Concerned about amount of heat from led tail resistors
05-21-12, 11:11 AM
#91
mines started smoking real bad, started smelling like my motor was burning up, popped the trunk and the resistor boxes started to burn through....gonna take pics soon. I just removed the boxes.
Also the seller claims that I installed them wrong..going back and forth via email now.
will update.
Also the seller claims that I installed them wrong..going back and forth via email now.
will update.
05-21-12, 01:18 PM
#95
Not running the resistors shouldn't harm the LEDs. Mine have been on for 6 months with no issues, there's got to be members here who have run them that way for years.
In terms of not knowing when you have a taillight out, I think I'd rather check periodically than have hot resisters and the additional wiring mess. Besides the LEDs will likely last longer than you own the car.
In terms of not knowing when you have a taillight out, I think I'd rather check periodically than have hot resisters and the additional wiring mess. Besides the LEDs will likely last longer than you own the car.
07-15-12, 10:02 PM
#96
Sorry for the late reply. Just saw this thread and as an electrical engineer, I had to give some input lol.
For the tail light resistors, do not run them. They are just a huge waste of power and a potential fire hazard. You upgraded to LED tails to not just look cool, but physically be cooler(less power use). Why in the world would you put the load back on the electrical system is beyond me. The resistors are in series with the circuit, and not parallel. So removing them will not cause the LED to be dimmer or brighter. I have tried both ways, and absolutely not any difference. So do yourself a favor whenever you upgrade to any LED tail light for the 2GS, to just trash the resistors and then do the dash warning light mod. I just pulled the bulbs out of my gauge cluster
Those do not just cool magically. Those are Thermo Electric Coolers that work using the Peltier effect. When electricity is run through the TEC, it will pull all the heat away from one side and dump all heat to the other side. Just like an AC unit in the house, it does not just magically blow cold air out of nowhere. It has to dump the heat to the outside heat exchanger. On the other side of the TEC, you will need a cooling device to wick away the heat or else you will burn up the TEC module very quickly. Once side will be 0F and the other side of the plate will be like 250F+ and it will stop working once burned up. They also use a TON of power to generate this thermoelectric cooling effect. Not really worth using these in terms of efficiency.
For the tail light resistors, do not run them. They are just a huge waste of power and a potential fire hazard. You upgraded to LED tails to not just look cool, but physically be cooler(less power use). Why in the world would you put the load back on the electrical system is beyond me. The resistors are in series with the circuit, and not parallel. So removing them will not cause the LED to be dimmer or brighter. I have tried both ways, and absolutely not any difference. So do yourself a favor whenever you upgrade to any LED tail light for the 2GS, to just trash the resistors and then do the dash warning light mod. I just pulled the bulbs out of my gauge cluster
Should have read this thread before I ordered mine last night.
For reference; I'm going to try to purchase these things:
They're essentially a +12v cooling plate. I saw this at a conference I went to any they were using them to quickly cool peppermint patties...into ice patties within minutes.
When I come up with a solution I'll post a DIY.
For reference; I'm going to try to purchase these things:
They're essentially a +12v cooling plate. I saw this at a conference I went to any they were using them to quickly cool peppermint patties...into ice patties within minutes.
When I come up with a solution I'll post a DIY.
for EE, Jeff 
