Replacement LED Part Numbers?

[rkruz]

Several LEDs have failed in the under light assembly or LED board.  See the picture of the board.

Its a simple matter for me to replace the bad LEDs but I would need a mfr and part number.  Not the UV LEDs but only the white light color LEDs is what have failed.

APQS only sells the entire assembly for close to $200 which I cannot afford and the LEDs might be about $0.25 each which being an electronics engineer I have replaced before in a circuit card.

Any hints here appreciated.

Thank you

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[Sue E.]

I am also interested in learning this. I have several of these white LED bulbs that are flickering and I fear they will totally go out soon. I hope I will be able to replace the bulb and not the entire board as I also cannot afford to spend $200 on this.

[rkruz]

After a short search, Ive not found a specific LED replacement but made some discoveries that helps to narrow down the search and I am still looking for a LED replacement.  In general the square LEDs appear to be in the $0.50 to $2.50 each.

The LED board is very easy to remove. Loose 1 screw and slide the board out.

A 3 position toggle on the board selects White, UV or OFF.  There are no active components on the board, only LEDs, resistors and a toggle switch.  The simplicity of the board again makes for a very easy low risk LED replacement.

The white LEDs are connected in banks of 3.  If one LED fails the entire bank fails.  See the attached picture showing the white LED.  In my case I have 4 LEDs failed hence a total of 12 LEDs not lit.  With a DVM set in "Diode" mode, I can actually turn on individual LEDs installed on the board and have identified a single LED in each back that has failed.

The LEDs themselves have no identification markings on them to help find a replacement.

The white LEDs appear to be the style of 7.62mm square, using through hole wires and runs from 3VDC. 

The through hole wires  along with the large solder pads make it a very easy LED replacement for someone mildly experienced using a soldering iron and solder wick or solder sucker.  See the attached picture showing the leaded LEDs on the board.

THE UV LEDs are a different style but none of these have failed.  See the attached picture showing the UV bank of LEDs on.

The board is marked with "APQS" so they should have the circuit card design to include the mfr and part numbers for the LEDs should they care to share that information.

If I can obtain LED replacements I will create a "How To" video detailing how to replace the LEDs.

As for my background I have 2 Masters Degrees in Electronics Engineering and 40 years of experience designing electronics and managing the development of high technology systems.  Much my experience was performing detailed electronic design, which this board would be of the simplest example.

[Cagey]

RKRUZ,

Would it be possible to figure out which of the four individual LEDs is burned out on the four sectors?

Then you might be able to pull the individual LEDs and end up with one complete sector that does not work plus one LED in another sector.  Then you could simply try installing a 3VDC LED in the two bad sectors.  If they are all the same LED in the sector, they may work normally, though the color might be slightly different than the APQS LEDs.  Looking at the back of the circuit board, it looks like each LED only uses two solider points. 

You might try LED Supply or some other vender to direct you to the proper individual LED.  If they are tubular versus square would not make a difference.  They would work just like the UV LEDs.

You might also contact info@mcautomationinc.com  They made my LED light for my George.  I just looked and they use the same square white light LED as you have on your machine.  Unless they make the LED lights for APQS now, they might be able to direct you to where to find the individual LED in question. 

https://www.yellowpages.com/wildomar-ca/mip/mcautomation-inc-480088217

As I recall the man who made the LED light board when I bought mine was the husband of a quilter who designed the board to replace the old incandescent light bar system for his wife.  There was an old thread that discussed the product, but I could not find it quickly.

Best of luck to you finding a solution.  

Cagey

[SueD]

Here's the link for the APQS lighting system.  The inventor is a member here - mikeferris - but I think it's been a year since he last logged on.  

http://mcautomationinc.com/apqs-long-arm-led-lighting-system

[rkruz]

I purchased replacement LEDs from Ebay from a company called LighthouseLEDs.com.  20ea for $9 including shipping so about $0.45 each.

  I have already removed that bad LEDs and soldered the in these replacements and the brightness and light color are indistinguishable from the originals.   The entire bank of 3 that were out are now working once the bad LED was replaced.

The part number and seller info is in the attached photograph.

[Cagey]

I am glad you were able to find the LEDs in question and provide the entire group where to find them if the need should arise.

Is the attached link how you essentially soldered in the new LEDs? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncED_ScV6uM&t=2s

[rkruz]

5 hours ago, Cagey said:

I am glad you were able to find the LEDs in question and provide the entire group where to find them if the need should arise.

Is the attached link how you essentially soldered in the new LEDs?

sorry.  there is no attachment?

[Cagey]

Edited above post.

 

[chrissiequilter]

Any ideas on where to find a part number for the toggle switch? Mine broke, so I have no lights, but can't see the point of replacing the whole board when it's a simple fix to replace the switch. 

[rkruz]

48 minutes ago, chrissiequilter said:

Any ideas on where to find a part number for the toggle switch? Mine broke, so I have no lights, but can't see the point of replacing the whole board when it's a simple fix to replace the switch. 

I dont sorry.  It a common switch and would be easy to find a replacement.  Is there a part number or other clue printed on the switch.?.  You could just hardwire across 2 terminals on the switch, solder a wire to them and it would be on all the time.  Solder a small wire across the switch terminals that activate the white LEDS.

A Search would be for :  Toggle Switch, ON-OFF-ON, PCB Mount, Right Angle.  and then make sure the body size and number of contacts and spacing is the same.  Ebay would have one.  If I get a chance later Ill pull the board and see what is installed and look for a replacement.

[rkruz]

On 11/14/2021 at 4:48 PM, Cagey said:

Edited above post.

