dome light(s) on when off?

12vltfrk · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 12:04 PM

i did a led swap for my dome light, looks sweet, but when the switch is in auto mode and it dims out there is a little glow left in the led bulbs. did any one else run into this problem? I think i know why this happens but im not too shure.

stevet47 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 01:43 PM

Does it constantly stay like that?
If there is a capacitor in there somewhere it may stay dim for a minute or so.

12vltfrk · #3 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 06:03 PM

its best to see this when the cover is off, you turn off the car, open the door and wait till it dims. then you see just a little glow

Jazz GD3 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 02:01 AM

mines like that too

stevet47 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:06 PM

Weird, so the light NEVER goes off, just real dim.
Obviously there is some current trickling though which is enough to light the LEDs but wasn't enough for the stock bulb.

I wonder if some kind of zener diode could be used in reverse bias or something to block that trickle, but let the power through when switched on...

I'll look into it, because I want LEDs eventually.

Committobefit08 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 10:54 PM

Mine does this too. It has since I put leds in 6 months ago.
Yes the LED's use a fraction of voltage compared to a regular bulb. When the door is closed a trickle of voltage must barely be in running still because the led is barely lit. I have left my car parked for 4 days and there has never been an issue.
It has never hurt anything so I wouldn't worry about it. Probably cause more damage than hurting anything if you start messing around with the wiring.

Rubba Burna · #7 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 11:22 PM

i never noticed it? or it doesnt happen for me -shrugs- like the previous person said, best take off the cover and observe

stevet47 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 12:09 AM

I wasn't able to find any solution. But I think what they said above it correct. Its not going to hurt anything. The current is flowing no matter what, whether there is an LED or an incandescent in there, its just that the LED needs less power to illuminate enough to see.

ratedz · #9 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 01:28 PM

I had that issue with the LEDs that I installed in my hatch and hatch door...they would still glow a little even when the hatch door was closed. I spliced in an in-line fuse with a 2 amp fuse and that took care of the problem.

12vltfrk · #10 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevet47

I wasn't able to find any solution. But I think what they said above it correct. Its not going to hurt anything. The current is flowing no matter what, whether there is an LED or an incandescent in there, its just that the LED needs less power to illuminate enough to see.

i dont have a problem with my running lights or my licenceplate lights staying on a little. i think it has to due with the "auto"mode, cus when i switch it off it does not happen.