[ICOM] RE: LED Panel Lamps

[Mike Olbrisch]

Hi Mike:
          I would like to hear more on what info you have substituting LED
lamps in place of incandescent lamps. Tell me more 
 
 
 
 

I select bright white LEDs.  The first thing I do is take them to a grinder
and grind away all the excess plastic.  The plastic is formed to be a lens
to focus the light.  I do not want it to focus.
 
Typically, I grind the rounded lens end flat, then grind away the sides to
make it as small as the lamp it is replacing.
 
I have tried making the plastic round.  It was difficult to do.  Then I
discovered that if it has 8 sides to it, it worked just fine too.
 
I install it in the radio exactly as the original lamp was, except that I
add a dropping resistor in line.  I heat-shrink the leads where needed of
course.
 
I have used resistors from 50 ohms to 5000 ohms with equal success - the
resistor selection determines the brightness.
 
NOTE:  You can substitute colored LEDs to color your display.  You can also
start with small LEDs for miniature applications.
 
Good luck.
 
Mike.  KD9KC.