17 replies to this topic

[ferg]

My alarm LED stopped working recently, and before I start dismantling things to change it, I just wondered if anyone knew if it could be a programming issue. I did a search and found a few posts, but not the one I thought I read some time ago explaining how to disable the LED. It's quite possible I just dreamt this, but if it is possible to disable it, then the reverse should also be true. Or to turn the question round a bit; for those of you that swapped the LED, did that do the job? Someone suggested replacing it with a more powerful LED. Sounds like a good idea, but without knowing the specs. of the LED driver in the alarm, it's difficult to know what spec. LED to use. Any ideas? Thanks.

[i need nos]

no idea but i always fancied changing mine to a blue led..

[ferg]

Well I finally got round to taking the LED out, and sure enough, one of the legs is broken off. Now I just need to know what to replace it with. Meldert says he replaced his with a regular 2.1V 10ma LED, but someone else said it was a 12V LED. Assuming both work, I can't see a 12V LED working if it was being supplied with 2,1V but I guess a 2,1V LED might work for a while with 12V. So if nobody can give a definitive answer, I'll go for the 12V one. I'll be damned if I'm going to buy one from Opel - and I'm still waiting for the oil filter O-ring that I ordered 3 or 4 weeks ago.

[stuarth1]

Well I finally got round to taking the LED out, and sure enough, one of the legs is broken off. Now I just need to know what to replace it with.

Meldert says he replaced his with a regular 2.1V 10ma LED, but someone else said it was a 12V LED. Assuming both work, I can't see a 12V LED working if it was being supplied with 2,1V but I guess a 2,1V LED might work for a while with 12V. So if nobody can give a definitive answer, I'll go for the 12V one.

I'll be damned if I'm going to buy one from Opel - and I'm still waiting for the oil filter O-ring that I ordered 3 or 4 weeks ago.

[geekiness]
In geek speak the 2.1V refers to the forward drop of the LED and is dependent on the material it is made from. You need to add a resistor (in series) to get the correct operating current. It's been a while since I last did this but IRC you work it out by doing (Vs-Vf)/I = (12-2.1)/10E-3 = 990Ohms. You need to then ensure the resistor can sink enough power = (i^2)R so in this case about 1/10 W so just make sure you get a resistor rated above this (1/4 or 1/3 watt is very small and common so will be fine). If you want it brighter, increase the current (ie reduce the resistor - value but be aware this may reduce the life of the LED and may require a beefier resistor (do the power calculation))
[/geekiness]

Edited by stuarth1, 27 October 2006 - 08:36 AM.

[ferg]

Thanks for the reply, but a 12V LED has this resistor built in. If a resistor was required, I'd expect it to have been soldered to one of the LED legs, but there's none there. But I guess that if the alarm is supplying 12V, using a resistor together with a regular LED would be an alternative to using a 12V LED. I think I should measure the voltage first...

[VXJON]

A 12v 5mm led will work fine Changed mine a while back and it works prefectly

[ferg]

A 12v 5mm led will work fine Changed mine a while back and it works prefectly

Agreed.

I couldn't find one over here, but got exactly what I was looking for in Maplins - a 5mm "Super bright" 12v red LED. Here's what the spec. says:

"Order Code CJ63T: Super Bright Red
Kingbright description: L-53SRD-12V
Forward current typ.: 8.5mA
Forward voltage max.: 14V
Reverse voltage max.: 5V
Wavelength @ peak : 660nm
Power dissipation PT: 120mW
Light output min.@ 12V: 100mcd
Light output typ.@ 12V: 180mcd

5mm 12V LEDs FAQs:
Q) What is the difference between sb and he leds - kathryn gibson
A) Super Bright (sb) is 180mcd light output and High Efficiency (he) is 30mcd light output.

Q) can i get the 12V 5mm LED in blue - Jody
A) Only available in red,green and yellow."


I've only tested it for a few blinks, but I'm sure it'll work fine, and as it's "Super Bright" maybe it'll be easier to see in the daylight!


Hope this helps the next person.

[slindborg]

ahh cool, mine has stopped working too lol. do you jsut pull it out of the centre console? a white one could be fun... ish erm maybe

[ferg]

If I recall, you push it down. Or maybe you pull it up with the black collar, then remove the collar, then push it down? It's a while since I removed it. I think it was explained on here in another thread. But the main point is that it's soldered to a cable, and you need to loosen (not remove) the silvery crappy plastic gear lever/handbrake surround to get access to the LED, cable and connector. In order to get that far, I chose to remove the aluminium handbrake handle. Two small umbrakos underneath. Seems to me the LED leads can't stand the vibration. Duff design. The LED legs should probably be cut as short as possible to avoid this reoccurring.

[pugwhizz]

mine stopped working a few months ago due to snapped leg. replaced with an uber bright blue one - there is no doubt my car has some sort of security now

[ratboiler]

Pull the fuse to the alarm for a few seconds and replace it, mine freaked out a few times but did not blow the fuse. Removing it just resets the whole system.

[Dazzer]

Mine never worked when I bought the VX. I replaced mine wth a flashing 5mm 12v LED that I got cheap on Ebay. However, it is blinking erratically and looks decidely cack. I assume it should be flashing or is the VX alarm light just a steady LED light? Is there a flasher unit already wired into the car that is now clashing with the LED's built in flasher chip? If I do need a flashing LED - where can I get a better quality one? I know Maplin can provide a standard one. BTW do the super bright red ones look ridiculous? Don't want to be driving a Brothel around!!

[slindborg]

you dont need a flashing led.... if you fit one then the flashing led will flash then stop flashing with the pulses from the alarm ecu.

[Dazzer]

you dont need a flashing led.... if you fit one then the flashing led will flash then stop flashing with the pulses from the alarm ecu.

That makes sense. Many thanks.

[Hang-em]

Replaced mine today. Bought a 12v super bright red LED with housing @ £1.59 from maplin,and found the quickest way was to pull the gear lever gaitor off, hook out the old LED, solder on new one, job done. Takes no more than 10 mins. Now working a treat.

Edited by Hang-em, 14 November 2010 - 04:52 PM.

[MaDFreeBiRD]

would having a fubarred LED make your alarm system sh** a brick and go off every so often on its own?

[2.2_na]

I assume it should be flashing or is the VX alarm light just a steady LED light?

My alarm LED flashes.

And I also have ANOTHER bright red flashing LED in an attempt to give my VX a "Do not touch" deterrent when parking in London.

[mick200]

Just fitted a new LED for my alarm with the correct META one, you can get then here      http://abacuscaralar...21be498f7386a0c

 

 

Mick