Hi there I’m new to the site and hope everyone’s well I’m just getting into electronics so still at the first stages of leaning but would like to know if some one could help me with this project I’d like to take on iv got a astra Vxr with normal back light but would like them to be converted in to led light now I know that the canbus system on new cars will think there is a bulb out cause of the leds and shut the line down so resistors need to be put in place to fool the system but un sure how’s to go about it hope some one would be kind to help me along the way ??
Here’s the videos of the lights I want to build id like them to be as close as possible to them
michael:
What do u mean ?? Iv got another set of lamps to strip down and work with but just looking for advice and guidance if some one could help
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What i mean is what are the specs on those “set of lamps”. From the article you only need to add some extra resistance to the lines (brake. turn, ??) to fool the OBD. Perhaps the current draw is already sufficient.
The article seems to say it’s not that tricky but it may take some experimentation to find the minimum resistance to add, in parallel, w/the LED cluster.
If you don’t care to experiment I’d say look-up the wattage of the bulbs you’re replacing. Take the assumed voltage, squared, for that rating, 12.8 typically, and divide that by the power rating (in watts) and that will get the resistor value needed. Multiply that by 1.2. Find a power resistor with that value or a bit lower and wire it as shown above. The power rating of the resistor should be at least 50% more than that of the bulb.
For example a T5 bulb is rated at 18W @ 12.8V. That’s means it should draw ~1.4A at 12.8V. The resistance of that bulb is (12.812.8 )/18 = 9.1 ohms. I’ll add 20% to cut down on the current draw as the LEDs will draw something. So look for a 9.11.2 = 10.9 ohm power resistor. When the car is running the voltage will be nearer to 15V meaning the resistor will be dissipating more 37% power than when at 12.8V. Let’s say all you could find is a 10 ohm resistor. At 15V, it’s using (15*15)/10 = 22.5W.
Frankly the easiest thing is to just use the existing bulbs and hide them away where they won’t be seen but not catch something on fire.
