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
 
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?
 
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
 
That's a nice looking radio. Does it still work?
 
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
You can drive the LED directly from the AC just need a resistor or capacitor.
Not recommended, definitely not recommended don’t even think about it, it might work briefly with some leds but you’ll see them off with reverse voltage and they will flicker.
 
The driver looks like it is constant voltage not constant current so you will need to connect the led's in parallel not series.
If the leds are all the same you can connect in series, with an appropriate current limiting resistor, they will each drop the same volts. The supply mentioned by the OP may not be well regulated hence the need to start with a higher value dropper and check current then adjust R to suit. Yes he could tap off the 6.3v heater suppy(assuming it is 6.3), with a 1N4001 diode and a 100uf C, and if necessary a dropper R which would smooth, but he said he’d bought a 9v supply
 
Not recommended, definitely not recommended don’t even think about it, it might work briefly with some leds but you’ll see them off with reverse voltage and they will flicker.
Not ideal, no, I didn't say it would be, but it's common practice on mains relays to show when powered.


If the leds are all the same you can connect in series, with an appropriate current limiting resistor, they will each drop the same volts. The supply mentioned by the OP may not be well regulated hence the need to start with a higher value dropper and check current then adjust R to suit. Yes he could tap off the 6.3v heater suppy(assuming it is 6.3), with a 1N4001 diode and a 100uf C, and if necessary a dropper R which would smooth, but he said he’d bought a 9v supply
The Op has a power supply which is constant 5 volt, not 9 volts. I'm pretty sure it would be regulated. The LEDs would need to be in parallel, not in series. They already have a current limiting resistor which should work between 3 and 12 volts.
 
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???
Worth a watch

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Q23uh7AjjXw
 
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. View attachment 121795
View attachment 121796
You may find that the Smps will cause interference to the Radio.

Personally, I would have endeavoured to fit lamps or Nixie Tubes instead of leds.

 
(Above not exactly the same clock)

Just a mention re safety:
There have been a couple of mentions of "mains transformer" etc., but this is what I knew colloquially years ago as an AC/DC set. There is no mains transformer. The valve (or tube!) heaters are high voltage and connected in series across the mains, possibly via a dropper resistor if the voltages don't add up to 110/120V!
I'm pretty confident about this because the one valve I can easily see the number of (50C5) has a 50V heater.
The chassis is often connected directly to one side of the mains. If the set is on a 2-pin plug, it's pot luck if the chassis is live.
 
Hi all! Thanks for all the great responses and advice. You guys are a wealth of knowledge. I'm not afraid to admit I am a total newb to this stuff so I appreciate the input. Here are the circuits wired up. 2 leds for each side and 4 behind the speaker in the middle. So, more than I originally planned but should look cool. I added a dimmer for each. I'll post some pics when it is all put back together.
 

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Not ideal, no, I didn't say it would be, but it's common practice on mains relays to show when powered.



The Op has a power supply which is constant 5 volt, not 9 volts. I'm pretty sure it would be regulated. The LEDs would need to be in parallel, not in series. They already have a current limiting resistor which should work between 3 and 12 volts.
yep sorry when I replied I hadn't seen the photo of the parts, and the OP originally said he had a 9v supply hence my reply.
I agree filament lights would probably look more authentic
On a slightly different note if he is intent on the leds he might need to distribute the light and use several, (perhaps a perspex diffuser)
I like the radio...
 
Hi all! Thanks for all the great responses and advice. You guys are a wealth of knowledge. I'm not afraid to admit I am a total newb to this stuff so I appreciate the input. Here are the circuits wired up. 2 leds for each side and 4 behind the speaker in the middle. So, more than I originally planned but should look cool. I added a dimmer for each. I'll post some pics when it is all put back together.
I was going to suggest measure the resistance when you're satisfied the brightness is correct and change the potentiometer for a fixed resistor BUT as far as I can see from the diagram you've made it more complicated than it need be by wiring the pots as a split voltage tap across the potentiometer rather than just using the centre and the rh terminal as a variable resistor in series with the led rather than a potentiometer.
 
I was going to suggest measure the resistance when you're satisfied the brightness is correct and change the potentiometer for a fixed resistor BUT as far as I can see from the diagram you've made it more complicated than it need be by wiring the pots as a split voltage tap across the potentiometer rather than just using the centre and the rh terminal as a variable resistor in series with the led rather than a potentiometer.
Someone said in an earlier post that I had to run in parallel rather than in series because the PS was constant voltage instead of constant current.
 
Someone said in an earlier post that I had to run in parallel rather than in series because the PS was constant voltage instead of constant
Parwallel is fine, originally i thought you said 9V which is why I suggested series as up to 4 or 5 in series at 9v with a series resistor would have worked with LEDs which had no series resistor integral with the led, but now I see the supply is 5V and the LEDs have series resistors already so run the LEDs in parallel.
That has nothing to do with my comment about the potentiometers, So parallel the lamps and put them in series with 2 of the potentiometers terminals, then when you’ve set the pot. To the satisfied brightness, disconnect the LEDs and measure the resistance across the 2 terminals of the potentiometer, and replace pot. With a fixed resistor of the nearest preferred value. Is that any clearer?
 
Parwallel is fine, originally i thought you said 9V which is why I suggested series as up to 4 or 5 in series at 9v with a series resistor would have worked with LEDs which had no series resistor integral with the led, but now I see the supply is 5V and the LEDs have series resistors already so run the LEDs in parallel.
That has nothing to do with my comment about the potentiometers, So parallel the lamps and put them in series with 2 of the potentiometers terminals, then when you’ve set the pot. To the satisfied brightness, disconnect the LEDs and measure the resistance across the 2 terminals of the potentiometer, and replace pot. With a fixed resistor of the nearest preferred value. Is that any clearer?
Gotcha. Yes. Thanks!
 
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???
Welp, after much learning....this is how it ended up looking. Thanks for all the help fellas.
 

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That's a lovely radio!
I love things that glow!
I have a 6 tube nixie clock and it's just amazing with so many parameters you can adjust. I bought it for my daughter but she didn't like it so I took it back...every cloud!
 

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Add LEDs to Vintage Radio?
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