BD-2 mod question

[GonzoFonts]

I removed diodes D7 and D9 (and put jumpers in their place) and replaced diodes D8 and D10 with LEDs.

However, the LEDs don't light when I play. 

I'm assuming that there is enough current going through that portion of the circuit to light up the LEDs but I could be wrong.

Any one have a clue? Is this normal for the BD-2?

Thanks in advance.

GF

[Barcode80]

you won't necessarily have enough voltage to light them in that circuit. if it sounds good, you are golden.

[blanik]

i put many leds in mine and none of them light up... and it sounds great!

R.

[Mark Hammer]

LEDs always need to have enough current to light up.  That's why it is important to choose appropriate current-limiting resistors when installing indicator LEDs.  Too much current (i.e., too little resistance between the battery and LED) and the LED burns out.  Too little and it isn't visible enough.  The amount of voltage AND current fed into LEDs in the distortion box context is well below what is needed to make them light up.  When LEDs are part of the sidechain, such as in the AMZ Dr Quack circuit, they DO light up, but that's because what they are fed is able to do the job.

[GonzoFonts]

blanik,

Thanks for the reply, that was exactly the answer I was looking for (i.e. someone swapped diodes for LED's and they did not light up).

Mark,

I understand but all of the other circuits (Boss SD-1, Boss DS-1, an older RAT, etc) where I replaced the diodes with LEDs, the LED would always light up. But this was the first pedal where they did not.

Thanks again for all the replies.

GF

[Mark Hammer]

Well, it'll depend on the brightness of the LED as well as the current/voltage delivered.  Chances are pretty slim that a 60mcd red LED would glow visibly in any of the pedals you noted, and chances are pretty decent that a 6000mcd red LED would in your BD-2.  of course, cosmetics aside, you use LEDs for their particular forward voltage drop, and the LED is thoroughly capable of performing that function, whether it glows visibly or not.  Hard to resist that glow, though, eh?

[Barcode80]

mine glowed in my non-functional dr. quacky...