I have made changes and slightly improved things (MC14538) was reading 11.65v now 12 but the issue still exists. I also notice it happens between pin (MC14538 pin13 - 4048 pin13) as well as (MC14538 pin3 - 4048 pin6)
If i hold either of the two connection wires mentioned above the output (pin2 @ irf5305) stays on @ 11.70v. once i let go the light goes out after 6 seconds.
I'm not all that sure if I am reading the drain correctly. if the led is off it reads 10.40v. if I make the led turn on it reads 11.70v. I have the negative probe on the drain and positive on the 12+ rail
I have also changed the power supply and checked continuity in many areas. I added additional jumpers wires to improve ground connections and connected IC chips directly to 12V instead of from the cathode of 5818.
EDIT: 4048 IS POWERED AFTER 5818.
I want to add that your schematic did not have pin numbers on MC14538 so I may have interpreted them incorrectly on mine
Post 98.
I have both var resistors set at 240k
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Some voltage readings
View attachment 147284
View attachment 147285