Date:         Thu, 13 Feb 2014 13:56:24 -0800
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Doors Closed, LED Dome Light Glows On. Solved?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Hi all.

This been talked of over on thesamba forum but thought I'd post a few pics here.

Some, like me, found that an LED festoon dome light (non OEM) might
glow on even when doors shut, dome switch set to "light on when door
opened". The dome lights on a Vanagon are switched on/off via a
connection to vehicle frame (negative side of circuit)

I saw continuity between points shown by the arrows. Image:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nAXrJ_mo4yQ/Uv0ytYaBUHI/AAAAAAAAIz0/5-TgWXJ_BL0/s527/dirty%2520switch%25204.jpgIt

so I assume that the ground wire male spade on switch passes through
the black plunger as one piece. It is exposed ~ midpoint of the black
shaft.

My working theory is that with doors closed, switches open, dirt etc.
on one or more of the switch shafts may allow contact between the
exposed metal on the shaft and spring (hence switch frame) or just
straight to the switch body. (constant negative or ground) This may be
especially true since this gap gets very close to the switch metal
frame.

Just a working theory for now but to me, it makes sense. It's likely
that a very minute amount of current will allow an LED to faintly glow
on (in fact I only saw ~ 4 diodes light up)

More pics here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/MiscVanagonWestyPics#5979983704673393858

Neil.



--
Neil n

Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca

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