No prob-lem-o. Just for *****s and giggles, I wired one up to a cigarette lighter plug, and plugged it in... lit up no problem, and didn't get hot or anything... even started and shut off the engine a couple of times to see f a surge would blow it... Still worked just fine, and no heat buildup. I think that by being designed for 12 volts, they were intending them for automotive use, so they probably over-engineered them to be able to take 13-14 with no trouble. I've got to make up a bracket at work this week (long story) but I'll post some pics of the project and finished product if I can. Wish me luck!

 

Joe,

Great job. You are probably correct about the overdesign. Don't worry about heat, they'll either work or "pop". So from now on if you find some LEDs you like (colors, size, shapes, etc.) and want to use them in your truck, just put a 1.2k - 1/4 watt resistor in series with it and you'll be fine. Your no longer limited to those pre-packaged for 12volts. I'm sure you can find many applications for them (like FireZapper has done).

Enjoy...XLT D

 

I just took a close look at the LEDs... there's already a resistor built in! I guess that's why they're an extra 30 cents over the 3 volt LEDs. Got the cover plate made up today, and I plan to mount it to the console tomorrow after football, and then I have a date to spend some quality time in the garage with a soldering iron. :-) Still have a lot of prep-work to do on the truck in terms of wiring and such too, so it's gonna be a while still. :-( Bigger project than I originally thought!
-Joe-

 

Well, I got it all in and wired up. What a project! Looks SWEET, though. I took some pix of it, so I'll post them as soon as I get them developed. Took me the better part of 3 days to get it all in, but alltogether, I think I might have $50 in parts (if you don't count the quarter-million dollar wire burn machine I used to cut the plate!). I managed to get a bad switch, so that one needs to come back out (one side of the switch doesn't work :-( ) but other than that, I just need to find some extra accessories to plug into it, and I'll be all set! :-)

 

Alright Joe,

Get those pics up soon!

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Y2K Oxford White XLT S.C., V6, Auto, FoMoCo Mud Flaps, Lund Bugflector, Tinted windows, Auxillary BU lights, 2x55W DRL, UNGO Keyless entry, FoMoCo/Duraliner bedliner