[Boatanchors] Re QST article 'LED your pilot lamps'

[rkerr]

I'm not sure what "current balance" means here, as I think the LED's 
would pull less current than an incandescent lamp.  I suppose if you 
replaced a large number of these lamps with LEDs in the same 
unregulated circuit, the voltage might rise a bit because of the 
reduced current.

In any case, be sure to look up the later addendum to this article in 
the Oct QST which concerns the reverse voltage rating of LEDs and 
whether or not you should connect two diodes in parallel, with the 
diodes in opposite directions, to prevent reverse voltage avalanche.  I 
would also connect a 0.01 uF or so capacitor in parallel with the 
diode(s) to snub high frequency signals generated by the rectification 
transients.

Bob
WB4TGG



On Monday, Sep 22, 2003, at 15:10 US/Eastern, R.J. Keller wrote:

> While I was reading the article in Sep QST about using LED's for the
> pilot lamps, I remembered from one of the lists somebody talking about
> making changes like this and it's effect on the current balance in the
> filament circuits. What are your thoughts on this.
> Thanks and 73, Dick KF4NS
> St. Petersburg, FL 33714 USA
> Keep the glow!

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