okay i've been using led wedge bulbs in my rear license plate light for a while. the problem is that they have become dead or malfunctioning eventually. in comparision my led bulbs in the front parking light of the same quality is still going strong. still on my first set.

one thing i notice is when i lock/unlock my car i notice the led light change in intensity like low-high-low while the parking lights are flashing. i don't have a multimeter so i can't measure the output it is giving. i suspect that the voltage is changing eventually damaging the led circuit. possibly going over 12v?

my question is there something i can put in line that could keep the voltage constant. something simple?

or is there another explanation? maybe the bulb is more accesible to road vibrations. i do notice a little hole on the cover to release heat or gas. maybe it's weather related. moisture?

anybody with a similar problem?

 

well for starters you can't go over 12v when the car is off , theres no alternator putting out 14.4 when the cars off... so that is outta the question. your most likely seeing a solder joint failing... the brightness is 12v , then it heated up causing resistance and dropping it to 9v , which you see a dimmer led. try replacing the led.

 

that definitely makes sense. why would the solder joint fail? vibrations? maybe heating and cooling too much. dunno

i order a simpler led to try out. so far the 6 led one turned to 3 led then flickering, and then i had a 1w led that went out but would go on if i flick it with my finger. maybe it's just junk.. but if it was wouldnt the front go out at the same time.

thanks for the input

 

sounds like you either got junk or a faulty unit if you have 3 leds flickering... if you wanna try a DIY , go to radio shack , grab some leds... and you need a 680ohms resistor to change it to 12v , leds usually run on 3v so you have to down grade them from 12 , 680ohm will do that...