Trying to keep this simple I'm using a Ford 3G alternator on my build and a LED idiot light. Someone suggested that I use a relay to act like a resistor. Just wondering if anyone help how that gets wired togehter.
connect the coil of the relay to the two wires that would connect to the light bulb. Then connect the LED to the NO contact on the relay, and connect power to the COM contact. I would use a light bulb, because that's what it's designed to have. You could put the light bulb anywhere hidden, and you might even be able to connect the LED across the bulb so you have an indicator that the bulb is lit. LEDs are great for many things, but old cars is not one of them.
I am in a similar situation with my 10si. My issue is actually finding an incandescent indicator. If a guy wired an LED and a standard bulb in, I would think that the LED would need to be in series with the light bulb, as the LED would provide a path of zero resistance if wired parallel, correct? Granted, it should work parallel if you got the polarity on the diode right.
The overwhelming majority of them are LED. I found some on Amazon if I really get to that point. I just put a switch in that circuit and manually shut down for now.
it's about as basic as electronics gets. But pretty hard for most folks to deal with, I guess. I would pull out my little draw of resistors that I bought at Radio Shack several years ago, get one of the Brown-Black-Red resistors off of it's tape, and then wrap the ends around the wires that attach the LED to whatever it's attached to, solder them, cut off the excess, and be done. If you didn't have the foresight to buy those resistors while Radio Shack was still around, you'll probably have to use the internet to get one.
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