I am unsure on why Ford kept 9.75 VDC flowing through the system even when everything is off. It seems like an easy way to start a fire.
Old 9/18/07 | 05:45 PM
  #73  
Falchion's Avatar
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
 
Joined: October 12, 2004
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 1
Yeah, I took mine out too. Too bad, very sad..

Originally Posted by metroplex
I took mine out. I do not believe that amount of current draw will deplete the battery within a few days, but I do not want to take any chances.

I am unsure on why Ford kept 9.75 VDC flowing through the system even when everything is off. It seems like an easy way to start a fire.
Old 9/19/07 | 02:14 AM
  #74  
mrkabc's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: November 13, 2005
Posts: 2,190
Likes: 41
Originally Posted by krnpimpsta
By the way, after realizing this, have you left the LEDs in? Has anyone left them in?
Mine are still in, only because I have the flu and haven't felt like pulling them. As soon as I get better, out they go!!!

As Falchion said, what a waste of $30. SIGH...

As a side note, my car has sat in the garage since Saturday, and started right up earlier today. Apparently the draw isn't enough to kill the battery that quickly, but I'm worried about long-term, as well as possible fires.

Too bad, it sounded like a good mod...
Old 9/19/07 | 03:50 AM
  #75  
metroplex's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 16
From: Southeast Michigan
It's not the LEDs, it's the car. I now have 2 extra 194 and 1 extra 211-2 conversion LEDs that I spent $17 on. These worked great in 2 other Fords. I looked over the wiring diagrams and can only assume it is because of the mystical "low current board" of the SJB.

I tried installing a Passport X50 following the instructions posted on TMS and it wouldn't shut off even after 15 minutes (same issue).
Old 9/19/07 | 09:14 AM
  #76  
Falchion's Avatar
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
 
Joined: October 12, 2004
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 1
So, there's no fix to this short of rewiring the car?

Who would have thought something as simple as changing a lightblub would be so complicated........

Originally Posted by metroplex
It's not the LEDs, it's the car. I now have 2 extra 194 and 1 extra 211-2 conversion LEDs that I spent $17 on. These worked great in 2 other Fords. I looked over the wiring diagrams and can only assume it is because of the mystical "low current board" of the SJB.

I tried installing a Passport X50 following the instructions posted on TMS and it wouldn't shut off even after 15 minutes (same issue).
Old 9/22/07 | 06:37 PM
  #77  
ShowGT's Avatar
Shelby GT500 Member
 
Joined: April 25, 2007
Posts: 2,955
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City, MO
Has anyone contacted the eBay seller about this finding? It may same alot of people some money and possibly headaches down the road here.
Old 9/22/07 | 09:01 PM
  #78  
Falchion's Avatar
Tasca Super Boss 429 Member
 
Joined: October 12, 2004
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 1
I tried to, but Ebay wanted me to put my credit card on file before I could send him an E-mail!

I didn't really want to do that! I did send the LED blubs back in the mail and asked for a credit back. I haven't heard anything back yet.........

Originally Posted by ShowGT
Has anyone contacted the eBay seller about this finding? It may same alot of people some money and possibly headaches down the road here.
Old 9/22/07 | 10:35 PM
  #79  
gremlin190's Avatar
Bullitt Member
 
Joined: January 7, 2007
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Guys,

I just found this kit on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-J...QQcmdZViewItem
Looks like they adjust the voltage with a resistor to address the problem. This may not just be a problem with our vehicles.

I tried to read the values of the resistors, but came up with 230ohm's. I don't know if that is right though. Maybe somebody with better eyes can read it
Old 9/23/07 | 02:44 AM
  #80  
metroplex's Avatar
Legacy TMS Member
 
Joined: October 2, 2006
Posts: 4,778
Likes: 16
From: Southeast Michigan
All that kit does is allow you to mount a panel of LEDs using a variety of bases. All of the LED replacement "bulbs" have resistors of some kind. The problem is that our SJB is feeding 9.75 VDC constantly and the LEDs are still drawing current at this voltage. They need to shut down at anything under, say 12 VDC, and operating normally at 12 VDC-15 VDC.


Quick Reply: Brighter map lights?



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:29 AM.