Headlamp diode

[what2do]

Hi all, please don't send the men in white coats to come visit me but what I would like to know is if it's simple enough to hard wire a green diode into my dash assembly (where the diesels have the glowplug diode) so that I can have that same modern feeling as when I drive our family car, ie. Headlamps on with a green light on the dash? It's just a little thing but it would please me beyond measure (read into that what you will!!!!!).

Thanks in advance, Mitch.

[CovKid]

Yes. you just need a resistor so the LED will run on 12v then loop it into that circuit. MOT rules now state that you must have an indicator for full beam but no reason why you can't have one just to show lights are on. I've got one myself.

[what2do]

Tidy! I'll pm youlater for some idiot proof instructions!

[ghost123uk]

Tidy! I'll pm you later for some idiot proof instructions!

Get or put the idiot proof instructions on here so we can all benefit

I actually quite like that idea, and I too cannot really understand why, I just do






Mind you, you could go mad and have one to tell you when the horn is being sounded or the interior light is on


.

[Wychall]

I've got something similar. When I turn the vehicle lights on, the dash board lights up! Groovy, eh wot?

[California Dreamin]

Great idea but I fear a bright LED shining straight in your face would be a bit distracting whilst driving at night.....the 'normal' indicator being a dull 1.2 watt bulb behind a diffused coloured lens. so not 'in your face'!

Martin

[bigherb]

I've got something similar. When I turn the vehicle lights on, the dash board lights up! Groovy, eh wot?

You can see it lit up during the day in fog, I'm impressed.

[Wychall]

I've got something similar. When I turn the vehicle lights on, the dash board lights up! Groovy, eh wot?

You can see it lit up during the day in fog, I'm impressed.

You certainly can! You just need to shield it with your hands and. using a magnifying glass, look very closely at the digits of the odometer and you can actually see the light!

[CovKid]

Pity the cynical. Lads, lads. This is all fine but its surprisingly easy to miss if the dash dimmer is turned down. I fitted a yellow LED and as the light switch is already in the dash binnacle, you just find a live from there thats only live when lights are on. Not exactly rocket science. The LED isn't a bright one but is enough to attract my attention when getting out. VW seemed to leave plenty of space for extra LEDs. Beats the annoying "lights left on" buzzer idea. Scoff at your peril.

[Wychall]

I prefer a lights-on warning buzzer myself. The siren like noise wakes me up enough to realise that I have left the lights on.

[CovKid]

I've got enough things to make me jump without that. Ideally you just want an electrically powered hand that taps on the shoulder to remind you.

[Wychall]

I'm that absent minded that I might consider tapping into the central locking so that I can't get out until I have turned the lights off!

Then a tracker so that I can find it again.

[CovKid]

[what2do]

Funny how we're all different! Actually, not funny, just fortunate. Back to the idiot proof bit, any info on a diode and resisitor to purchase would be grrrrrrrrreat (as said by the famous Frosties tiger!!!!). Cheers.

[CovKid]

Just go to the tech counter in maplins, they'll soon sort you one out. Tell them you do NOT want a high brightness one and its to run on about 12-14v. To get a feed, you just need some point on the lighting circuit that is on, well, when the lights are on. A multimeter will find that. As far as connecting it, it'll only work in one direction anyway so if it doesn't light, flip the connections around. I did mine so long ago I forget where I tapped in but think it was from headlamp switch as I wanted to be sure it would stay the same brightness regardless of dimmer control.

If weather was warmer I'd go out and lift the dash shroud off but its not remotely warm - sorry.