Mixing LED's and Incadescent bulbs

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  • max46
    Registered Member
    • Apr 2013
    • 229

    Mixing LED's and Incadescent bulbs

    I installed 3 led's and one incandescent courtesy bulbs. When i just had the three led's they worked great. I then added a incandescent bulb and all the others went dim. Question, can you mix different styles of light bulbs?
    ==========================================
    Update..Cannot mix incandescent and led bulbs on the same circut. Took the incadenscent out of the equation and put in a led and it works perfect.
    Last edited by max46; 07-15-2013, 05:12 PM. Reason: Update on my inquiry
  • chevynut
    Registered Member
    • Nov 2011
    • 11003

    #2
    There's really no reason you can't mix LED and incandescent bulbs in the same circuit. Who told you you can't ? Why would that be the case? Every bulb gets 12V.
    56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


    Other vehicles:

    56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
    56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
    1962 327/340HP Corvette
    1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
    2001 Porsche Boxster S
    2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

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    • max46
      Registered Member
      • Apr 2013
      • 229

      #3
      Originally posted by chevynut
      There's really no reason you can't mix LED and incandescent bulbs in the same circuit. Who told you you can't ? Why would that be the case? Every bulb gets 12V.
      I did find the reason on the net, but can't seem to find it now. They just don't mix. When I mixed them all the bulbs got dim.

      Comment

      • chevynut
        Registered Member
        • Nov 2011
        • 11003

        #4
        That makes no sense to me. All the bulbs are in parallel, so they each "see" 12 volts and are not affected by the other bulbs in the circuit. I see no logical reason for them to get dim, unless something is wired wrong or you have a bad connection somewhere. If the circuit works with all incandescent bulbs, it should work with a mixture of LEDs and incandescents. Which bulbs are you talking about?

        LED bulbs draw a lot less current than incandescent bulbs, so they won't work with a regular bi-metal type flasher. They will stay ON and not flash. You need an electronic timer flasher to make them flash. That flasher also works with incandescent bulbs.
        56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


        Other vehicles:

        56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
        56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
        57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
        1962 327/340HP Corvette
        1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
        2001 Porsche Boxster S
        2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
        2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

        Comment

        • JT56
          Registered Member
          • Mar 2013
          • 1209

          #5
          Originally posted by max46
          I installed 3 led's and one incandescent courtesy bulbs. When i just had the three led's they worked great. I then added a incandescent bulb and all the others went dim. Question, can you mix different styles of light bulbs?
          ==========================================
          Update..Cannot mix incandescent and led bulbs on the same circut. Took the incadenscent out of the equation and put in a led and it works perfect.
          I have both. Haven't seen any issues. My LED's consist of dome, curosity, glove box, clock and instrument cluster.
          My Album http://www.trifivechevys.com/album.php?albumid=39

          Comment

          • chevynut
            Registered Member
            • Nov 2011
            • 11003

            #6
            Originally posted by JT56
            I have both. Haven't seen any issues. My LED's consist of dome, curosity, glove box, clock and instrument cluster.
            What's a "curosity" light?

            As I said, there's no reason they can't be mixed, even on the same circuit.
            56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


            Other vehicles:

            56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
            56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
            57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
            1962 327/340HP Corvette
            1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
            2001 Porsche Boxster S
            2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
            2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

            Comment

            • max46
              Registered Member
              • Apr 2013
              • 229

              #7
              Originally posted by JT56
              I have both. Haven't seen any issues. My LED's consist of dome, curosity, glove box, clock and instrument cluster.

              But, and a big BUT, are they on the same circuit???

              Comment

              • JT56
                Registered Member
                • Mar 2013
                • 1209

                #8
                Originally posted by chevynut
                What's a "curosity" light?

                As I said, there's no reason they can't be mixed, even on the same circuit.
                That is my redneck version of courteous
                My Album http://www.trifivechevys.com/album.php?albumid=39

                Comment

                • JT56
                  Registered Member
                  • Mar 2013
                  • 1209

                  #9
                  Originally posted by max46
                  But, and a big BUT, are they on the same circuit???
                  The dome light and courteous lights are triggered from the door pin switches. The instrument cluster LED's is on the same circuit as the tail lights. The tail lights have incandlescents in them now.
                  My Album http://www.trifivechevys.com/album.php?albumid=39

                  Comment

                  • max46
                    Registered Member
                    • Apr 2013
                    • 229

                    #10
                    Originally posted by JT56
                    The dome light and courteous lights are triggered from the door pin switches. The instrument cluster LED's is on the same circuit as the tail lights. The tail lights have incandlescents in them now.

                    I am going to investigate this more. I will find out either way about mixing the different bulbs.

                    Comment

                    • chevynut
                      Registered Member
                      • Nov 2011
                      • 11003

                      #11
                      Max46, I'm not sure what you plan to investigate. In an automotive electrical circuit, virtually everything is connected in parallel. That means everything is getting 12 volts (when switches are on), everything is connected to a common ground, and there should be no interaction among loads. In reality, everything is connected together in parallel from the battery, and the circuits just have different fuses. I don't see how mixing bulbs can cause anything like you say you observed if the wiring is correct. If you find anything, I'd like to see it.
                      56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension


                      Other vehicles:

                      56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
                      56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
                      57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
                      1962 327/340HP Corvette
                      1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
                      2001 Porsche Boxster S
                      2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
                      2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax

                      Comment

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