Dear Franklin,

welcome,

You measure the electrical impedance as you define it. Considering the impedance of LEDS connected in series they have by definition a large signal resistance and small signal impedance as the I-V characteristics of a single diode and a series connections of diodes is nonlinear.

The large signal resistance can be defined by R= V/I, this resistance decreases as the current in the strip increases.

To measure the ac small signal resistance one biases the strip into the DC operating point and measure its impedance as Z = dV/dI, where dV is the small signal voltage and dI is the resulting small signal current. Because of the capacitive behavior, the current dI leads the voltage dV by a phase angle phi.

Z will have an amplitude and phase or a resistive and capacitive reactance.

You can use the method developed in my paper given in the link to make the measurements: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/3062547_A_distributed_SPICE-model_of_a_solar_cell

You can use the method in this paper to measure the impedance of the led strip.

There is also a complete description of the impedance measurement in the paper at the link: Method Measuring the small signal and switching parameters of diodes

Best Wishes

Dear Prof. Abdelhalim:

Thank you for this information

I am reviewing the shared papers,

Regards ! :)

As you might be aware, these LED strips come as parallel groups or 3 series LEDs with one series resistor. Connecting 12V to the main connectors is all it takes to light them up. They can be cut apart, but only in groups of three at the appropriate markings on the strips. The embedded resistor value varies for different types of strips (LED color, manufacturer, etc).

Replacing the bulbs in your car with DIY LEDs strips may not be legal. Car indication lights have to be within a specific brightness range. You to need to ensure the LEDs have the correct candella rating to be used as tail or indicator lights.

Practical Considerations

Dimming an entire bank of LEDs by placing a resistor in series with the power line is not a good idea. A lot of power will be dissipated in this resistor, as in the dropped voltage multiplied by the entire LED bank current.

Some car turn signals operate a bit strange... the ON resistance of the indicator bulb actually determines the speed of the blinker. This is part of what causes a blinker to double in speed when one of the bulbs is out. Replacing the bulb with LEDs may change the speed of the blinker if the resistance is not matched. There is also the factor of heat. LEDs don't produce very much heat, meaning your light housings could frost over in cold weather - something prevented by the heat from standard bulbs.

Also, powering the strip with 7V will probably not produce any light at all. Bright white LEDs typically drop about 3V apiece just to barely turn on. That means you need at least 9V for the LEDs plus a bit more for the embedded resistors. The extra source voltage is dropped by the embedded resistors, and this is also what determines the LED current: I_LED = [V_source - (3 * V_LED)] / R. LED brightness is determined by forward current; however, the forward voltage also changes with the forward current. A curve relating the two should be available in the LED datasheet.

How to Do It

If you really want to move forward with this idea, a standard rectifying diode is a good bet, but the actual part is determined by how much current will be used by the LEDs - the diode will need to be rated for at least that of the entire LED array. Since the signal won't be switching quickly ( turn signals are usually 1 - 2 Hz) that is not a factor.

Finding the necessary series resistance is a bit trickier, but doable. You will need to know how much current to pass through the LEDs to get the dimmer output you desire, then add up the LED voltages at that forward current plus the dropped voltage across the embedded resistor (V = IR). How ever much voltage is left will need to be dropped by the additional series resistor. However, keep in mind, that this resistor will have the entire LED bank current going through it.

If that was a bit vague, you might as well post on electronics.stackexchange.com and check what you can come out with :)