[Vwdiesel] alternator light :(

[Jim Arnott]

On Jul 30, 2006, at 1:19 PM, Pam & Doug Boes wrote:
> it seems odd that all the LEDs
> would be powered from the same source and would depend on each light's
> individual ground to complete the circuit?

Not really...

If you switched the 12+ side of the circuit, you'd have to run  
another wire (to feed 12v to the switch) and use a switch what had 2  
terminals (adding complexity and cost.) By switching the ground, you  
run 12+ to the indicator and just run one wire to a single terminal  
on the switch and ground through the case of that switch. You gauges  
do the same thing except use a variable resistance to ground on the  
other end. Simple, uses the fewest number of parts and cost  
effective. Elegant solution from an engineering standpoint!

Jim