What diode have i???

[what2do]

Could someone tell me what the diode on the left, 3 rd one down is for please? Also, is it my imagination, but don't cars normally display a green light when headlamps are on????? Thinking of fitting a green just for this purpose - can't be that hard.....................can it?!?!?! Cheers.

[Aidan]

glow plug led for a diesel
if your van is petrol then you have a diesel clock set fitted, as long as you don't have a rev counter it doesn't matter
we don't have a lights on indicator only a full beam blue one - you can do the lights on relay buzzer mod if you are worried about leaving the lights on when you leave the van

[what2do]

Ta for the reply. I have a petrol...................need to call in Scooby Doo and his Mystery machine to sort out the mystery of my diesel clocks lol. I still like the idea of a green diode, just a visual thing really, would it be simple enough?

[ghost123uk]

Yes, you just need a green LED (note, not quite right to call it a "diode" as that is a different thing, Light Emitting Diode "LED" is the term) and a 680 Ohm resistor (from Maplins), any watt rating will do, even the lowest watt rating (1/8th watt) will be fine but a 1/4 watt one is more common and a bit "heavier duty". Then just wire it to the wire on the lighting switch that goes live when you turn the lights on, other wire of the LED to a nearby earth of course. The resistor can go on either leg of the LED. Note that the LED has to be wired the right way around, if you wire it up the wrong way round it just won't light up, no damage will occur. Also note that you DON'T want a high brightness LED !, just a standard one. If you need to know more, just shout out.