Let's Talk Power Lamps

[donvan]

For my 183 build I ordered some wrong parts. I ended up with a Fender Bayonet style bulb holder and a through hole LED. No big deal, I can order some bulbs, slightly modify the circuit, and be done with it. But, this got my thinking. Hence, the following questions.

1) The power LED indicator in my chassis is 8.2mm. Most of the old BOMs in the file section show a nice panel mount LED - mouser part num 696-LXR4815SID-150. This would be my first choice since LEDs are low power, this one fits my 8.2mm chassis hole, and it looks good. Unfortunately, it is no longer stocked. What part is everyone using these days?

2) Another option is to drill out the hole and use my Fender Bayonet style bulb holder. I believe that if I were to use a 6.3V incandescent bulb instead of the LED in option 1, then I would merely remove the 1n4003 diode and 390 ohm resister that is in the #183 schematic but leave the two 150 ohm resisters. Am I correct? This option would look good but uses a little more power than option 1. I think the bulbs use 100 - 250 mA depending on which you use. This option might also be noisier but I'm not sure.

3) A modified version of option 2 is to stay with the bulb holder but use an LED "bulb" that is designed to fit in the Fender bulb holder. Here's where I'm confused about this. Are these bulbs made to be direct replacements ( with built in resisters)? In other words, could you take a the bulb out of a Fender amp and put in one of these LED style replacement bulbs without modifying the Fender circuit? I know for my RV, I replaced some 12V DV bulbs with LED bulbs and I didn't have to add any resisters.

Lots of questions here. Thanks in advance!

Don

[sluckey]

In other words, could you take a the bulb out of a Fender amp and put in one of these LED style replacement bulbs without modifying the Fender circuit?

Yes, nothing else is required.

[xtian]

Yes, I like the LED replacements for #44 or #47 bayonet lamps:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/44-Or-47-Green ... SwxKtYBrY-

They are drop-in replacements.

[donvan]

Sluckey and Xtian,
Thanks for the helpful responses. Sounds like the LED bulbs are a good option. If either of you have used one of these in an ODS type of amp, did you omit the the diode and resister that are in series with the LED in the original ODS amps? I suspect you would have.

[xtian]

Sluckey and Xtian,
Thanks for the helpful responses. Sounds like the LED bulbs are a good option. If either of you have used one of these in an ODS type of amp, did you omit the the diode and resister that are in series with the LED in the original ODS amps? I suspect you would have.

Correct. The LED lamps have required circuitry built-in, so they can comfortably run on 6.3vAC.