Date:         Mon, 21 Aug 2006 14:21:22 -0700
Reply-To:     John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Question about turn signal indicator light
Comments: To: Jim Felder <felder@knology.net>
In-Reply-To:  <A7058EDA-2456-4CEC-9643-6CBC2E9FD4B2@knology.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 8/21/06, Jim Felder <felder@knology.net> wrote:
> This brings up another question: how do I test to see if my LED is
> good or bad?

Just use an ohm meter to check for continuity. Being a diode, it is
polarity sensitive, so make sure the black probe is on the negative
lead of the LED. The side with the negative lead is indicated by a
flat spot on the bottom rim of the LED. Alternately, you can look at
the part embedded within the plastic head: There's a large piece and a
small piece separated by an off-center diagonal gap. The larger part
attaches to the negtive lead, the smaller to the positive. Since my
test probes often get switched around and I'm never sure which is
positive and which is negative, I'll usually just skip the polarity
check part and test for continuity in both directions. If it doesn't
have continuity either way, then it's bad. If one way but not the
other, it's good. If BOTH ways, it's a light bulb, not an LED!

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"