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LEDs that light up to the amp/subs?

Fordy55

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I was reading this thread and decided to create a new one so I didn't bump the old one.

I am thinking putting LEDs in my Expo wires to my amp so they light up when the sub hits. Where would I wire the positive and negative wires of the LEDs to?


Thanks :)
 



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Anywhere you want. Depending on color they will light between 2 and 4 volts. If you are anything like the guy behind me yesterday, you will have enough voltage. Specifications say there should be no more than 5V reverse voltage on a LED. My experience of testing many a LED indicate they are pretty good diodes and don't break down till about 170V. You will need a current limiting resistor to keep the current under 20ma for a small LED to 300ma for a 1W. It doesn't matter if you burn a few out as they are cheap. Nothing compared to ending up like my father who is bitter, frustrated, and isolated because he can't be in any conversations anymore. Enjoy.
 






Thanks a lot, I am just wondering what wire I will tap into on the amp for the power to the subs? Should I tap into the wire going from the radio to the amp or the power wire to the amp?
 






THey used to make a thing for neon that you could set to a patricular bass setting the word is slipping me "maybe Hrtz". Been a long time since I played with steros. But it would pick up the bass and light when you wanted it to. You could get more than one set one to pick up high note bass and another to low notes. Made a cool light show if done right. Haven't seen it in a while. Take note it was the 90's when I played with stereos and my info is dated I am sure.

STU
 






Thanks a lot, I am just wondering what wire I will tap into on the amp for the power to the subs? Should I tap into the wire going from the radio to the amp or the power wire to the amp?

You shouldn't tap either of those or the LED will be on anytime the amp is on. You would want to tap the speaker wire going from the amp to the sub box, or the box to the sub itself depending on the box configuration. what LEDs were you thinking of using, and what box is it, pictures help.

Justin
 






I don't have the ability to take pictures right now, but it is a kentwood amp with sony xplods. So right where the wires are connected on the sub box I can just wire the LEDs there? Wouldn't that burn out the LEDs instantly because of the high amount of power? Thanks for you help
 






If your wanting the LEDs on ONLY when the bass hits, then yea, wire them anywhere into the speaker wire thats going from the amp to the sub.

Now if you want them on with your amp, you can wire a relay into your remote wire, and it will turn the LEDs on with the amp.
 






If your wanting the LEDs on ONLY when the bass hits, then yea, wire them anywhere into the speaker wire thats going from the amp to the sub.

Now if you want them on with your amp, you can wire a relay into your remote wire, and it will turn the LEDs on with the amp.

Thanks a lot :thumbsup:
 






I was reading this thread and decided to create a new one so I didn't bump the old one.

I am thinking putting LEDs in my Expo wires to my amp so they light up when the sub hits. Where would I wire the positive and negative wires of the LEDs to?


Thanks :)

Well I dont know if your subs are getting full power but I have a Soundstream Digital Bass Driver which bumps mine up and adds hella more thump, and it also has blue LED's that light up when the sub hits (although u must have ur music at a decent level before they light up if u kno what i mean) :D
 






I don't have the ability to take pictures right now, but it is a kentwood amp with sony xplods. So right where the wires are connected on the sub box I can just wire the LEDs there? Wouldn't that burn out the LEDs instantly because of the high amount of power? Thanks for you help

what LEDs are you using, if they're 12 volt LEDs you might not need resistors but i would use them anyway. They're inexpensive and will allow you to use them for a lot longer, and what exactly did you have in mind... single LEds just run different places? or did you mean like a neon tube attached to the box.... You'll have to be more specific.

justin

EDIT: I used to have 2 12 inch's in a box with 4 holes, two were ports and two were old tweeter holes. so i took the tweeters out and put plexi glass on the inside of all the holes, and ran 4leds on all the sides of the square holes connected to the speaker wires, whenever the bass hit they would light up, and they would light up with the subs, soft hit, low light, hard hit bright light. is that what you mean, or do you want an indication light that both subs are hitting?
 






EDIT: I used to have 2 12 inch's in a box with 4 holes, two were ports and two were old tweeter holes. so i took the tweeters out and put plexi glass on the inside of all the holes, and ran 4leds on all the sides of the square holes connected to the speaker wires, whenever the bass hit they would light up, and they would light up with the subs, soft hit, low light, hard hit bright light. is that what you mean, or do you want an indication light that both subs are hitting?

That is exactly what i want, when the subs hit soft the leds are dim. when they hit hard they are bright. I have several LEDs from radioshack, Would they work or would I need to use 12v leds. Or can I just wire several LEDs so it would equal around 12volts without the need for resistors.
 






That is exactly what i want, when the subs hit soft the leds are dim. when they hit hard they are bright. I have several LEDs from radioshack, Would they work or would I need to use 12v leds. Or can I just wire several LEDs so it would equal around 12volts without the need for resistors.

What does your box look like? How is it wired? specifics, and you could try that, maybe buy one or two 12v LEDs and see if it works. I'm sorry i can't give you a more definite answer, but there is a lot of stuff i don't know that would impact it.

Justin
 






I have a single sub box with quick disconects on it. I have a prewired LED and I put attacked it to the sub box where the wires connect and it lit up when the sub hit. :) thanks
 






Wen and hooked a volt meter up to my sub, while it hit, got up to 10V DC and like 79V AC, very weird, same exact notes and everything
 






these worked for me : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ESB88G/ref=oss_product

They are adjustable according to sensitivity and if you put the sensitivity as low as they go and keep the microphone box in the storage compartment in the back on the drivers side like i did then they turn out to thump to the sub pretty good :-)
gedc1526.jpg
 






Fordy- you can even buy cheap neon lights from best buy or a place like that for only about $10-$15 each for like a 15 inch light and they put out pretty good light and just have a dial so you can adjust how sensitive they are to the music or you can set them to just be on when you want. They plug into the cigarette lighter and just have an on and off button, I'm sure you can open up the wires and wire it to something as well... I myself don't know how to go about that. I bought some myself and they light up the whole car, I took them down though because I had to leave the wires out because I didn't know how to wire them into anything else.
 






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