ScottCash

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May 5, 2025
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Hi all. I am trying to figure out how to add a few amber color LEDs to a 1953 Zenith K622 radio. One to light the tuner, one for the clock and one behind the center grill. I've gone down some rabbit holes. At this point, I would tap the original 110vpower and connect an 110v AC to 9v DC step down power converter then, from that, parallel wire three LEDs after three resistors. Does this sound right???
 
If all of the leds are the same you may as well connect them in series then you only need one resistor.
This is the most simple method IF you have a 9VDC supply.
Do you have data on the forward current and voltage across the leds?
So for example lets say the voltage drop is 2V per led, so the voltage across all 3 will be 6V in series
You have a 9V supply, typical current for the leds is say for example 20mA
So 6V across leds with 9V (is it regulated? to be sure measure the volts with no load) leaves 3V across the series resistor at 20mA typical (specified current depends on the LED)
Ohms law R=V/I = 3/20x 10⁻3
3000/20 or 150 ohms
To be on the safe side start with a higher value R say 300Ω and measure the series current, (multimeter required on suitable range) adjust value of resistor for the correct current (or tweak until leds reach max brightness and are about to blow up then back off a bit - that part was a joke- don't do that)
Resistor wattage should be OK with a 1/4 watt resistor or even less, (you might get away with a 1/8 watt depends on LEDs but check if it gets warm - (resistor wattage can be calculated by current through resistor x volts across it or V across resistor squared /R )
some info here
1746483841818.png
 
Thank you for the detailed, helpful response! I'm working on gathering my parts list now.
 
You're welcome
Given that it's a vintage radio I'd try and keep it as original as possible (that's just me), did it have any original filament lighting?
 
Upload a picture of the radio to this thread. I would love to see how it looks
 
You can drive the LED directly from the AC just need a resistor or capacitor.
 
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Here is the radio and also the parts I bought. I am going to tap into the 110v power cable then run it to the power converter then to the LEDs. They have resistors on them. I think this will work. 20250509_195336.jpg
20250509_215032.jpg
 

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That's a nice looking radio. Does it still work?
 
That's a nice looking radio. Does it still work?
It does! Has to replace the power cable but still works great.
 
Your supply is 5v, the leds are configured for 12v.
They maybe fine, albeit not as bright.
Yeah, I was looking at the customer pictures on Amazon and there was one where the guy was holding them lit with a 5v power supply and it was crazy bright. Too bright for a "vintage" radio. So I figured I'd give it a try but also put a potentiometer in line in case it is too bright. I'm looking for that orange tube glow, not searing brightness, ya know?
 
the leds are configured for 12v.
I'm reading 3 - 12v on the packet so 5V should be fine however they are constant current 20mA rated, so dubious if the driver is correct!
 
I'm reading 3 - 12v on the packet so 5V should be fine however they are constant current 20mA rated, so dubious if the driver is correct!
Is that bad? I'm only gonna run like 5 lights off it.
 
Yeah, I was looking at the customer pictures on Amazon and there was one where the guy was holding them lit with a 5v power supply and it was crazy bright. Too bright for a "vintage" radio. So I figured I'd give it a try but also put a potentiometer in line in case it is too bright. I'm looking for that orange tube glow, not searing brightness, ya know?
Wire it on a bench and see what their like.
 
Is that bad? I'm only gonna run like 5 lights off it.
I think the data on the LED's packet (current and voltage) is just saying 20mA is the recommended max. current, and 3 - 12V is the recommended voltage range. They have a series resistor and they'll look after themselves as long as you're in that voltage range. Don't worry about it.
 
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The driver looks like it is constant voltage not constant current so you will need to connect the led's in parallel not series.
 
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Hi all. I am trying to figure out how to add a few amber color LEDs to a 1953 Zenith K622 radio. One to light the tuner, one for the clock and one behind the center grill. I've gone down some rabbit holes. At this point, I would tap the original 110vpower and connect an 110v AC to 9v DC step down power converter then, from that, parallel wire three LEDs after three resistors. Does this sound right???
You could look at using the lower voltage that powers the filaments of the tubes.
 
I see you have a pack of three potentiometers. What are those for?
 
There are a couple of other choices here.

Neither of which absolutely require that you provide a separate power supply (although now that you have already purchased one you might feel that you want to use it anyway).

First, you could just use a straight capacitive dropper direct from the incoming mains (but after any fuse).

Something like this for example:

https://www.nomad.ee/micros/transformerless/index.shtml

I have used this type of circuit many times in the past.

The warning about the danger of this type of circuit in that article is well made but is only really relevant if you are going to be messing about with it to drive something that you are likely to be touching. Enclosed within the case of a valve radio that is already swarming with interesting ways of electrocuting oneself it is no more dangerous than what you are already dealing with anyway.
(I must confess that I would reconfigure that circuit to put the main dropper part of the circuit - R1, R2, & C1 - on the live rather than the neutral side of the circuit but that's just me and my autistic tendencies.)

The advantage of this circuit is that it is very small and cheap. Note that, as noted in the article, C1 must be an X2 type - i.e. suitable for direct connection to the mains.

As a suggestion, for a 110V system for use with the LEDs that you have already purchased (and assuming 60Hz rather than the UK standard of 50Hz) I would consider adjusting the values that load on the page as defaults to the following values D1 = 9.6V, C1 = 1uF, R1 = 220 ohms. Note that this results in a voltage available to drive the LEDs of 8.9V. Your LEDs are likely to be screamingly bright and quite out of keeping with that required to look good inside a vintage radio if run at 12V. In fact, you may very well find that 5V (or even 3V) is a far more sensible voltage to drive them at in order to offer the best match to the original (typically rather dim) filament lamps. For 5V set D1 = 5.6V, C1 = 0.47uF, R1 = 220 ohms.

Second, the chances are very strong that the existing transformer within the radio is supplying low voltage AC (often 6.3V) to the filaments of the valves. You could fashion a simple circuit to tap off of this supply for some LEDs using just a single diode, a resistor, and a capacitor.

The benefit of both of the above circuits are (a) cost (but this is moot since you have already purchased a separate PSU) and (b) compact size (again because of the absent PSU so no need to accommodate the size of it within your existing equipment which can be inconvenient and / or difficult at time).

Option (i) is very useful for low current loads but R1 becomes big and hot as the required output current is increased. If you are only looking to drive three LEDs as mentioned in your post above then it should be fine.

Option (ii) involves tapping into the existing circuitry of the radio - something that you may not be comfortable with depending upon your level of experience with a soldering iron.

Personally, if it were my radio I would be going with option (ii) as the simplest and cheapest approach.

I appreciate that these suggestions fall squarely into the realm of "I wouldn't start from here" but I offer them up anyway just in case they should prove useful.

So, after all that, it maybe best to just stick with the PSU that you have already purchased as this avoids the high voltage of option (i) and the need to patch into the radio's existing circuitry of option (ii)! (Sorry!)

I would be cautious about trying to use the potentiometers that you have purchased as dimming / dropper resistors as such items are not typically rated for the power dissipation needed in this context.

What value are they?

What is their power ratings? This is not a figure that is typically easily available for potentiometers so should act as a bit of a red (or at least an amber) flag if not.
 

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Tampa Florida
If you're a qualified, trainee, or retired electrician - Which country is it that your work will be / is / was aimed at?
United States of America
What type of forum member are you?
DIY or Homeowner (Perhaps seeking pro advice, or an electrician)

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Add LEDs to Vintage Radio?
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