LED indicator light for refrigerator

targis58

I remember from a post while ago that someone changed the green led bulb indicator for fridge on propane in the led panel to a brighter bulb. Can any one remember what that bulb was and where to get it? maybe some instruction how to put it in too..

Dogpilot · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 11:51 am Post subject:

I used a bright blue LED from Radio Shack. The downside is it actually lights up the interior at night. Just note the polarity of the LED when you unsolder t the old one.
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

Raynor Shine · Samba Member Joined: November 07, 2005 Posts: 552

Here is the article about the blue light. Look under fridge. I did this too & like dogpilot sez it lights up the interior at night. I would say, do all the lights while you are at it. I will do all of mine eventually.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/bl.bachman/vanagon.html#Fridge

kevinbassplayer · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject:

What a great mod since the green led is so hard to see. I don't see the problem with the interior being lit up with the light at night as the panel has a switch and you just turn the led off. Since I'm pretty much broke right now after my big summer road trip this is a cool little project I'm looking forward to!

MootPoint · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:39 pm Post subject:

The blue LED from Radio Shack is part # 276-316, about $4, I believe. Other colors are cheaper.
_________________
1984 Westy with tencentlife power!

fyrgrrl · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

Uh...ok....gotta ask....how do I tell which is the + side of the diode and/or board?

Is it a good idea to replace all of the diodes with brighter LEDs now?
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (manual) - "Van Hildegaard"
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (auto)
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (auto) - "Blau Frau"
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (manual) - "Braunkuh"
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback (auto)
2003 Subaru Legacy L wagon (auto)

tikibus · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:04 pm Post subject:

Here is a product that does not require any drilling or fussin'

http://www.intellitecproducts.com/ritelite/lpl630.html
_________________
Happy Trails!
Mark
______________
Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC

snoop · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject:

mtac · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:11 pm Post subject:

fyrgrrl,
don't know if you ever got an answer to this...
"Uh...ok....gotta ask....how do I tell which is the + side of the diode and/or board? "
I was waiting for an answer myself but took the plunge and did the mod today. I am not an electrical whiz by any means and had to look up the polarity thing
as purchased from radio shack, the led has 2 "legs" and the longer of the legs is the +
the + leg goes in the up hole, towards the other leds
I marked the direction of the old green led, before I took it out, and in looking closely inside the led you can also match them up.
hope this helps
off topic, do you work fire? just curious, I retired after 30+ years with the feds.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westy
"Bad roads bring GOOD people... Good roads bring all kinds of people!"

fyrgrrl · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:33 pm Post subject:

GREAT!!! thanks....and no one did answer the question...I used to do electronics when in the Navy but datadumped it all to make room for all things Vanagon and other things in my life.

And yes...I did work in fire....as a volunteer. I was a station captain but had some difficulties with the chief and how he ran/used my station (it was also HQ for the fire district) and resigned after 10 years with the district. Best fun I have ever had....and I miss it.
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (manual) - "Van Hildegaard"
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (auto)
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (auto) - "Blau Frau"
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (manual) - "Braunkuh"
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback (auto)
2003 Subaru Legacy L wagon (auto)

snoop · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:06 pm Post subject:

fyrgrrl,

The legs of Radio Shack LEDs are the same length. Consult the photo at the bottom of page 2 of the Todd Last article that I've referenced to find out how to determine the correct orientation for installation.

mtac, it's the feds, that 'work' fire, that are an embarrassment to those that fight fire.
_________________
87 Westy Camper

fyrgrrl · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject:

Uuummm...I bought the same LED recommended here in the topic...and it has one short leg. Sure wish they had a big + sign inked on the damn diode.

Anyway...now I gotta get a pencil soldering iron and go fer it.
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (manual) - "Van Hildegaard"
1987 Vanagon Westfalia (auto)
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (auto) - "Blau Frau"
1985 Vanagon GL 7-passenger van (manual) - "Braunkuh"
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback (auto)
2003 Subaru Legacy L wagon (auto)

tikibus · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:23 pm Post subject:

Oh,
The little green LED's showing levels of battery and water.

RS should have them, but, Volts to run is tricky. To much, burnout.
To little, won't work.

Here is a site to explore:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/

I've been doing a huge amount of research on these little buggers.

I hope this site helps.
_________________
Happy Trails!
Mark
______________
Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC

snoop · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject:

[quote="fyrgrrl"]Uuummm...I bought the same LED recommended here in the topic...and it has one short leg. Sure wish they had a big + sign inked on the damn diode.

Well, OK, I suppose different Radio Shacks are different. I've bought both the 276-311 and the 276-316...not sure which one you did as both are recommended in this thread...both had equal length legs at my Radio Shack.

Enjoy the blue light!
_________________
87 Westy Camper

Dogpilot · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 6:46 pm Post subject:

Look here for an explanation of which lead is which:

http://encyclobeamia.solarbotics.net/articles/led.html

After I put the Norcold in I hooked that LED to the self destruct circuit. It flashes faster just before the van blows up.
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

kevinbassplayer · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject:

For those who read the link and don't know:

Anode= Negative (as in Anions, negatively charged)

Cathode= Positve (as in Cations, positively charged)

mtac · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:55 pm Post subject:

not to confuse this anymore...
kevin, either you have it backward or I really screwed up.
this is where I did my research, along with Dogpilots link, on the LED polarity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:%2B-_of_LED.svg
in looking at the insides of the radio shack led and the green one I pulled out, they both pretty well looked like the second image in the link

hey westysapien, if you've got a beef with my service or "work" why don't you pm me.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westy
"Bad roads bring GOOD people... Good roads bring all kinds of people!"

snoop · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject:

mtac, just getting something off my chest my friend. I'm sorry for any offense conveyed to you in the process.
_________________
87 Westy Camper

kevinbassplayer · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:40 am Post subject:

From Wikipeda to help add further confusion (I know I'm confused, help captainparty time!)

"A cathode is an electrode through which (positive) electric current flows OUT of a polarized electrical device. Mnemonic: CCD (Cathode Current Departs)."

"An anode (pronounced as a-node) is an electrode through which (positive) electric current flows INTO a polarized electrical device. Mnemonic: ACE (Anode Current Enters)."

So all this means?........

Summers420us · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:13 am Post subject:

I just tried this mod, and the blue LED lights up now regardless of whether the flame is on or not.... Shocked

I switched back to the oem green LED and it works as it should.

Anyone else have this issue? I imagine that there must be a very low amount of voltage even when flame is not lit... and the blue LED from Radio Shack is more sensitive to it and lights up even though the original green one does not.

Suggestions?


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