# Multi LED lamp modification Q **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2024, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-led-lamp-modification-q/996164 "2024-01-16T12:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-led-lamp-modification-q/996164/1 "2024-01-16T12:21:56Z")
I have a 12V garden landscape lighting system from the incandescent days, which I modified to run on DC instead of AC. I have replaced some of the bulbs with LED’s intended for cars which works fine (and why I converted the system to DC). But I need 2 of them to be brighter, so I got these: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6HT2NVD?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6HT2NVD?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) but the are too bright. Any chance I can cut one of the LED pads from this unit and still have others in this unit still light? I would assume this has multiple LED’s in parallel and by cutting one some will go out, but some will stay on, but I don’t know. Also with less active LED’s I’m hoping the unit last longer as it would generate less heat. So my goal is 2 fold, reduce light a bit and lengthen the expected life. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-led-lamp-modification-q/996164/2 "2024-01-16T14:29:09Z")
Hard to know how the circuit is arranged. Maybe removing an entire pad would work. Or might break the circuit. I would be tempted to remove one LED from each of a couple of the pads instead, since it appears that each pad definitely powers a pair of LEDs in parallel. But that requires solder equipment not everyone has (like hot air rework gear). ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-led-lamp-modification-q/996164/3 "2024-01-16T19:46:32Z")
You can reduce LED brightness by pulsing them on and off, also by controlling the current going through them.