Practical tips for adding LED rate indication to trem circuit?

King Fan

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Hmm, yeah, clear lens might just work. But although I long ago gave up on 'jewel light aesthetics', I do like red; a clear lens might be a style stretch. If I have one in my stash, I'll test it. Heh, an even bigger worry would be a 'pink pulse'. :)

Or do you mean replace the actual lamp bulb with the LED inside a clear lens? That wouldn't be evil to at least try. I'd have to look at space and think about the heater wiring (or maybe it doesn't change?)
 

sds1

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I got it working once by letting the oscillating waveform switch a transistor on and off. The LED is switched by the transistor.

Details and schematic here:
 

King Fan

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I was saying a clear lens with the red LED. Although a clear LED behind the red lens could be brighter too

Aha, got it, thank you. I don't mind drilling a little hole in the faceplate on my (clone) 6G2 and PR, but the 5G9 is stainless, and the VibroChamp is vintage, so it'd be handy / important to avoid surgery in those.

My limited understanding is that different color LEDs have different electrical properties; I'll have to read up on white.
 

King Fan

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Or maybe red behind a red lens? This is with bigger brighter automotive LED brake lights, but they found red thru red was much brighter *and* much redder than white through red.


bulb lens.jpg
 

corliss1

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Different colors usually have different mA draws and slightly different voltages to get the peak brightness. They are all pretty darn close though - we're talking tenths of volts on the datasheet.
 

Bill Moore

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I'm curious what you end up with, I have a stash of "super bright" LEDs I use in pedal projects, but don't know the specs. They are bright! (I modded a wah pedal for a friend, and added a "super bright" blue indicator, he made me change it for a standard red, said it was too distracting!)
 

King Fan

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I'm curious what you end up with, I have a stash of "super bright" LEDs I use in pedal projects, but don't know the specs. They are bright! (I modded a wah pedal for a friend, and added a "super bright" blue indicator, he made me change it for a standard red, said it was too distracting!)

Thanks. Now I’m curious too. I’m experimenting with my current red LED behind the red lens in the VibroChamp… really red, but not too bright. I mean literally. :)

I may look into “super bright” LEDs. No doubt that’s where the intensity (mcd) spec mentioned by @andrewRneumann comes in. I need to find a good online source with lots of 'electronics’ types, full specs, and cheap shipping. Then I’ve got to figure out *all* the different types I might want to try. And *then* I’ve either gotta figure out how to solder to those cat whiskers, or source LED types with pre-installed leads. Those Dialcos are starting to appeal even more.
 

Snfoilhat

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Can you remove the bulb from the pilot light and just let the new LED live behind the jewel, or are there times the amp may be running but the LED isn’t illuminated?
 

King Fan

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Can you remove the bulb from the pilot light and just let the new LED live behind the jewel, or are there times the amp may be running but the LED isn’t illuminated?

Right, I had assumed the bulb was out already. Is it not?

Good questions. So far, the LED is 'always on' so it *should* work as a pilot light. And, yeah, when the way-too-easy idea of 'shine the LED into the gap between bulb and lens' didn't work, I removed the bulb. Awkward fit still, but I'm working on it.

When I get some brighter LEDs I'm gonna then figure out how to hold them so they're centered and well advanced up behind the lens. Right now I'm picturing a high-tech method that might be called 'toilet roll of electrical tape.' :)
 

JuneauMike

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So something I haven't seen mentioned here: Pedal guys know LEDs because they work with them all the time. Here's how a PedalPCB modulation pedal called "Mesmerizer" handles the pulsating LED:

Screenshot 2023-02-01 111423.jpg


(Remember, transistors function similar to tubes.) This looks to me like the 2-color common cathode LED is being treated like a hot potato, indicating a passed signal from one IC to the next though each anode. Red/green/red/green, and so on.

Anyway, maybe there's some inspiration over in that side of the world.
 

King Fan

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Another option is to use a 53 or 55 bulbs that are shorter than the 47.

Cool. I didn't even know about those. I may look into sourcing some, cuz I did notice that you can back the lamp assembly away from the chassis/lens a few mm if you put some spacers/washers on the bayonet bushing, inside, under the big awkward nut. Maybe the combo of a shorter bulb and some spacing washers would give me room for LED access.
 

Bill Moore

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A 53 is quite a bit shorter!
Edit, just installed one in a lamp assy. Still no room! Could cut the lamp holder and tack a spacer in the middle, but maybe using a couple of LED's side by side instead is the way to go.
47-53.JPG
 
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King Fan

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A 53 is quite a bit shorter!
Edit, just installed one in a lamp assy. Still no room!

Thanks!!! Yeah, I was impressed that sliding back the light assembly didn't help much either. And it's complicated, especially on the VibroChamp -- I'm reluctant to try any excessive jury rigging on a vintage amp...
 

corliss1

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I wouldn't bother with the vintage amp. I'd make a separate hole for the LED on the custom builds.
 
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