Posted December 20, 201212 yr comment_409680 So I'm trying to replace my dome light with LEDs. *I check the LEDs on the battery and a nice bright light. So up at dome wires I check and get 12 V. but when I hook up the LEDs to the dome wires I get a real dim light.78 Z Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 20, 201212 yr comment_409681 Perhaps the ground is bad. The power (+12V) is constant to the dome light. The ground is made when you open the door. Check the switches in the door jambs. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409681 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 20, 201212 yr Author comment_409683 I have I'm stumped. All the switch are working fine. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409683 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 20, 201212 yr comment_409691 Polarity? Try turning the bulb around. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409691 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 20, 201212 yr Author comment_409696 I have try that. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409696 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 20, 201212 yr comment_409707 test the voltage at the dome light. try wiggling the door switches around see if light gets brighter momentarily. i've had corroded switchesthat did that Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409707 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 20, 201212 yr comment_409710 Might you be checking the LEDS one at a time on the battery and all wired up at the dome light? If so check your wiring-you possibly have series where you should have parallel-or viceversa! Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409710 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 20, 201212 yr Author comment_409711 I have check the light in series on the battery and nice and bright. Get 12 v on the dome wires, door switch works fine. I'm stumped Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409711 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 21, 201212 yr comment_409713 Corrosion in the switch in the dome light or on the contacts?disconnect battery then measure resistance to ground through the circuit to see where the problem is. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409713 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 21, 201212 yr comment_409714 Voltage is potential - not power. If there is a high resistance (compared to a light bulb) in the circui, it might be inconsequential to the very high resistance in your meter. This results in a very small voltage drop as read by your meter. When you insert a bulb, this resistance appears huge and drops a lot of voltage.Don't measure ohms, measure voltage across the socket contacts with the bulb out and then in. If there is a serious drop in voltage when you insert the bulb, you have high resistance somewhere in the circuit.As others have said, automotive LEDs usually only work mounted in one direction. First check is to reverse the mounting to see if things get better or worse.One last thing, I replaced the Malibu lamp bulbs with automotive LEDs. Found the cheap contacts in the lamps and cheap contacts in the Chinese LED didn't always make good contact. You may have the same situation and may have to scuff the contacts with some fine sandpaper to get a good contact. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409714 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 21, 201212 yr Author comment_409715 I'm losing all the power when I plug in the LEDs. Could it be a amp drop because of corrosion? Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409715 Share on other sites More sharing options...
December 21, 201212 yr comment_409721 Exactly, did your bulb work before you tried the LED? First place to look is corrosion in the door switches. These switched supply a ground to the circuit. Try opening each door, snapping the nylon button a couple times and then twisting th button while it is fully extended. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/45205-dome-led-light/#findComment-409721 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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