 

The video is only for the installation of the LED, not the removal.  The removal is the hard part.   I found it was easiest just to break apart the bad LED plastic body with diagonal wire cutters leaving only the metal pins that are soldered in the board.  Then grab the pins with needle nose on the component side of the board, and heat the pins with a soldering iron (25 watt tip) until the solder melts and pull the metal pin out leaving a feed-thru hole that still filled with solder.  I then used a "solder sucker" or spring loaded suction device to remove the solder from the feed-thru hold by heating the feed-thru then using the solder sucker to extract the melted solder.  A delicate and experience touch is needed here or you can pull the pad off the board.  Once the feed-thru holes are open or clear of solder, the new LED just drops in and can be soldered as demonstrated in the video you provided.

 

 

[rkruz]

"From Cagey: Would it be possible to figure out which of the four individual LEDs is burned out on the four sectors?"

How to identify the bad LED:

The circuit design is such that if one LED goes out, a bank of 3 LEDs will go out, like Christmas tree lights.  These 3 LEDs are all next to each other.

Once the board is removed and unplugged, its a simple matter to identify the bad LED using a Digital Voltmeter (DVM).

With the DVM set for the lowest ohms range, or using the diode check function, place the DVM probes across 2 of the 4 LED pins.  You will have to do some experimentation to figure out the right pins with some trial and error.  IF the DVM reads zero ohms those are the wrong pins and move one probe to one of the other pins.  If still not lit then change the polarity of the probes or swap the red and the black probes.  Once you know which pins to touch by seeing a good LED illuminate, then repeat on the other LEDs until you find one that will not.  Dont worry, the DVM will not damage anything on this simple circuit.

[Cagey]

RKRuz:

Thank you for the explanation on how to remove the LED post.  Is this a good video as how to properly complete the process?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_dvf45hN6Y

[chrissiequilter]

Any ideas on where to locate a part number for the switch on the led board? Mine is broken, so I have no lighting at the moment. It's not a difficult fix so I can't see the point of replacing the entire board

[rkruz]

I dont sorry.  It a common switch and would be easy to find a replacement.  Alternatively, rather than replace the switch, you could just hardwire across 2 terminals on the switch that activate the white lies, solder a wire to them and it would be on all the time.  Solder a small wire across the switch terminals that activate the white LEDS.

To find a replacement, search for :  Toggle Switch, ON-OFF-ON, PCB Mount, Right Angle.  and then make sure the body size and number of contacts and spacing is the same.  Ebay would have one.  If I get a chance later Ill pull the board and see what is installed and look for a replacement.

[rkruz]

As a light board switch replacement alternative.

You should verify your switch is bad before doing anything as the switch is the least likely of anything to fail.  If both banks of lights are not working there may be something else wrong probably with the power to the light board.  When toggling the switch, If one bank of LEDs work, its likely the switch is bad. To verify the switch is bad,  with the machine off, use an ohm meter and measure across the terminals in the attached picture with the red line.  The measurement should be 0 ohms when the switch is set for the white LEDs and infinite ohms when in the center or UV LED selection.  Toggle the switch left and right positions and if you never see 0 ohms than the switch is bad.

To bypass the switch:

If your sure the light board switch is bad as verified above, rather than replace the switch, it would be very easy to solder a small wire on the back of the board to 2 of the switch terminals, bypassing the switch and turning on the white lights permanently.  The attached photo shows where this location would be.  The only drawback is the lights would be always on whenever the machine is turned on.  Also, depending on how the switch failed, its possible selecting the UV switch setting would turn those LEDs on at the same time as the white LEDs which is not a big deal unless you only want the UV LEDs on for as I said, the white LEDs will be permanently on with this mod.  

[chrissiequilter]

1 hour ago, rkruz said:

As a light board switch replacement alternative.

You should verify your switch is bad before doing anything as the switch is the least likely of anything to fail.  If both banks of lights are not working there may be something else wrong probably with the power to the light board.  When toggling the switch, If one bank of LEDs work, its likely the switch is bad. To verify the switch is bad,  with the machine off, use an ohm meter and measure across the terminals in the attached picture with the red line.  The measurement should be 0 ohms when the switch is set for the white LEDs and infinite ohms when in the center or UV LED selection.  Toggle the switch left and right positions and if you never see 0 ohms than the switch is bad.

To bypass the switch:

If your sure the light board switch is bad as verified above, rather than replace the switch, it would be very easy to solder a small wire on the back of the board to 2 of the switch terminals, bypassing the switch and turning on the white lights permanently.  The attached photo shows where this location would be.  The only drawback is the lights would be always on whenever the machine is turned on.  Also, depending on how the switch failed, its possible selecting the UV switch setting would turn those LEDs on at the same time as the white LEDs which is not a big deal unless you only want the UV LEDs on for as I said, the white LEDs will be permanently on with this mod.  

Thanks so much! It's definitely the switch, as the toggle is broken/loose. I happen to have a friend who is quite experienced in this sort of thing, and he's offered to replace the switch for me. I was just worried I wouldn't be able to find one. 

[rkruz]

30 minutes ago, chrissiequilter said:

Thanks so much! It's definitely the switch, as the toggle is broken/loose. I happen to have a friend who is quite experienced in this sort of thing, and he's offered to replace the switch for me. I was just worried I wouldn't be able to find one. 

you found a replacement switch?  I could not find a replacement.

[chrissiequilter]

33 minutes ago, rkruz said:

you found a replacement switch?  I could not find a replacement.

I haven't yet. I live rurally, and have to go to the city to find one. There's an electronics store in the nearest city that appears to have the switch I need, but I'm planning to bring the board/switch with me when I go so I can ensure it will work.