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LED control idea
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tetsujin:

--- Quote from: ShinAce on February 16, 2005, 08:43:08 am ---If I wanted to buy some 40 diodes, 10 led's, resistors, and whatnot at Rat Shack, I'd be paying over 10$.

--- End quote ---

Yes, but it's never a good idea to buy things at Radio Shack.  They'd probably charge you 80 cents per resistor or something dumb like that.

Well, it's almost never a good idea to buy at Radio Shack.  Once in a great while the convenience is worth it.  But they overcharge by so much, it's not a good idea to buy a whole project there..
cholin:

--- Quote ---If you think you can do it for 5$, what are you waiting for?
--- End quote ---

The five dollar thing was just an estimate.  And im waiting for money   Im getting a job soon to start funding this project.  I then need buttons, wood, etc.  The cab will not be built for a few months because we're building a new house and I can get the wood cheaper that way.

I hate Radio Shack.  The only reason I go there is because they have those parts that people rarely need, and they're in stock often.  Also, which gates should I get then and where should I wire them?  Im guessing I just replace the extra diode in each line.  Im guessing ill need an OR gate?

Also, what type of LED should I use?  There's different brightnesses and viewing angles.  It has to light through a piece of paper and plexiglass, so low brightness ones should be fine right?  At .45 oer LED, although it seems cheap, it comes out to alot.  Ive seen a Canadian Suppliers list but it doesnt have too much.  Anyone know Canadian places that sell LEDS?  Im off to eBay  :)
Kremmit:
In light of this news story, I have to retract my earlier comments.  Gnomes are obviously too dangerous for hobby use.

Couldn't Trimoor's circuit add the All-On feature by adding a separate path to ground, wired to a common switch?  I suppose you'd also have to wire in a cutoff for the existing, button controlled ground path.  Hmm... an SPDT could handle both jobs at the same time, couldn't it?
cholin:
Perhaps if you explained these switches to me, I could see what you're talking about.
Trimoor:

--- Quote from: Kremmit on February 16, 2005, 10:00:20 pm ---Couldn't Trimoor's circuit add the All-On feature by adding a separate path to ground, wired to a common switch? I suppose you'd also have to wire in a cutoff for the existing, button controlled ground path. Hmm... an SPDT could handle both jobs at the same time, couldn't it?

--- End quote ---
That's exactly what I did.  See my second circuit above.  The 'cutoff wiring' is what the diodes are for.  A DPST switch would be best, but I don't know of any microswitches like this.  SPDT is a standard microswitch.


--- Quote from: cholin on February 16, 2005, 10:09:04 pm ---Perhaps if you explained these switches to me, I could see what you're talking about.
--- End quote ---
Switch Types

Cheap LEDs.  Many people here have used this company.  They sell $.05 resistors too.

Gates will not be cheaper.  One gate costs more than three diodes, and you will still need resistors and LEDs.
Nor will gates be better.  The "right" way to do this would be a microcontroller.

For brightness, remember that LEDs can always be made dimmer by using a larger resistor.  I wouldn't use anything less than 1000mcd.  Never buy LEDs from rat shack.  You might as well close your eyes and pretend it lights up.
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