R8500 Dial Light replacement
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FrankNY
Member
Missing Photos Explanation
Actually, Rich, and not to be picky, but I think that all four of the photos that you originally posted, in Post #39 of this thread, were 1306 by 979 at 72 ppi (pixels per inch) and were taken with an Apple iPhone 6 Plus.
And thank you for reposting them!
I figured out why I was unable to see them.
I looked at the source code for the Web page on which the photos were included and found the following (invalid) four URLs.
The error is that the three backslashes in each URL should have been forward slashes, as follows.
In the old version of Mozilla Firefox that I'm using, I get a "Server not found" error message when attempting to visit any of the four bad URLs.
When using (an equally old version of) Opera, the links work fine because Opera is being nice and silently corrects them. Corrected versions of the URLs, with the backslashes automagically changed to forward slashes, are what appear in the browser's address bar. I suspect that your browsers are behaving just like Opera and correcting the URLs for you, which is why you're not seeing the problem.
Note that I have no idea how the bad links managed to work their way into your post.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Frank...who hopes that his bulbs don't burn out before he does.
Actually, Rich, and not to be picky, but I think that all four of the photos that you originally posted, in Post #39 of this thread, were 1306 by 979 at 72 ppi (pixels per inch) and were taken with an Apple iPhone 6 Plus.
And thank you for reposting them!
I figured out why I was unable to see them.
I looked at the source code for the Web page on which the photos were included and found the following (invalid) four URLs.
Code:
http://www.carmachicago.com\images\080716\yellow2.jpg
http://www.carmachicago.com\images\080716\yellow.jpg
http://www.carmachicago.com\images\080716\blue.jpg
http://www.carmachicago.com\images\080716\blue2.jpgThe error is that the three backslashes in each URL should have been forward slashes, as follows.
Code:
http://www.carmachicago.com/images/080716/yellow2.jpg
http://www.carmachicago.com/images/080716/yellow.jpg
http://www.carmachicago.com/images/080716/blue.jpg
http://www.carmachicago.com/images/080716/blue2.jpgIn the old version of Mozilla Firefox that I'm using, I get a "Server not found" error message when attempting to visit any of the four bad URLs.
When using (an equally old version of) Opera, the links work fine because Opera is being nice and silently corrects them. Corrected versions of the URLs, with the backslashes automagically changed to forward slashes, are what appear in the browser's address bar. I suspect that your browsers are behaving just like Opera and correcting the URLs for you, which is why you're not seeing the problem.
Note that I have no idea how the bad links managed to work their way into your post.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Frank...who hopes that his bulbs don't burn out before he does.
w4rtt
Member
I replaced the bulbs with LED's in mine a couple of years ago.
I used 12v diffused wide angle clear one I found on Ebay
I used 12v diffused wide angle clear one I found on Ebay
In thinking this over recently, is there any reason I couldn't take the appropriate number of LED's (4 or 5, I forget off the top of my head) and wire them up in parallel, and pop them in place?
I was thinking of using a little grommet to hold the LED's and making some sets of LED's of various colors to try them out. I had bought a set of LED's in various colors and when I installed them it all looked like the original bulbs were just in parallel.
If I pre-wired the LED's and had a single power lead for the 4(5) LED's I could easily swap them out as desired and reduce the amount of soldering iron time in the radio.
I was thinking of using a little grommet to hold the LED's and making some sets of LED's of various colors to try them out. I had bought a set of LED's in various colors and when I installed them it all looked like the original bulbs were just in parallel.
If I pre-wired the LED's and had a single power lead for the 4(5) LED's I could easily swap them out as desired and reduce the amount of soldering iron time in the radio.
After about 6 months or so the LED's that I installed on my R8500 started going dim. I measured the voltage across the lighting circuit and it was 10.58 volts at High and 6.42 at the dim setting.
I removed the LED's and replaced them with another set from the same batch and the replacements are brighter than the originals but still not as bright as I wanted or as bright as seen on KE4NYV or RadioRelay's photos.
Is there an adjustment for the lighting voltage that would increase the voltage to the 4 LED's without blowing up the radio?
I removed the LED's and replaced them with another set from the same batch and the replacements are brighter than the originals but still not as bright as I wanted or as bright as seen on KE4NYV or RadioRelay's photos.
Is there an adjustment for the lighting voltage that would increase the voltage to the 4 LED's without blowing up the radio?
led strips
has anyone thought about using an led strip, they are 15cm strips with 9 leds on and they have a peelable sticky back on the strip and two wires, i guess if your not bothered about the dimmer then you could wire them to the back of the molex connector, i have never took the back off my radio so i dont know if i could stick a strip behind the display and whether or not they would shine through. any thoughts anyone
has anyone thought about using an led strip, they are 15cm strips with 9 leds on and they have a peelable sticky back on the strip and two wires, i guess if your not bothered about the dimmer then you could wire them to the back of the molex connector, i have never took the back off my radio so i dont know if i could stick a strip behind the display and whether or not they would shine through. any thoughts anyone
w4rtt
Member
Rich,
Where is the adjustment for High and Dim settings?
I looked through the manual and couldn't find it.
Where is the adjustment for High and Dim settings?
I looked through the manual and couldn't find it.
Page 30 in the manual:
In the Quick Set mode press and hold the Sleep/Set button for a second. Rotate the Memory knob to Dimmer and then use the tuning knob to make the selection.
In the Quick Set mode press and hold the Sleep/Set button for a second. Rotate the Memory knob to Dimmer and then use the tuning knob to make the selection.
OK, I am now a few months into my second set of LED's and the same thing happened, they got progressively dimmer over time.
I suspect it might be the cheap LED's I got off Amazon.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a better LED that might retain it's brightness?
I suspect it might be the cheap LED's I got off Amazon.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a better LED that might retain it's brightness?
byndhlptom
Member
R8500 led
just to make sure...
you are using a series resistor on each LED (if in parallel) or one for a series string.
most LEDs have a max continuous current, typically in the 20mA range for most 5mm/T1 3/4.
Too much current (heat) is the usual cause for premature failure.
$.02
just to make sure...
you are using a series resistor on each LED (if in parallel) or one for a series string.
most LEDs have a max continuous current, typically in the 20mA range for most 5mm/T1 3/4.
Too much current (heat) is the usual cause for premature failure.
$.02
Right, the LED's I bought have the limiting resister inline with the power lead for the LED.
Each LED is wired in parallel with the rest, just like the incandescents were.
The LED's were nice and bright at first but dimmed over a few months.
Each LED is wired in parallel with the rest, just like the incandescents were.
The LED's were nice and bright at first but dimmed over a few months.
Well, this weekend I ordered different LED's (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAHYUBD/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
I wired up 4 of the green and 4 of the blue ones and tried them out. I preferred the green ones so installed them into the radio. So far they look great.
I will have to wait to see if these dim out like the last batch did. These are a different manufacturer.
I wired up 4 of the green and 4 of the blue ones and tried them out. I preferred the green ones so installed them into the radio. So far they look great.
I will have to wait to see if these dim out like the last batch did. These are a different manufacturer.
michy
Member
Do the newer R8500 come with LED lights to illuminate everything?
I purchased a demo R8500 that was a few years old.. so wondering if it will eventually need light replacements.
I purchased a demo R8500 that was a few years old.. so wondering if it will eventually need light replacements.
AFAIK they all came with incandescent, any LED-equipped radios were modified after the fact.
michy
Member
Darnit.. I received my R8500 demo receiver and the left dial light is already burned out (from GPS Central in Calgary and supposedly with a one year warranty).
I googled ic-r8500 display lamps and couldn't find much info on them.
Maybe I missed, but realized the lights are soldered in. Considering they burn out, I'm surprised they aren't easier to replace (easier than soldering).
I googled ic-r8500 display lamps and couldn't find much info on them.
Maybe I missed, but realized the lights are soldered in. Considering they burn out, I'm surprised they aren't easier to replace (easier than soldering).
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michy
Member
I opened the covers, had the radio upside down... now the light that was burned out came back on.
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On my radio I have had a light out, then reset the radio and the loght came back on for a while. I don;t know why...
So far the green LED's seem to be working fine.
If I have to replace them again I might rig some sort of plug and socket to eliminate soldering inside the radio and allow quick swapping of the LED's
So far the green LED's seem to be working fine.
If I have to replace them again I might rig some sort of plug and socket to eliminate soldering inside the radio and allow quick swapping of the LED's
michy
Member
Led socket or connectors options?
Connector1
Connector2
Or a two pin connector instead of the single or four pin one like this one and add a current limited resister in one of them.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5x-Male-Fem...-Wire-Cable-fr-ESC-LED-Battery-/172874423519?
I wanted to show the lamp location - I had no idea they were soldered until we checked it.
Front Lamps1
Front Lamps2
Connector1
Connector2
Or a two pin connector instead of the single or four pin one like this one and add a current limited resister in one of them.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5x-Male-Fem...-Wire-Cable-fr-ESC-LED-Battery-/172874423519?
I wanted to show the lamp location - I had no idea they were soldered until we checked it.
Front Lamps1
Front Lamps2
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dkf435
Member
Last time I bought Gain of Wheat Lamps on Ebay it was in the $11 range for 100 12v and a little more for the 6V I use in the Kenwood Amateur radios.
Been thinking about maybe trying LEDs can anybody point out a good source for them have about a dozen radios that need to be done.
David
Been thinking about maybe trying LEDs can anybody point out a good source for them have about a dozen radios that need to be done.
David
michy
Member
I'm curious what LED's would work such that they provide an omnidirectional light source. LED's tend to be more focused forward.
I tried some, and it worked not bad, but I think I'd prefer a grain of wheat lamp (which I have coming as well).
Also, 5mm LED's are snug.. think I'd go 4mm.
Before Curling into Hole
With LED in hole - Sorry, not as clear
I tried some, and it worked not bad, but I think I'd prefer a grain of wheat lamp (which I have coming as well).
Also, 5mm LED's are snug.. think I'd go 4mm.
Before Curling into Hole
With LED in hole - Sorry, not as clear
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